From Joseph Obukata (The New Diplomat’s N’Delta Correspondent)
The crisis rocking the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR) has taken a new twist as the National Vice President of the body, Comrade Prince Kehinde Taiga, has been reportedly suspended from office for one year.
CDHR’s National President, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana announced the suspension in a letter dated 13th August.
The letter reads “Sequel to the resolution of the National Executive Committee, NEC of the Committee for the Defence of Human Right, CDHR at its meeting held in Benin City, you have been suspended from office as vice president of the CDHR for one year.”
Dr. Obayuwana said the suspension of his Vice President was, “to pave way for the full and unhindered investigation of allegations of misconduct and acts of indiscipline made against him(Taiga) as contained in the report of three(3)members of the stakeholders Committee dated 20th June, 2020 based on which the query dated 13th August, 2020 has been served on you.”
Dr. Obayuwana added that the suspension was “to enable the Delta State Transition Committee appointed by NEC to discharge its terms if reference/mandate fully.”
But responding to the purported suspension, a section of the CDHR’s National Executive Committee, (NEC), in an emergency session held on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at Asaba, Delta State, disclaimed the suspension of the National-Vice President, Comrade Prince Kehinde Taiga by the National President, Comrade Obayuwana.
The counter-claims about the purported suspension was contained in a communique issued and signed by some of the NEC members including the National Secretary, Comrade James Chibuzo Chikwendu, Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Kabir Ibrahim, Legal Adviser, Barr. Mrs. Violet Ekumankuma, National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Gerald Katchy and the Internal Auditor, Comrade Ayuba Musa.
Part of the Communique reads “we the National Executive Members(NEC) of the Committee for the Defense of Human Right(CDHR) write to disclaimed the suspension of the National Vice-President, Comrade (Dr) Prince Kehinde Taiga as announced by the National President, Comrade(Dr) Osagie Obayuwana on 14th August 2020.
The NEC noted that the National President, Dr Osagie Obayuwana, hanged the suspension of his own Vice-President for a period of one year on a purported NEC meeting which held on 8th August 2020 at Benin City and thereafter solely constituted a Transition Committee led by Barr. Godwin Umuko to pilot the affairs of CDHR in Delta State for one year.
The NEC which seem sympathetic to the Prince Taiga’s group pointed out that Dr. Obayuwana had earlier issued queries to Comrade Taiga’s led executives including Comrade Isreal Joe, Comrade Harrison Itulua, Comrade Jonathan Giama alleging all of them of constitutional breaches, financial embezzlement and fraternization and registration of ‘Yahoo boys’ in the organization which they all denied.
Similarly, Comrade Taiga in a counter reply also dismissed his alleged suspension, saying that he is still in office as vice president of the organisation.
