PDP: Abia, Ekiti Governors Disagree On Peace Move

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Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr. Ayo Fayose have openly differed on the peace move initiated by the two feuding factions of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Sheriff respectively. It will be recalled that both factions had for months been locked up in a legal tussle on who was rightly placed to lead the opposition party. But last week Tuesday saw the two warring sides announce a truce, saying they would work together to move the party forward.

But speaking on the matter with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday, governors Ikpeazu and Fayose disagreed on the reconciliatory measures. While Ikpeazu applauded the move, Fayose however said that only the Court of Appeal had the final say. Observing that the long period of the crisis had negatively affected the party, Ikpeazu still believed that the party would bounce back stronger than it was. “In every crisis there are downsides because nobody will wish and pray for crisis. I think also that moments of crisis are also opportunities for strength, renewed vigour and to reinvent our vision.” “So, ultimately, I think the PDP has the resilience and what it takes to bounce back as a party. At the end of the day, I think the party will be the victor and the Nigerian nation”, he said.

The governor also revealed a move to bring back the founding fathers and all those who had left the party back to the fold. He also dismissed the insinuation that the governors had a leadership role to play in the party. “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’s 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.” But on a different note, Ekiti governor, Fayose insisted that the court of appeal must determine the next move, arguing that the governors had not been informed of the reconciliatory moves by the warring parties. “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 we 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 conveners if governors were briefed.” “I was not briefed. I am not the only person in the party but then, I have a stake”, he said. Responding to a question of whether the cases in court cannot be withdrawn during reconciliation, Fayose said: “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 you are right and reconciliation will be made easy.”

Source: Vanguard