Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Acting National Chairman Ali Modu-Sheriff yesterday apologised to aggrieved chieftains of the party over statements credited to him by his personal aides and associates.
Sheriff, at a news conference in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, said “as a well-cultured and astute politician, I would never make any comment that would ridicule the party”, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He had been quoted by his aides to have damned the agitation by some ex-governors, ex-ministers and other leaders, who asked him to quit on May 21 when his tenure ends but Sheriff is contesting for a full term at the national convention slated for Port Harcourt.
They set up a 51-member steering committee, which they said will take over the role of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Sheriff threatened to report former Information Minister Jerry Gana to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly taking an unauthorised loan of N500 million on behalf of the party without giving a proper account.
But yesterday, he said it was not in his character to take up issues with highly respected elders of the party, noting that he never authourised any of his aides or political associates to react to issues raised by aggrieved elders of the party.
Sheriff said that the aggrieved members of the party reserved the right to complain about issues affecting the party which they considered inimical to the progress of the PDP.
He urged any aggrieved member to bury the hatchet and join hands with the present leadership to rebuild the party and restore the confidence of Nigerians in it.
He also noted that the PDP as the main opposition party could not afford to have a divided house and appealed to members to work for the party’s unity.
Sheriff explained that the present leadership of the party was poised to lend a listening ear to all shades of opinions, with a view to strengthening it to face the challenges ahead.
He maintained that the battle for 2019 general elections had started in earnest, adding that the party could not afford to remain divided if the desired goal was to be achieved.
He said “under our leadership and the support and encouragement of stakeholders and supporters, PDP will definitely bounce back in 2019”.
As part of the resolution of the crisis, federal lawmakers elected on the PDP ticket have slated a meeting for today.
A statement jointly signed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Leo Ogor, said the joint meeting owould hold at the House of Representatives’ complex, Abuja.
According to the conveners of the joint session, the sole agenda of the meeting would be the review of the state of the party against the backdrop of the forthcoming National Convention of the party. They said attendance is mandatory.
The lawmakers may also deliberate on the fuel price hike.
Also the Board of Trustees, (BoT) will meet today in Abuja.
The BoT is against the planned amendment of the party’s constitution. The proposed amendment says “The BoT shall meet at the instance of the Chairman in consultation with the national chairman of the party or at the request of half of the members of the Board or following a resolution of the Board or the NEC request for such a meeting.
Some members of the BoT and the National Executive Committee led by Prof. Jerry Gana are leading a revolt against Sheriff.
Also yesterday, former Senate President David Mark called for a truce among the party chiefs.
Senator Mark said in a statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh that:
“I think we have realised our past mistakes and learnt our lessons. We cannot afford a crisis or disaffection within our fold any more.
“It is time for all genuine men and women of our party to make the necessary sacrifice and work honestly towards a United and more cohesive party,” he told the party leaders at the North central congress.
“We must put aside sentiments, personal interest and reconcile honestly and genuinely for the larger interest.”
The PDP, he said, must avoid the pitfalls of the past such as imposition of candidates against the wishes of the majority, insisting that “we are returning the party to the people, let the people decide.”
