THE special reconciliation committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to address issues arising from the governorship primaries in Kogi and Bayelsa states has been meeting with various stakeholders in the party.
However, investigations by Sunday Tribune has revealed that the major challenge facing the Bukola Saraki-led committee is the absence of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former governor of Kogi State, Ibrahim Idris, from the country.
The committee was inaugurated about 10 days ago and put under the leadership of the immediate past president of the Senate, Saraki. It was learnt that in the last one week, it has met with scores of stakeholders in the party in both states.
A source privy to activities of the Saraki-led committee told Sunday Tribune that so far, there had been positive signs that the PDP would go into the November 16 governorship election in both states as a united front.
“The committee gave assignments to individuals within it. It has achieved a lot in Bayelsa, for instance. In that state, the three major power blocs are former President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Nyesom Wike and Chief Ndutimi Alaibe.
“Though the committee has reached him, Jonathan is currently outside the country. He is expected to be back in a few days. The response from him has been encouraging.
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“Also, Governor Wike, who supported a candidate that lost in the primary, has been pacified not to allow the enemy to penetrate our stronghold on account of that. He is also showing positive signs. The thing is that many party faithful are angry at the governor. But the committee has been able to calm frayed nerves so far,” he said.
Speaking on the case of Kogi State, the source said the Saraki committee had equally recorded appreciable success, while still talking to members of the party who lost at the primary election.
“We are optimistic of total truce before November 16 when the election will hold. The only major issue we have is former Governor Ibrahim Idris. He is also outside the country for now. The committee is, however, reaching out to his supporters.
“But it is believed that those ones would want to hear from him; take instructions from him etc. before stands are made. The committee is trying to make him understand that he shouldn’t be angry to the extent that his people would later blame him for their loss.
“He needs to consider the interest of the Igala people. And in any case, we are trying to pacify him to look at the positive side of the matter; his son-in-law is the winner of the ticket. That is a plus for him in the long run,”
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