PDP BoT raise committee to end party crisis

As part of the frenetic efforts to douse the tension enveloping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its Board of Trustees (BoT) has set up a committee to interface with internal contending forces with a view to heading into the December national convention as a united platform.

Rising from an emergency meeting at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Thursday, the board, which describes itself as the “conscience of the party,” harped on the need to have a free and fair elective convention where its new set of national leaders will emerge.

The board posited that the party cannot afford to be fragmented at a time Nigerians are looking up to it as an alternative to the faltering ruling party.

The committee, which is due to commence its work in the next 72 hours, is made up of members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), BoT, state governors, former governors, members of the National Assembly, former ministers, among others.

Former Senate President, David Mark, who spoke on the outcome of the meeting, said that the committee is mandated to holistically resolve the party crises.

“We resolved at the meeting to set up a committee that will look at the situation. The committee is made up of the governors, members of the BoT, members of the National Assembly, all the members of the National Working Committee, former governors, former ministers, so that they can holistically resolve the problems,” he said.

He added that the envisaged solution will not only stop the current defections from the PDP but will also make it a stronger political party.

“It will not only stop the current crises, but it will also lead to providing a better environment to make us far more united and make us stronger as a party,” he added.

Lending his voice, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, affirmed that members of the party are committed to the resolution of the crises bedevilling it, calling for party unity to salvage the country.

Saraki stated: “We all came together to addresses some issues and because of the urgency of the matter, we agreed to set up this committee urgently and within the next 48 to 72 hours, they will meet and at the end of that meeting, the country will see the direction the party is going.

“The commitment of everybody to attend that meeting and subject themselves to the decision of that meeting shows the interest of everybody.

“The presence of all of us here is because this meeting of today was important in addressing some of those issues.

“My own message to Nigerians is that we know the importance of this party to this nation in addressing the challenges ahead of us. So, let us come together as a party and salvage this country.”

Before the commencement of the meeting, PDP BoT Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, stressed the importance of the session, saying that with the current condition the All Progressive Congress (APC) administration has left the country the PDP must put its house in order ahead of the 2023 elections.

He said: “This meeting is very important at this crucial time because of the numerous problems in our party especially lack of coercion within and among major stakeholders that need the intervention of BoT as the highest advisory body and the conscience of the Party.

“Similarly, with total disorder coupled with the great confusion in the recent congress of the APC added to its great failure in protecting lives and properties of Nigerians thus making the total collapse of security in all aspect of genuine development, now is the right time for PDP to set its house in order to prepare for the next coming Elective Convention to elect our National Party Leaders and preparations for the coming 2023 General Elections.

“In order to achieve complete success, we must do away with any personal interest and unnecessary in-house fighting aimed at killing the objectives set by the party noting that PDP ruled for 16 years as against total failure of the current Government of APC which is characterised by incompetence and total insecurity.

“Therefore, we must look critically at the party approved organs advising all to wake up from slumber by functioning very well in order to fulfil the dreams of our forefathers.

“In the light of the foregoing, it is very important, therefore, that the BoT being the conscience of the party must today come up with a necessary strategy for the election of the Party National Leadership based on a free and fair election that will produce credible and competent officers of our party.”

He urged party members to put its interest above personal considerations “making sure that new leaders emerge only through free and fair election at National Convention.”

He also warned that any party member that dragged the party to the court must face disciplinary action, saying: “There is also the need to take firm stand to drastically reduce the action of court cases by aggrieved members but to always follow the procedure enshrined in the Constitution before referring any matter to the court of law.

“Anyone that takes the party to court should be seriously disciplined.”

Jibrin urged the party stakeholders to examine the reasons all its previous NWC never lived to serve out their full tenures.

“This BoT should therefore look at the reason of the abrupt end of past National Chairmen and the NWC tenures and take decision quickly. We must sit down with the National Chairman and the NWC and

come out with decisions that will make our party strongest. While the truth is bitter, we must cope with the bitterness by taking serious actions to handle this situation,” he stated.

In his remark, the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, called for solutions that will make the PDP a stronger party.

He informed the BoT that nine-state congresses are still pending as he praised the work of the Saraki-led Reconciliation and Strategy Committee in restoring harmony among members.

Secondus stated: “Today’s meeting is critical, not only for members of the National Working Committee (NWC) but the entire party. It is critical because a time like this is a time that we must brace up and be able to come out very strong and even stronger.

“Because I believe that in every human endeavour where there are issues, the issues must be tabled, discuss and come out with solutions. That solution will make our party very very strong.

“The state of our party as I briefed you the last time we met here, is that we have in our hands 9 state congresses that have to be conducted before the convention. And I believe that the reconciliation committee has done great work in Plateau state and Niger state. And by the grace of God the remaining Congresses in the remaining state, as we speak the forms are being sold for those who want to contest in their various states.

“Let me commend the effort of the reconciliation committee in resolving issues arising in States and involving the stakeholders they have met. I believe that their issues and the issues must be resolved. The reconciliation committee has been successful, so far so good.

“After the main state congresses, both the public and our party was looking forward to a smooth and peaceful convention which is coming up in December. We believe the preparation is been done in the office of the National Organising Secretary. And soon the schedule of events, the timetable and the others shall be presented before the Caucus, BoT, NEC and all organs of our party for action leading to the convention.

“This is the first time in the history of our party, regardless of divergence opinion that this current NWC has been in office and nearly 3 months to the convention that we will be ending this regime in a smooth transition that will be taking place without rancour or problem.

“Let me report to the BoT, that of truth based on what the Chairman of the BoT has said, that 7 deputies members of the principal working committee resigned. We met with them, the first day they brought their letters and we also met with them yesterday. We quickly deployed the internal conflict resolution mechanism so that the issues are not escalated to the point that our party will be greatly damaged.

“You are aware that the National Youth leader took a stand that is outside the conduct of our normal process of settling grievances and thereafter he on his own has been going on, on the wide-scale allegations and so forth.

“We believe that issues of this nature must be handled quickly and swiftly so that we can get back to the business of conducting free and fair conventions for a smooth transition.

“Because any dislocation will cause an infraction and will result in several unknown issues that we may come out, we may not be able, but God forbid.

“The intention is to come out that for 3 years, 8 months now, it has been very peaceful. Not that no issue, the issues are usual issues of party, both party administration and those who know the running and the power game will understand.

“Am happy to report to you that these are very critical issues, that the conscience of the party and another forum will look into.

“My opinion is that anything contrary to the smooth running of our party, towards this 3 months that is remaining will not be good enough for our party.

“Sacrifices have been made from the beginning when we came in and by the grace of God not without an error. Because anyone that has no error is perfect. But as human beings you are aware that the convention that took place in Port Harcourt was transparent, it is a convention that put the party together and it was smooth, free, fair and we went into that election in 2019.

“I believe that all hands must be on deck because you are aware that the other party is falling apart and Nigerians are looking up to PDP to come out stronger and prepare themselves for 2023. And this by the grace of God we all are willing and I believe that the party will come out stronger from this situation and with strength, we will march forward to 2023 to rescue Nigeria from the crisis APC has taken Nigeria into.

“I believe that members of the BoT who have worked so hard from the beginning and now in collaboration with the NWC and governors forum will be able to chart a way forward, a way forward that will bring victory to our party.”

Some of the participants at the meeting were PDP National Chairman, Prince Secondus, National Secretary; Senator Umar Ibrahim Tsauri; Deputy National Chairman North, Senator Suleiman Nazi; former Presidents of the Senate Bukola Saraki, David Mark, and Adolphus Wabara as well as Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Also present were former state governors including Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers), and Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun); former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki; former party spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh; former Foreign Affairs ministers, Aminu Wali and Chief Tom Ikimi; Senator Ben Obi, Shuaib Oyedokun, among others

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