THE REV Ian Paisley decided to announce his resignation on Tuesday in order to prevent stresses in the Democratic Unionist Party that could have destabilised the DUP and Sinn Féin-led powersharing Executive, according to a senior DUP source.
Dr Paisley was concerned that the continuing speculation about who would succeed him as First Minister and DUP leader was causing turbulence within the party that, if not arrested, could have threatened the Executive, the DUP insider explained.
Dr Paisley said yesterday he would have liked to see out the full four-year term as First Minister but decided that he would go after the May economic and investment conference in Belfast because this would be a political "watershed" when he could leave office satisfied the political structures were bedding down. He again denied he was forced from office by internal DUP pressure.
The DUP Assembly members will select the new leader and First Minister after Dr Paisley steps down. There appeared little doubt last night that the next leader will be the North's finance minister, Peter Robinson, who is the DUP deputy leader.
While Dr Paisley refused to name his favoured successor and while Mr Robinson declined to say he was a candidate there was no indication whatsoever there would be any candidate for the post other than the deputy leader.
All Mr Robinson would say is that there would be "no blood on the floor" in terms of who would succeed Dr Paisley. Economy minister Nigel Dodds is expected to be his deputy.
Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson was the first DUP member to declare yesterday for Mr Robinson. Other Assembly members were a little more circumspect, although again the consensus was that the next DUP leader would be elected by unanimous vote. Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said that Dr Paisley's resignation "marks the end of an era but not the end of this process". Speaking at Stormont after appearing alongside Dr Paisley, he stressed his belief that the political institutions would remain secure.
"Ian Paisley was supported right through this process by people like Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds, so people can expect the work of government in this part of the world will continue in the wake of Ian Paisley's departure from the political scene."
He said his work alongside Ian Paisley since devolution was restored last May was a "remarkable and unique experience".
"I had a very dim view of Ian Paisley prior to March 26th last year and he had an even dimmer view of me. But we managed to work together on foot of a deal brokered by Ian Paisley himself and Gerry Adams, and we developed a positive and constructive working relationship within the Office of First and Deputy First Minister.
"The work I do with Ian Paisley has had overwhelming public support from people who are not fixated by the past but who are absolutely focused on the need to build a better future for themselves and their children."
The future composition of the DUP leadership was "no big deal" he said. "I am only interested in working with people who are prepared to do the business. The atmospherics are of little importance to the community. They want to see their politicians working together, taking difficult decisions together to improve their lives. I am up for that."
He said the likes of Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds had already proved their willingness to work with Sinn Féin on the Executive. Credit was due to them for taking that approach in the same way that credit was due to Ian Paisley as "probably the only leader of unionism" who could have made the decisive move.