By Teddy Nwanunobi
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — Hopes of an end to the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) increased on Wednesday as the Governor of Bayelsa State and Chairman of the Party’s National Reconciliation Committee (NRC), Henry Seriake Dickson, met with the Ahmed Makarfi-National Caretaker Committee leadership.
Dickson’s Committee also continued its search for lasting peace in the Party, with a meeting with the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Dickson, who arrived the temporary party secretariat of the Makarfi group, was accompanied by a former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu.
According to him, the election of all officials of the party at state and zonal levels before the botched May 21, Port Harcourt Convention remains valid.
Dickson reiterated his position that the report of his committee which seeks to return peace and cohesion to the party was not cast in stone.
He stressed that it could always be improved upon by the appropriate organs of the party.
The governor, along with other members of the Committee also promised to meet with other key organs of the party to present the template for lasting peace in the PDP.
“All officials of the PDP at the state and zonal levels elected before the May 21 botched Port Harcourt election convention remain valid. My committee will also meet with other key organs of the party to present the template. But let me add that this report is not cast in stone,” he said.
In his response, Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, promised to study the template and relate with other organs of the party on the report before making any serious pronouncement.
In his meeting with Ekweremadu, Dickson, who used the opportunity to present his committee’s report to Ekweremadu, explained that the report would set the template for peace in the party.
Accompanied by members of the Committee, Dickson told his host that although the committee’s findings and recommendations were not final as they could be adjusted by the party organs , they would help in setting the tone for lasting peace in the PDP.
He added that with the meetings and wide consultations currently going on, he was optimistic that the challenges currently facing the party would soon end.
However, the governor noted that the report and other consultations currently going on were without prejudice to the ongoing litigation and court processes.
The PDP peace committee chief urged all those who are aggrieved to sheathe their swords in the overall interest of peace and harmony in the opposition party.
Also present during the meeting were ex-governor Godswill Akpabio, who is also the Senate Minority leader; Leo Ogor, House Minority leader; and other key leaders of the Party.
In his comments, Ekweremadu, who is also the Chairman of the PDP National Assembly Caucus, commended Dickson and members of his committee for their steadfastness and interest in ensuring that the party returns to its pride of place in Nigerian party politics.
“There is hunger and anger in the land. There is tension in the land and so as a party we cannot be struggling and fighting over leadership instead of coming together to restore hope to Nigerians.
“The crisis in PDP is not new. There are crises everywhere even in the Republican party leading up to the U.S election, but what is important is that we find a way to resolve this crisis,” Ekweremadu stressed.
He explained that the National Assembly as a caucus would consider the report and engage with other key stakeholders of the Party to ensure that peace returns to the Party.
Akpabio, who also added his voice by commending the Dickson-led Committee for its outstanding work to bring peace back to the PDP, expressed the Party’s leaders’ delight in the efforts by the Committee to restore peace.
“The taste of the pudding is in the eating. We thank the Governor for investing his time and energy to pursue peace. The integrity of the Dickson-led Committee is not in doubt, and it is not surprising that he is doing so well as Governor of Bayelsa State.
“We, along with millions of Nigerians, are yearning for peace, and, therefore, we are quite pleased to see that you are working assiduously for peace to return to the Party,” the former Akwa Ibom governor said.
Ogor stressed the need for peace and commended the Dickson-led Committee for all its effort at ensuring that peace returns to the Party.
