He resigned to avoid blackmail, New PDP says.

The Chairman of the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, tagged ‘New PDP', Kawu Baraje, on Tuesday resigned his position as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC.

Mr. Baraje, who was suspended from the ruling party alongside four others on Monday by the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee, NWC, tendered his resignation in a letter to the Federal Government, which he routed through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Pius Anyim.

He had been appointed to the position on May 22 in a letter with reference number SGF.19/S.81/XIV/430, but was inaugurated with other members of the Board on May 28.

Mr. Baraje, a former National Secretary and acting National Chairman of the PDP, said in the letter, which he also sent to the Minister of Transport, that he resigned because of the current crisis in the ruling party.

He stated that since the chairmanship of NRC was allotted to the party, the ongoing disagreement between some top members of the party would not allow him to continue in that position.

He asked the SGF to convey his intention to quit the position to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, which he said he would remain loyal to.

Mr. Baraje and other senior members of the PDP had on August 31 walked out of the party's Special National Convention to form the New PDP.

Among those who joined him in the splinter group were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, seven governors, and some members of the National Assembly.

The governors are Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers).

The formation of the New PDP worsened the crisis in the ruling party, which has remained intractable despite various peace meeting conveyed to resolve it.

Mr. Baraje's letter, which he personally signed, reads in part, "I hasten to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, through your good office for the confidence he placed in my ability to have appointed me to such an exalted position as Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation.

"His Excellency, Mr. President, will recall that this appointment came from his discretion in allotting some positions to our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

"However, it is no longer news that there is an ongoing disagreement in principle between some top stakeholders of our party of which I am among on the one hand and the current leadership of the party on the other.

"This quagmire has upturned my belief in the present leadership of our great party and has consequently made my continued stay as the Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation Governing Board uncomfortable.

"Realizing that the position of the Nigeria Railway Corporation Chairmanship was allocated to the party and of which I am supposed to symbolize, I would appreciate if your good office could please convey to His Excellency, Mr. President, of my intention to relinquish this position with immediate effect because I can no longer represent the interest of the party whose leadership I no longer believe in."

While pledging his continued loyalty to the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Mr. Baraje said, "I will like His Excellency, Mr. President, to please accept the assurances of my highest regard and consideration."

In a separate letter, dated November 12, to members of the Governing Board of the NRC, Mr. Baraje expressed gratitude to them for the supportive role they played as individuals and as a group in making his six months tenure successful.

He said he enjoyed their support, love and care within the period; adding that the Board succeeded in carrying out some positive changes in moving the rail transport in Nigeria forward.

"No doubt, we have developed and maintained very cordial relationship amongst ourselves since we were sworn in as members of the NRC Governing Board on the 28th of May, 2013," he said. "I must say that I have enjoyed your support, love and care within this short period of six months, May – November, 2013."

He, however, told his colleagues that he was no longer interested in the job because of the crisis in the party.

"This quagmire has upturned my belief in the current leadership of our great party, PDP, and has consequently made my continued stay as the Chairman of NRC Governing Board uncomfortable. I have therefore humbly turned in my letter of resignation to this effect immediately (copy attached.)"

Mr. Baraje wished the members of the Governing Board continued success in the remaining tenure and assured them of his continued friendship and companionship, saying his door would always remain open.

Confirming Mr. Baraje's resignation, the spokesperson of the New PDP, Chukwuemeka Eze, said he (Baraje) took the action to give room and time to manage the splinter group and avoid any insinuation or plot to use the appointment of his NRC Chairmanship to blackmail or embarrass him in future.

Mr. Eze said the struggle to emancipate and enthrone proper democracy in the polity remained a task that must be won.