From Taiwo Amodu, Abuja

FORMER national chairman of the dissolved Peoples Democratic Par­ty, (PDP) National Working Com­mittee, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has denied any peace deal with the Senator Ahmed Makarfi caretaker committee over the leadership tussle rocking the erstwhile ruling party.

Addressing newsmen last Thurs­day at the end of the party,s national caucus meeting in Abuja, the former Kaduna State governor had told newsmen that the leadership crisis would soon be resolved in favour of his committee, as he further noted that leaders of the party were already talking to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to throw in the towel.

Announcing August 17 as new date for a fresh national convention,

the former Kaduna State governor fur­ther noted that the presence of Sena­tor Buruji Kashamu, a strong backer of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff at the national caucus meeting was a strong signal that the peace deal was working.

He said:”We received reports of rec­onciliation. You can see for yourself our brother, friend and associate, Sena­tor Buruji Kashamu. That is evidence of the reconciliation making progress and I can assure you that we will never foreclose full reconciliation with Sena­tor Ali Modu Sheriff and others that may still be associated with him.

“What we want is an all inclusive PDP, an equitable, fair and just system in the PDP where the rights of every­one is protected and preserved.”

But speaking to newsmen through his deputy, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, the former Borno State governor denied

any peace deal with the Senator Ma­karfi team.

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff vowed to pursue the pending litigations over the leadership tussle to its logical conclu­sion while insisting that he remained the national chairman of the PDP.

He said: “I have the express permis­sion of Senator Sheriff to inform our teeming supporters and PDP faithful nationwide that he has not reached agreement with anybody, neither has he permitted anybody to conclude on any processes on his behalf.

“We are continuing with our cases in court, we respect the rule of law. Sheriff will address a press confer­ence on Monday on the state of our party, PDP.

“Our goal remains to return the party to the people and stamp out im­punity.”