PDP Upholds Makarfi- led Caretaker Committee

*Sheriff shuns caucus meeting

*BoT set to reconcile aggrieved members

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The controversy over the outcome of the last national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, may have been laid to rest as the party’s stakeholders on Thursday resolved to recognise the caretaker committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

At a combined meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) , Governors Forum, National Assembly Forum and Concerned Stakeholders Forum held in Abuja, the party resolved to support the caretaker committee which is to be expanded to include other relevant interests.

The meeting, which was chaired by the Chairman of the BoT, Senator Waleed Jibril, and attended by many members of the board, including Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekerenmadu, Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Leo Ogor, also resolved that matters in the court be immediately withdrawn and that the parties should submit themselves to the processes of peace and reconciliation.

The National Secretary of the BoT, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Ojo Maduekwe who read out the communique of the meeting said the party all the party organs involved in the meeting have “agreed to work together and to support the decisions reached at the National convention”.

He said that in furtherance with the desire of the party to ensure full reconciliation of all aggreived members, a high powered peace committee is to be set up by the BoT to undertake reconciliatory efforts.

He also said that another committee was being established to meet with the embattled former chairman, Senator Sheriff in order to ensure that peace finally returns to the party.

“Accordingly the combined meeting of both the BoT, and the expnaded meeting with the governors’ forum, the NASS Forum, the former Ministers Forum and concen Stakeholders’ Forum have agreed to immediately engage all groups, party leaders and members involved in whatever disputes towards a just and lasting amicable resolution of all contending issues.

“That the BoT will therefore preside over the processes of major reconciliation in our party as party of its leadership responsibility, according, in the light of that, the meeting agrres that all the various contending groups‎ are being supported, and indeed have agreed to work together and to support the decisions reached at the National convention as such a high powered committee is to be set up to ensure speedy resolution and reconciliation of all contending issues.

“It was also agreed that the National Caretaker Committee of the party, ably led by former governor and Senator, Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ben obi involves members of Concern Stakeholders’ Froum for effective integration off all points view and all tendencies.

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