Ikubese Withdraws His Membership From NCP

…..Alleges Party’s Leadership Of Undemocratic

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The Presidential hopeful of the 2019 general elections, Dr Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, has declined his membership of the National Conscience Party (NCP), lamenting that the party had derailed from the vision of its founder, late Gani Fawehinmi.

Dr Thomas-Wilson Ikubese

Ikubese while speaking on why he was quitting NCP, alleged the party’s leadership of undemocratic tendencies.

It would be recalled that Ikubese declared his presidential ambition on July 24, 2017 under the platform of NCP.

According to him, the National Chairman, Yunusa Tanko and the National Secretary, Ayodele Akele, unilaterally imposed levy on aspirants contrary to the provisions of the party’s constitution.

He said it was targeted to thwart his aspiration.

Ikubese, who joined NCP on September 16, 2017, disclosed that they drafted a document mandating presidential aspirant that was less than two years in the party to pay N7.04m.

This, he said was in contravention to the age-long tradition “laid down by Chief Gani Fawehinmi that party members who seek to run for offices should do so at no cost, as a populist Party, as to encourage the masses to thereby participate actively in politics.

“The argument advanced by the duo is that this money will serve to finance the Party. Conversely however, Article 9.4.1 of the constitution of the NCP clearly stipulates how the party shall raise funds.”

Other sources, he listed to include, “membership fees, donations, and/or contributions from well meaning individuals or bodies, proceeds from sale or auction of party materials and publications and income from investments. Nowhere is it stated in the constitution that funds shall be generated by levying aspirants mandatorily.”

Aside the financial burdens inflicted on him, Ikubese added that the National officers breached the party’s constitution and ruled it with their whims and caprices.

His words, “this action is in further breach of Article 4.1.3 (c) of the NCP which stipulates that a national congress must be convened to discuss the affairs of the party and to take such decisions and/or give general guidelines as may be necessary for the progress and proper working of the party.

“A national congress was not called, as this decision was taken exclusively by the National Chairman and General Secretary. Tanko formally declared to run for the office of the President on the 23rd April 2018, without resigning his position as the National Chairman.

“As at today, he doubles as the National Chairman and a Presidential Aspirant of the NCP to the disadvantage of any other Aspirant in the Party who will be “screened” by a committee that will ultimately report to him. He thus upholds the power to approbate and reprobate.

“You cannot be in charge of the party, control its machineries and resources and also be an aspirant without fairness, justice and equity being compromised. Tanko erected a barricade, mandating me to pay N7.04million as a presidential aspirant, while he is not making any such payment, even though we are running for the same office.

“Since the National Chairman and General Secretary of the party have obviously compromised the integrity for which the party is known, I hereby withdraw my membership of the NCP forthwith.

“For if I remain in the party, it is obvious that the duo will use the party machinery to the advantage of Tanko. And should I defeat him in the primaries, he and his accomplices will most likely work against me in the general elections.

“For me, I shall move on and continue to join forces with genuine progressive-minded individuals and groups to birth the new Nigeria of our dream. A New Nigeria is possible, together we can”.

He however urged members of the NCP to rise and protect the legacy of justice and equity, which the founder, Chief Fawehinmi lived and died when alive.