Sheriff Backs Jonathan, Governors’ Peace Plan

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Barely 24 hours after former President Goodluck Jonathan qreached agreement with governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on using a political solution to resolve the lingering crisis, one of the feuding parties, the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led leadership, has given support to the plan.

Rising from a meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) held on Wednesday at the newly re-opened national secretariat of the party in Abuja, the Sheriff leadership said it also accepts the stand of the body of PDP governors on the need to adopt a political solution in bringing a lasting peace to the party.

At the end of the meeting of PDP governors with Jonathan, which lasted for about five hours, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, told journalists that they had resolved to pursue a political solution to end the crisis.

But in a statement issued at the end of their meeting, the reinstated National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, said: “They commended the leadership role played by President Jonathan in reaching the new peace plan.
“The NWC commends the leadership role exhibited by Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in finding a lasting solution to the PDP leadership crisis.

“The NWC notes with satisfaction the stand of the body of PDP governors on the need to adopt a political solution in bringing lasting peace to the party. The NWC restates its readiness to fully participate in the peace process.”

Despite the reinstatement of Sheriff as chairman of the PDP by the court and his re-opening of the national secretariat since last Monday, workers of party have refused to resume work, thereby scuttling his efforts to kick-start operations in the place.

However, Oladipo’s statement further said: “Sequel to the official re-opening of the national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, the NWC hereby calls on all staff of the PDP national secretariat to resume duties immediately.”

NWC also received and approved the request from Ebonyi State PDP for the approval of the timetable to conduct primaries for the local government elections.