ABUJA – Attempt by the Board of trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party to broker peace between Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, and the National Caretaker committee of the party met a brick wall Wednesday as he insisted that for peace to return to the party, the proposed national convention scheduled for August 17in Port Harcourt should be put off, and the care taker committee dissolved to allow for a fresh start.
Senator Sheriff who met with the caretaker committee on Tuesday Night also insisted that the new convention which he is proposing must be held in Abuja and the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike should not head the convention committee A reconciliation committee headed by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana empanelled and inaugurated last Monday by the BoT Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin to find political solution to the lingering crisis. We gathered that apart from his opposition to the choice of Port Harcourt, senator Sheriff also insisted that the ward, local government and state congresses already concluded and approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) must stand. Senator Sheriff had at the opening session of the meeting accused some members of the BoT of being part of the problems in the party. “If our leaders have taken their responsibilities, we would never have had most of the problems we are facing today. When a leader refused to stand up to his responsibilities, there will be problem. Some of our leaders are party to our problem. the moment we want to use one impunity to address another, it will not work,” he said. At a joint press briefing with the committee chairman, Professor Gana at the end of the meeting, Sheriff noted that the BoT was now better informed on the crisis. “All that was disused today (Tuesday) was the problems. They will go back to the BoT that set them. I am sure that in the next meeting, they come back with recommendations that will bring lasting solutions and peace to the party,” he said. He said the committee had taken serious note of analysis of problems causing disaffection within the party. “We are delighted that there have been a clear resolution on the determination and the desire that the problems been resolved, unity be re -established and for PDP to move forward.” He assured PDP members that efforts were ongoing to resolve the party crisis, adding, ”Nigerians are waiting for PDP; they are missing the PDP, they are crying and yearning for PDP because the 16 years of democracy cannot be wasted away.” Apart from Professor Gana, other reconciliation committee members present at the meeting were former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, his Enugu State counterpart, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Abodu Olujimi, former Senator Whip, Senator Stella Omu, former Minister of Aviation, Ambassador Fidelia Njeze, former Minister of Woman Affairs, Hajia Inna Ciroma, AVM Dan Suleiman (rtd) among others. On Sheriff’s side were former PDP Vice Chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Senator Hope Uzodinma, former presidential Political Adviser Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, among others.