New twist in PDP’s long walk to peace
The wave of peace seem to have started hovering over the roof of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has been immersed in intense leadership crisis since it lost power in 2015. Our correspondent examines the intrigues, thrills and frills.
The political solution strategy adopted by PDP stakeholders after a prolonged legal battle between the two key political gladiators - Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi - is weathering the storm of uncertainty about the party’s future and the nation’s democracy.
Analysts say the current peace move being brokered by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State who was given the mandate to chair the PDP National Reconciliation Committee, is critical to the survival of the party.
Some party leaders especially those within Sheriff’s camp are overwhelmingly in tune with the recommendations of the governor’s committee report which suggested that a political solution was the best option for the lingering crisis.
Similarly, observers believe that one of the key recommendations that the party must hold a national unity convention not later than June 30, if it wants to remain relevant in the nation’s political mainstream, when strictly adhered to, would give the party a new lease of life.
However, the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the party had kicked against the recommendations of the committee on ground that it was presented to Senator Sheriff at the party’s national secretariat in a hurry without inputs from the various organs of the party.
The Caretaker Committee’s spokesperson, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in a statement, accused Dickson of being an unscrupulous peace broker.
But in a dramatic twist, the Sheriff and Makarfi groups have agreed to cease fire following an interface with the governor.
Governor Dickson has also submitted the report of his committee to Makarfi in his office in Abuja, and the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, as well as the National Assembly caucus.
States chairmen of the party loyal to Sheriff also confirmed at their meeting Wednesday, in Abuja, that they had copies of the report and adopted it.
One of the gains of the Dickson’s reconciliation effort, pundits say was the signing of the peace pact by Sheriff and Makarfi, last Thursday. This followed several hours of meeting with the governor in his house at Maitama-Abuja.
Senator Makarfi was represented by the spokesman for the caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye who signed on his behalf, while Sheriff was represented by his Chief of Staff, Barr. Ahmed Gulak who signed on his behalf.
Acting spokesman of the Sheriff-led group, Bernard Mikko also signed the document as well as another chieftain of the party, Dave Iorhemba.
Sheriff ’s deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh was also present but was not part of those who signed the document.
Reading the content of the pact to newsmen, a former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu, who is vice chairman of the committee, said all actors of the party have agreed to desist from making derogatory, inflammatory and divisive statements against party officials, stakeholders and members.
“That the party should not dissipate her energy amongst itself but to focus on how to unite and be a formidable opposition capable of taking over power from the failed APC led government.
“That all key actors in the on-going peace process should henceforth desist from making public press statements attacking each other and statements insinuating negative acts capable of dragging the party to the mud.
“In conclusion all key actors in the PDP have agreed to work together with the National Reconciliation Committee led by Governor Seriake Dickson to engender peace and genuine reconciliation,” he said.
Chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, after receiving the report of the Reconciliation Committee from the governor also said any attempt by any member of the PDP to go into an “unborn party” is not a good step.
“We must compromise our differences and remain a party to beat. We are sure the report will pass the test when presented to members of the BoT. What some of us can never do is to leave the PDP.
“The BoT as the highest advisory body and conscience of the party will do everything possible to revive the party to its proper position. Party leaders should forgive one another and stop making further accusations and derogatory remarks against one another,” Jibrin said. The convention The Makarfi group has expressed readiness to partake in genuine reconciliation but has reservations about the proposed national unity convention of the party which is being planned by some party leaders to come up soon.
The reasons deduced by Makarfi during the PDP Northern leaders meeting, in Abuja, was that issues relating to the party’s leadership should be allowed to be sorted out, especially as there is a pending appeal at the Supreme Court.
He expressed fear that if all the issues were not resolved and the party goes ahead with the planned convention, another legal brouhaha might erupt when the 2019 elections are around the corner.
Similarly, Makarfi’s concern is that the various organs of the party must be consulted for them to make inputs before arriving at any decision.
He has consistently said that the Caretaker was a creation of the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt, and that whatever decision the various organs of the party reached, the committee would abide by it.
The Makarfi-led committee also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of influencing and willing to sponsor Sheriff to conduct the PDP convention in order to rubbish the PDP, describing him (Sheriff ) as an agent of the APC.
Meanwhile, the Borno born politician has declared that he would not re-contest the position of chairman at the convention. According to him he never wanted to be the party’s chairman but was approached by some party leaders to take the position.
Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the PDP had zoned its national chairmanship slot to the South while Sheriff hails from the North. Sheriff ’s 2019 ambition Some party stalwarts have expressed fear that Sheriff was going to use the national convention to his advantage.
While some observers say Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State is actually interested in organising the convention and handing over the chairmanship, others say he would do everything within his reach ‘to plant his men’ who would do his bidding by securing him the party’s 2019 presidential ticket.
The Makarfi group which also has the feeling that Sheriff is interested in running for the office of president on the PDP platform, however, said the former governor as the party’s presidential candidate will be suicidal.
Sheriff had on Monday told newsmen in Abuja, that God would determine his fate in 2019, when asked whether he would be take a shot at the presidency.
It is imperative to state that the PDP has zoned its presidential ticket to the North ahead of the 2019 general elections.
But the spokesman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, while reacting, said in political parlance, what Sheriff said simply meant he was warming up to contest.
“He just let the cat out of the bag,” Adeyeye said.
He accused Sheriff of working “clandestinely to plant his cronies” at the forthcoming party’s national convention into various offices in order to secure the PDP ticket.
Adeyeye, a former minister of state for works, said that the soul of the PDP was not with Sheriff, stressing that he held unto nothing.
He noted that the caretaker committee would continue to steer the affairs of the party until its various organs or the Supreme Court pronounced otherwise on its status.
“He (Sheriff) has a hidden agenda which is to present himself as a presidential candidate to the delight of the APC. That is why he is doing everything possible to tear this party (PDP) apart.
“Certainly, Sheriff has no good plans for the party. For Sheriff to be PDP presidential candidate will be like a death sentence to the party. So, we cannot accept a convention conducted by Sheriff and people who are there to destroy the party. They are agents of the APC; I have no apologies for that,” he said.
However, with the effort for political solution yielding fruits, it is left to be seen whether the PDP stakeholders would nip the crisis in the bud, go to the convention as one family, elect new leaders and contribute to deepening the nation’s democracy.