PDP CRISIS: Jonathan, govs want Fayose to stop verbal attacks, seek political solution

Leaders of the opposition PDP have called on all party faithful to stop making statements that could further escalate the crisis in the party.

They made the call after a late night meeting held in Abuja between former President Goodluck Jonathan, and governors under the PDP platform.

They prevailed on all to sheath their swords, especially verbal assaults, while a political solution is negotiated to resolve the lingering leadership crisis in the party once tainted as Africa’s largest political party.

Most verbal attacks in the ensuing fracas have come from the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, who also doubles as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

It would be recalled that he once referred to Senator Sheriff as a general without soldiers in the PDP, and that those supporting Sheriff are political nonentities.

The PDP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis that has created two factions over who is the authentic national chairman.

One faction led by Sen Ali Modu Sheriff recently got the stamp of the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt declaring him the bonafide chairman of the party.

However, a second faction led by chairman of a national caretaker committee, Sen Ahmed Makarfi has refused to accept the judgement, or Sheriff, and has vowed to head to the highest court in the land to wrestle the party from Sheriff.

Fayose who addressed newsmen after the meeting held at Jonathan’s office in Abuja, said the governors had decided to find a political solution to the crisis in the party.

He said, “It is my pleasure to tell you that we are here at the instance of the former President. He is genuinely concerned by what is going on in the party. And he thought that an interactive session with the governors would go a long way to douse the tension.

“We want to assure all our supporters that we believe in this party. We believe in the success of this party. We want to appeal to everybody to be wary of making statements that could further worsen the situation.

“Rather we should make complimentary statements that can enhance the party the more. Again, we know that there are so many matters before the court. But we believe that a political solution will go a long way to solve this matter.”

Other governors at the meeting were Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Darius Ishaku (Taraba); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Ben Ayade (Cross River); and Ipalibo Baligo(Deputy Governor, Rivers State).

In his response, Sheriff who spoke through the party’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, also called on all party members to be careful of their utterances.

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He added, “It is good news to hear that our governors have agreed to find a political solution to the crisis.

“We are glad to hear that. This has always been our position. We are ready to meet them and discuss. It is only one party and we won’t allow it to die”, he said.

Meanwhile, there was tight security on Tuesday at Wadata Plaza, the national secretariat of the PDP as factions leader Sen Sheriff resumed work.

Men of the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Civil and Security Defence Corps (NCSDC) mounted guard around the premises and adjoining streets.

An NCSDC operation truck was used to block the road leading to the main gate of the secretariat, forcing motorists to make use of only one side of the dual carriage way in front of the building.

 

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