JONATHAN DECLINES PDP'S BOT CHAIR OFFER

As the post-election crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues, there are mounting pressures on President Goodluck Jonathan to take up the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party at the end of his tenure.

A competent source told the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Sunday, that shortly after the presidential election, a team comprising the members of the National Working Committee (NWC), national caucus, BoT members, National Executive Committee (NEC) and some elders of the party visited President Jonathan at the Villa and impressed it upon him to take the chairmanship of the party's BoT as a mark of honour for him.
It was gathered that though the president thanked members of the delegation for their concern, he, however, declined the offer.
The president was said to have told the audience that he wanted to rest for a year before he would probably return into active politics.
According to the source, "you are right. It is true that a delegation was actually sent to the president by the party. We wanted him to become the chairman of the BoT after his tenure, but he turned down the offer.
"We can't force him against his wish, similar thing happened in the past. After the tenure of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, he assumed the chairmanship of the party's BoT, before he later relinquished it, the position which was exclusively meant for former presidents," the source added.
It was, however, gathered from another top party source that the decision of President Jonathan to reject the offer did not go down well with the First Lady, Patience, who saw the offer as a compensation for the loss of the exalted presidential seat.
"Honestly, the First Lady didn't like the rejection at all, because, to her, half a bread is better than none, but there is nothing we can do about it, since the president himself had rejected it, we have to respect his position," the source added.
Chief Tony Anenih is the current chairman of the BOT of the party.
Efforts to speak with the national publicity secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, on the matter failed, but a member of the BoT confirmed the story.
"The decision to offer the seat to President Jonathan was meant to honour him, based on his contributions to the growth of the party and the good governance he offered to the nation under the platform of the party," a BoT member said.