By Mathias Haufiku

WINDHOEK - After surviving attempts to recall him from parliament a few years ago, the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) says the position of its chief whip, Arnold Tjihuiko, is under no threat even after the death of its president, Chief Kuaima Riruako. 

Riruako is said to be the one who defended Tjihuiko through thick and thin at the time when the youth league of Nudo were baying for his blood.

A few years ago, the party’s youth wing wrote a letter to Riruako in which they proposed a vote of no confidence in Tjihuiko and urged the National Executive Committee (NEC) to recall him from the National Assembly. 

A police case was also opened after Tjihuiko received death threats from anonymous individuals. 

The party’s president Asser Mbai yesterday told New Era the case was still being investigated by the police and insisted there was no bad blood between Tjihuiko and the party leadership.

Mbai, who will stand as the party’s candidate in the upcoming presidential elections, also said the party’s NEC discussed the issue on Sunday, but he refused to divulge any details

“Our youth league wrote a letter to Chief [Riruako] in which they proposed a vote of no confidence although they did not give clear reasons why that was the case,” the party’s spokesperson and deputy secretary general, Vetaruhe Kandorozu, told New Era yesterday.

Meanwhile, Tjihuiko said should such threats resurface “we will cross the bridge when we get there”.

“It has not come to my attention and I have not heard anything. It is only a week after the chief’s burial so perhaps it is a bit premature to ask such questions.”

According to Kandorozu, even in Riruako’s absence the party will not tolerate calls aimed at getting Tjihuiko recalled from the National Assembly.

“They sent the letter to the chief but he never brought it to the attention of the National Executive Committee, I am sure this was because he saw that it was a non-issue,” he said.

“Tjihuiko remains our chief whip, in fact he will now head the party in parliament,” said the secretary general.

Meanwhile on Sunday the party filled its vacant seat in the National Assembly after appointing one of its stalwarts, Ady Riruako, to fill the void left by Chief Riruako.

Riruako, who was ranked third on the party list, will now join Arnold Tjihuiko in the National Assembly.

Riruako, who did not attend yesterday’s gathering, is expected to be sworn into the National Assembly today.

Riruako has been involved in the education sector since the pre-independence era after spending a considerable number of years teaching at the Martin Luther High School.

Nudo also made public that it will contest both the National Assembly and presidential elections which are slated for November.

Kandorozu further announced the party would hold its electoral college in September followed by its manifesto launch in October.