PDP Dissolves Dickson’s Reconciliation Committee

 Kashamu, others to face disciplinary panel

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissolved the National Reconciliation Committee headed by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

The Dickson-led peace panel which was set up last year by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in the wake of the crisis in the PDP, however, got embroiled in a controversy when it recognised the former National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

However, as part of the resolutions reached at the last Tuesday at the NEC meeting of the PDP in Abuja, the party said all standing committees, including the reconciliation committee, were dissolved.

Speaking while receiving members of the committee led by Governor Dickson in his private residence in Abuja on Wednesday night, the PDP National Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said the idea to shut down the committee came from the Bayelsa governor.

He said Dickson had reasoned that it would be better to dissolve the committees after the Supreme Court judgment so as to make way for new committees with fresh members.

Makarfi said: “I heard discussion with you and you initiated the discussion out of foresight and love for the party and I communicated that initiative of yours to all the organs of the party including NEC which is that you advised that all standing committees in our great party be dissolved, and set up new ones to pave the way for fresh faces,” he said.

Makarfi regretted that the group could not resolve the crisis in the party due to the unreliable attitude of some of the actors in the conflict.

He thanked the governor and his team for their tremendous service to the party,
He also clarified the decision on no victor, no vanquished taken by the party, saying it only covers actions or offences committed before the last Supreme Court judgment.

He referred to the recent action by a PDP senator from Ogun state, Buruji Kashamu, describing him as one of those who had been undermining the party.

“After the Supreme Court judgment, I said no victory, no vanquished. I stand by that. Some said I did not consult them, I say okay I have acted on your behalf but did draw a line. It is a different thing after saying that if any individual continues to undermine the party.

“Such misbehaviour should not be covered by the statement, no victor no vanquished.
“No victory, no vanquished applies only to all the happenings before the Supreme Court ruling. That no individual will be punished for merely disagreeing, or not seeing eye to eye with one another before the matter was settled,” he said.

In his remarks, Dickson said his committee members decided to visit Makarfi after holding a valedictory meeting.
“All of us, the committee met and reviewed our activities and the moment together, and Mr. Chairman we remain convinced today just as we were convinced about the work we did months back that the way forward for our party is reconciliation, reconciliation, reconciliation,” he said.

The meeting was attended by almost all committee members including the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Abba Gana, current serving Senator Joshua Lidan, Ambassador Umaru Damagun and BoT member Hajiya Hauwa Musa Kida.
The governor thanked them for their collaboration and dedication to duty before proceeding for a meeting with the Makarfi.