The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has insisted that there is no going back on the planned national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, amid reconciliation efforts with the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee.
Naija News reports that the National Secretary of the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, in an interview with Punch, said the party was already moving past the internal divisions and the Turaki group could no longer be regarded as a separate faction.
Anyanwu said the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had reached out for reconciliation, but Wike has insisted that the opposing group must be genuinely interested in resolving the crisis.
He said, “We have come to the conclusion that the so-called Turaki-led faction is no longer a faction. We only have one PDP now, under the leadership of the chairman of the National Caretaker Committee.
“By April 2, we are going to have a new National Working Committee of the party and we will continue from where we stopped.
“We are moving ahead with our convention. Preparations are already going on for that, and the convention will take place on the 29th and 30th of April.
“Governor Makinde himself has reached out for reconciliation, but like our leader said, we want a sincere and honest reconciliation. In politics, there is no permanent friend or enemy; it is all about interest.”
Similarly, the Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the PDP, Sunday Bisi, who spoke with the aforementioned publication, said the camp loyal to Wike remained open to reconciliation but insisted that the party’s planned convention would proceed as scheduled.
According to him, Wike made it clear that the reconciliation must not affect the party’s planned convention and the existing caretaker leadership.
Bisi added that activities leading to the convention were already underway in several states across the country.
He said, “Wike said the convention date is sacrosanct and cannot be changed, and that the members of the National Caretaker Committee have come to stay. If the convention is coming up next week or so, there is no point changing any caretaker now.
“As of today, congresses are ongoing in almost 15 states of the country, including Oyo State. So we cannot halt any ongoing congresses or the convention coming up.
“If they want to come for reconciliation, they can come. We are not quarrelling with anybody; our doors are open. If they come, we will sit down and discuss the positions in the National Working Committee. If their argument is strong, why not? Like Wike said, we are operating from a position of strength.”
