I don’t want to be PDP chairman, Sheriff says

•Begins consultations for national convention

•Says all pre-convention state congresses stand

•Disowns anti-Fayose, Wike remarks

NEWLY reinstated National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has stated that he is prepared to give up the post as a personal sacrifice for the sake unity in the party.

In his first official reaction the the Court of Appeal’s decision of which revalidated his election, he told a press conference on Saturday in Abuja that the party was more important than any individual interest.

He said since the court’s pronouncement, he has received a deluge of calls from party leaders, state governors and members of the National Assembly, all stressing the need for unity in the party.

Sheriff stated: “I am not interested in holding the office of the National Chairman of PDP. What I am interested in is to reunite and rebuild the party to make sure that we have credible leaders in the party that will take us successfully into winning elections in 2019 by the grace of Allah.

“Let me put it on record that the survival of PDP is greater than anyone of us and this party was in government for 16 years and today is the beginning of going back to Aso Rock.”

The party boss revealed that he would complete consultations with party leaders within the next one week with a view to coming up with a viable roadmap to a new national convention.

He therefore assured that within the shortest possible time, a new national convention would be organized to enable ambitious party faithful to contest for positions.

Sheriff said he had started talking to all those affected by the Appeal Court judgement and they would all remain in the party to create a formidable unit as it was in 1999.

He disclosed that he would speak with the party’s reconciliation committee to ensure that the PDP develops a quick roadmap to the convention as he appealed to all party leaders to exercise patience “as we resolve the process leading to national convention.”

Sheriff explained that the party has not been doing much talking because the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has been campaigning on its behalf.

“From now, APC is the one campaigning for the PDP. As a party, we were doing nothing and I want to assure you that this party will come back to the position of 1999 very soon,” Sheriff declared.

The chairman also pointed out that his leadership would not tamper with state party structures as all state congresses conducted before the annulled Port Harcourt national convention would be upheld.

Sheriff admonished politicians to refrain from thinking that the court’s decision was a personal victory for him and a personal loss to the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, saying that there was no winner or loser.

He noted that even though the courts were not the best way to resolve political differences, the Judiciary has proved to be a credible bastion of democracy and must not therefore be denigrated by politicians.

Sheriff also disowned statements credited to him which held that he would prevent people like governors Ayo Fayose and Nyesom Wike of Ekiti and Rivers state respectively from gaining a foothold in the PDP.

He added: “I want to really caution anybody, this is the first time I am making any statement ever since the Court pronouncement but I have seen so many things on the internet purported to be said by me against some leaders of the party.

“Please, people should respect themselves and should not compound the problems of the party. I will consult the National Assembly (caucus), I will consult the governors and I will consult every party leader and come up with a proper programme for convention.”

He said said he was only interested in stopping impunity in the party and taking it to the grassroots.