Sheriff to quit as PDP National chairman in May

•Ex-ministers kick, Fani-Kayode dares former Borno gov

From Taiwo Amodu, Abuja

For the embattled new National Chairman of the Poeples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the three months tenure offered him yesterday was softlanding.

Sheriff was the choice of the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) which resolved the crisis trailing his emergence last Tuesday and ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

His emergence was rejected by the Board of Trustees (BoT), the forum of former PDP Ministers led by Hon. Taminu Turaki and the PDP Rescue Group, led by Sheriff’s main rival for the office, Amb. Wilberforce Juta.

But at the end of a meeting  among the PDPGF, the National Working Committee (NWC), the party  caucus in the National Assembly and the BoT, it was resolved that Sheriff be allowed to spend a tenure of three months.

The governors led by Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) and Nyesom Wike, (Rivers) pleaded with BoT not to stampede Sheriff out of office as they noted that it would compound the party’s crisis.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Ondo State Governor, Dr Segun Mimiko, who doubles as Chairman of the PDPGF, said all organs of the party have agreed to accept Senator Sheriff’s leadership and cooperate with him to conduct a credible national convention within three months.

Mimiko said: “As you can see we are just from a meeting. You are all aware of some controversies generated  by the appointment of our new National Chairman.

“In view of the recent development of our party, I want to let you know that all organs of the party, the governors’ forum, National Assembly caucus and BoT have agreed to stand by our National Chairman to ensure that our party moves forward.

BoT Chairman, Senator Walid Jubrin thanked the governors for their trouble shooting initiative which ensured the resolution of the impasse.

But their resolution was rejected by the former PDP Ministers Forum which met at Nicon Luxury, Abuja.

Addressing newsmen, chairman of the Forum, Turaki, said, “the forum rejects Senator Ali Modu Sheriff due to the  illegitimacy of the process that purportedly produced him.”

“The position of BoT wouldn’t change our position. Even at this forum, we have members of the BoT.

Meanwhile, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said he will continue to challenge the leadership of the PDP by Senator Sheriff.

In recent publications,  Fani-Kayode has declared that the former governor was not fit to assume the office of national chairman of the party.

Making insinuations to Senator Sheriff’s alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram, Fani-Kayode said the former assumption of leadership position in PDP would compound the party’s credibility challenge.

But speaking with newsmen on Monday, Senator Sheriff denied any link with the terror gang and vowed to take legal action against the former minister. “People like Femi Fani-Kayode won’t go scot free,” Senator Sheriff said.