Propaganda will not set PDP free — Dickson

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State said yesterday that propaganda and name-calling by party stalwarts will not free the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from its protracted crisis.

Dickson, who is the chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee, described the comments that trailed the submission of his report to the national executive of the party as mere propaganda.

The two embattled leaders of the party, Senators Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi have been enmeshed in counter accusations since the submission of the report by Dickson’s committee to Sheriff.

The Bayelsa governor said rather than embark on name-calling, propaganda and outright lies, it was high time the party came together in the interest of peace.

He lamented that despite the sacrifices made by him and members of the committee, it was unfortunate that some persons within the party were making “uncharitable comments” on the report meant to salvage the party.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the governor called on everyone who has any idea as to how to take the party out of the current crisis to proffer their own solutions, instead of seeking to pull down the little gains that have been made by the committee.

“In my usual character, I am not disposed to joining issues with anyone or group especially on a matter that I think can be settled internally. More so, when some of the key actors are not sincerely committed to bringing an end to the festering crisis that has set us back as a party,” he said.

Dickson said he had never supported the court-declared chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, insisting that since the Appeal Court had recognised him as leader of the party, the laws had to be obeyed and dialogue employed to resolve issues.