• ‘Govs have not been briefed on peace move’
By Taiwo Amodu, Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja and Christian Agadibe
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and his Abia State counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu are not on the same page as regards the latest peace moves in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
On Tuesday, the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party held a press conference in Abuja, with the Senator Ahmed Makarfi National Caretaker Committee to announce a truce.
The two factions reportedly met in Abuja on Tuesday morning to explore ways to end the party crisis which has lingered for four months. At the end of the meeting, both factions agreed to set up a joint committee to reconcile aggrieved members nationwide.
Deputy National Chairman of Sheriff’s faction, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh and Secretary of the caretaker committee, Senator Ben Ndi Obi later addressed a joint press conference on the matter.
But, yesterday, Fayose told State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after National Economic Council (NEC), that two factors make reconciliation impossible at this time. One, governors of the party were yet to be informed of the reconciliation and, second, cases in court were yet to be withdrawn.
“That move, you see, I’m not against anything called resolution within the party, but everybody must wait for Court of Appeal to resolve this matter. “Matters are in court, nobody has withdrawn any matter and they are resolving. What are you resolving?
“When matters are in court you, allow court to lay them to rest. The moment this thing doesn’t go with one side, they will tell you we are still in court. But, allow the court to take a stand and reconciliation would be made easy. I’m not against anybody reconciling with another, but when you see that meeting, ask the conveners if governors were briefed.
“I was not briefed. I am not the only person in the party, but, I have a stake.”
Regardless, Ikepazu hailed the reconciliation as a welcome development. He said it was “a step in the right direction and would provide the party with new opportunities to become stronger. In every crisis, there are downsides because nobody will wish and pray for crisis. I think also that moments of crises are also opportunities for strength, renewed vigour to reinvent our vision.
“So, ultimately, I think the PDP has the resilience and what it takes to bounce back as a party.”
Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jubrin, whose organ of the party is deeply involved in the trouble shooting efforts, aimed at resolving the leadership tussle, also welcomed the reconciliation move by both factions.
“I don’t know about any condition or terms, but every right thinking member should be grateful for the efforts to bring the factions together. The reconciliation effort is commendable. It is a good move for us.
From South Africa, the PDP chapter urged the leadership to restrategise and place the party in vantage position to win in 2019.
Chairman of the party in South Africa, Hon. Ekos Akpokabayen said: “We must re-organise, restrategise and recover as quickly as possible so as to begin to expose much earlier, the many lies and propaganda of this present administration against us as a party.
“We cannot allow these lies to gain strong foundation, so that our people who are calling for our attention to return in 2019 will begin to build the necessary confidence in the renewed PDP before that time.”