From Taiwo Amodu, Abuja

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Former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has finally expressed commitment towards resolving the leadership tussle rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He gave the assurance on Wednesday night while playing host to leadership of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party led by Senator Walid Jubrin.
Two chieftains of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi have continued to lay claims to the office of national chairman of the erstwhile ruling party.
Sheriff was the chairman of the national working committee dissolved last May in Port Harcourt, which culminated in the creation of a caretaker committee by the national convention with Senator Makarfi as chairman.
A new national convention slated for August 17 to produce new set of national officers by the caretaker committee is under threat as a result of conflicting court orders.
The former president admitted that he was aware of the unsavoury development in the party as he receives regular briefing from the leadership of the BoT.
“I have been talking to individuals (members of the party), but I believe I should do more.”
While thanking the BoT leadership for its resilience, Jonathan advised them not to give up in ensuring that all aggrieved groups were reconciled.
“Unfortunately, we have been challenged, but, I don’t think you should be discouraged because challenges are part of life; even in families there are challenges. There are challenges even in the church more than what may be happening at the political level. So, you should not be discouraged, and I believe, collectively, we can solve it.”
“Any sincere PDP member should know that the party is bigger than any  individual; and many members have sacrificed their interests for the party,” Jonathan said.
He further expressed concern over  conflicting court orders that have  complicated the leadership tussle.
Senator Jibrin said the visit was to prevail on the former president to intervene and save the party from what he called avoidable crisis.
“We abide by provisions of Article 10 of the party’s constitution, which provides for internal resolution of crisis. This provision has been abandoned with various court cases. There is court judgment in Port Harcourt and there are court judgments and orders in Abuja.
“We realised we needed reconciliation. Many committees have been set up for reconciliation because some members of the party are concerned.
“That is why we appeal to you as a former president to be a party to the reconciliation; your intervention is very important to chart a way forward for the party.
“We have great respect for you, despite the fact that you have not been appearing in our activities.
“We have embarked on visitations to our founding fathers and we have visited the National Assembly. We are satisfied with level of cooperation between PDP and other members in the National Assembly. They have played the opposition very well and have embarked on policy of issues not on personalities,” Walid told Jonathan.
He, however, expressed confidence that  despite its present challenges, PDP would not disintegrate, declaring that “anybody who wants to destroy PDP will not succeed.”
Former national deputy chairman, Chief Bode George, spoke in similar vein as he noted that genuine efforts of well meaning elders of the party towards  genuine reconciliation would not be in vain.
“We are at a point we cannot afford to allow the party go under. And this is the most appropriate time as members of BoT, to call on you to intervene. When we were in power for 16 years, all these crises would have been resolved by the Villa. Now, there is no Villa and it looks
like a community without headship,” George said.
Amongst  BoT members present at the meeting were Mohammed Abba Gana, Chief Bode George, Hajia Inna Ciroma and Professor ‎Tunde Adeniran.