Senator Ali Modu Sheriff yesterday resumed duty as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman at the party national secretariat amidst tight security.
Sheriff, who was reinstated by the Appeal Court gave assurance that the party will not die in his hands.
The former Bornu State governor, who addressed a delegation of party members from Imo State, who paid him a solidarity visit at Wadata House, reiterated his call to all aggrieved members of the party to join hands with him in rebuilding the party.
Sheriff said the visit of the Imo delegation, which was led by Sen Hope Uzodimma, has punctured claims by his opponents that he does not enjoy the support of PDP members at the grassroots.
He, however, said repeatedly that he does not want to join issues with anyone regarding the leadership dispute in the party.
He said: “Every day, I say I don’t want to join issues, but every day when I open the pages, I read stories that gives me doubt about these people, the respect I give them, whether they are truly deserving of it.
“This party belongs to all of us. After the judgment the first statement I made is let us come together and rebuild this party. We are not going to give this party to people who are not members of this party.
“People should go back to their states and get the party together. Time will tell who is right and who is wrong. And Nigerians are watching. I still appeal to everybody, let’s come together. Let us work together. By the grace of God, this ship will not capsize. The cargo will not sink.”
While expressing appreciation to the Imo PDP members for the solidarity visit, the PDP National chairman promised to support women in the party to get 30% representation in elective offices.
Speaking earlier, former Minister of Information, Prof Walter Ofonagoro, who was part of the delegation, said the people of the state abhors illegality and impunity, hence the decision to identify with Sheriff.
He called for an end to the leadership tussle in the party, stating that the PDP crisis is hurting Nigerians.
Ofonagoro said: “We have the highest regard for the rule of law. That is why we are here. We are here because we cannot allow a situation where a vacuum is allowed in our party.”
He, however, called on Sheriff to strive for reconciliation between all feuding members of the party, so that the party can move forward.
Source: BreakingTimes