Executive Member of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) Tacuma Ogunseye has accused Eric Phillips, also an Executive Member of the organization, of revising a statement approved by the executive responding to controversial statements he recently made.
Phillips has since dismissed the accusation saying yesterday that Ogunseye was not being truthful. He said Ogunseye saw a draft of the press statement, but was not privy to the final document which went out.
Tacuma Ogunseye’s accusations will air on Christopher Ram’s ‘Plain Talk’ television programme today on WRHM Channel 7 scheduled for 5.30 pm. Ogunseye sat down with Ram for an interview and also alleged that Phillips and ACDA faced pressure from Presidential Advisor Odinga Lumumba following his controversial speech.
According to Ogunseye, Lumumba put pressure on Phillips and ACDA, including threats to have government revoke the lease for the association’s building in Thomas Road.
But Phillips told Stabroek News yesterday that Lumumba, in addition to the media and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) called ACDA to ascertain whether a statement was forthcoming in the wake of Ogunseye’s statements. He categorically denied that Lumumba had any influence on the association when it subsequently issued a press statement on the matter.
Phillips said ACDA was unable to immediately issue a statement following Ogunseye’s speech. However, he said that after the executive met a statement was drafted. This statement was seen by Ogunseye, he said, stressing that it was not the final document.
Phillips said the media can verify what Lumumba said by simply checking with him, adding that the PSC can also be contacted.
Recently, Ogunseye gave a speech at Beterverwagting in which he reportedly called on African Guyanese to militantly campaign for power-sharing if the PPP/C wins the 2011 general elections.
In its press statement which followed ACDA’s Executive Committee said it never discussed what would happen if any group were to win or lose an election. “Mr Tacuma Ogunseye of the Community Advocacy committee of ACDA, like all other speakers of other committees, is not given a script or ‘talking points’ to conduct meetings,” the association said.
Further, ACDA mentioned that Ogunseye spent years in jail fighting for social justice for all races in Guyana, especially the downtrodden. “We have seen reports in Demerara Waves and the Chronicle purporting to statements made by Brother Tacuma at this outreach meeting. We have also witnessed the “righteous indignation” of organizations and letter writers who remained quiet when President Jagdeo made racially divisive and racist remarks on no less than three separate occasions at Babu John and also at Diamond,” the association added.
