Two
governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday disagreed on the
peace move announced by the two feuding factions of the party led by Senator
Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
The
two factions of the party had on Tuesday announced their decision to bury the
hatchet and work together in order to enable the party perform its role as a
viable opposition platform.
Both
factions disclosed their intention to embark on extensive consultations with
their respective loyalists to fashion out a way to cement the new unity after
about four months of bitter rivalry.
Governors
Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, who spoke
separately on the issue with State House correspondents at the end of the
National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on
Thursday, differed on the necessity of the reconciliation move.
While
Fayose rejected it and stressed that it is only the Court of Appeal that can
resolve the party’s leadership crisis, Ikpeazu described it as a step in the
right direction.
According
to Fayose, the PDP state governors have not been briefed on the reconciliation
move while the cases in court have not been withdrawn.
He
said: “That move, you see, I’m not against anything called resolution within
the party but everybody must wait for Court of Appeal to resolve this matter.
“Matters
are in court, nobody has withdrawn any matter and they are resolving. What are
you resolving?
“When
matters are in court you, allow court to lay them to rest. The moment this
thing doesn’t go with one side, they will tell you were are still in court.
“But
allow the court to take a stand and reconciliation would be made easy. I’m not
against anybody reconciling with each other but when you see that meeting, ask
the coverners if governors were briefed.
“I
was not briefed. I am not the only person in the party but I then I have a
stake.”
On
whether the cases in court cannot be withdrawn during reconciliation, he
replied: “Let’s wait till then. But my opinion is the Court of Appeal must
resolve this matter.
“When
you resolve the matter, you know that I am wrong and I you are right and
reconciliation will be made easy.” He said
Abia
governor said that the new reconciliation move will be a victory for the party
and Nigeria at the end of the day.
Noting
that the long period of the crisis had taken a toll on the party, he said that
it had also provided it with new opportunities to become stronger.
Ikpeazu
said: “In every crisis there are downsides because nobody will wish and pray
for crisis. I think also that moment of crisis are also opportunities for
strength, renewed vigor and to reinvent our vision.
“So,
ultimately, I think the PDP has the resilience and what it takes to bounce back
as a party.”
On
how to secure the support of its founding fathers and others who may have left
the party, he said the party will work to bring everybody back on board.
He
went on: “There is no doubt that party politics everywhere involves everybody
whether you are a founding father or a new member. Political party is built
around people and everybody has equal stake.
“Our
interest is Nigeria. Therefore, all strata of people, opinion I think will be
put into consideration because they are equally important.
“The
important thing is Nigeria and the important thing is democracy. Whether you
are a BoT member or a party person, it doesn’t really matter. PDP Governors
Forum is not political party.” He added
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