National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator
Ali Modu Sheriff and chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee,
Senator Ahmed Makarfi have disagreed on the proposal that they should
relinquish their positions as part of a political solution to the party’s
crisis.
While Sheriff said he would remain as national Chairman
until a convention is held, Makarfi said he will step down if the various
organs of the party want him to.
The proposal that the duo should step down from their
positions was mooted at a meeting former President Goodluck Jonathan had with
PDP Governors’ Forum on Tuesday.
Sheriff, who spoke through his deputy, Dr. Cairo
Ojougboh, told Daily Sun in a telephone interview, yesterday, that their
position is that the PDP chairman will remain in office and conduct a
convention, before he leaves office.
Ojougboh said if the two contestants to the chairmanship
position step down, it will mean setting up another caretaker committee which
will spark off another round of crisis in the opposition party.
“Our position is that Sheriff should remain the chairman
and at the convention, he will hand over.
“If you say Sheriff and Makarfi should step down and
you appoint another person, that will mean setting up another caretaker
committee and the problem will start afresh. I’m telling you, our
position, which is the position of the law, is that Sheriff will remain
chairman and hold a convention. If you say Sheriff and Makarfi should go,
who will chair the convention?” he asked.
However, Makarfi said the caretaker committee, which he
heads, is a product of the various organs of the PDP.
“The proposal is much larger than Sheriff and myself, and
it came as a result of meeting with our governors.
“Therefore, it’s erroneous to call it Jonathan’s
proposal. It also did not call for halting the appeal except a common ground is
found. The caretaker committee is a product of organs of the party.
Therefore, it has no personal agenda. Whatever the organs of the party
accept we will be bound by it,” Makarfi said in an text message to Daily Sun,
yesterday.
On his part, former minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer
Babatope said if the proposal is what would bring peace to the party, Makarfi
will step down.
Meanwhile, the PDP Reconciliation Committee has said a
political solution is the best way to end the crisis in the party.
A statement jointly signed by Bayelsa State Governor,
Seriake Dickson, Senator Ibrahim Mantu and Senator Joshua Lidani, chairman,
deputy chairman and secretary of the committee, respectively, said the
committee endorsed the resolution of the meeting between Jonathan and PDP
Governors’ Forum, without prejudice to the ongoing litigation.
that “a political solution is the best option for the
protracted crises in the party.”
Opiah, who spoke in a telephone interview, yesterday,
said:
“I think our party members should respect the judgment of
the Court of Appeal and rally round Sheriff; that will encourage him to step
down on his own,” the lawmaker said.
When contacted for his reaction on the issue, chairman of
the PDP Board of Trustees ( BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin said where he was in his
village was not suitable for him to talk.
Meanwhile, the PDP Reconciliation Committee has said a
political solution is the best way to end the crisis in the party.
A statement jointly signed by Bayelsa State governor,
Seriake Dickson, Senator Ibrahim Mantu and Senator Joshua Lidani, chairman,
deputy chairman and secretary of the committee, respectively, said the
committee endorsed the resolution of the meeting between former President
Jonathan and PDP Governors’ Forum, without prejudice to the ongoing litigation,
that “a political solution is the best option for the protracted crises in the
party.”
The committee recommended early national convention
within the second quarter of 2017 in Abuja, which should be all inclusive,
where new national officials of the party will be freely, fairly and
transparently elected.
“In furtherance of this, the reconciliation committee
shall embark on extensive consultations with all stakeholders with a view to
building confidence and necessary consensus towards the Unity Convention,” the
statement said.
The committee appealed to all party leaders and members
of PDP to exercise restraint and focus on overall interest of the party.
Meanwhile, the PDP, in a statement issued, last night, by
its acting National Publicity Secretary, Bernard Mikko, said the issue of
resignation of Sheriff as national chairman has never been discussed between
former Jonathan and other stakeholders.
The statement called on all stakeholders to suggest how
the party under Sheriff can conduct a “unity convention” where new party
officers will be elected.
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