Facts have emerged on how governors of the Peoples Democratic Party ignored the recommendations of the party’s Board of Trustees on how to end the crisis in the party thereby jettisoning the chance to salvage the situation and make the convention hold.
Investigations by our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday revealed that the governors rejected the recommendations made by the Reconciliation Committee of the BoT on how to avoid a controversial national convention.
The BoT, under the leadership of Walid Jibrin, set up the committee which was headed by a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, to reconcile aggrieved members of the party, especially the factional chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff.
However, while sources within the party said the board was favourably disposed to the implementation of the suggestions, the governors opposed them, insisting that they were going ahead with the national convention without Sheriff.
Knowing that time was not on its side, the BoT Committee, had put up a preliminary report, in which it outlined ways of pacifying Sheriff and his associates.
The report, which was exclusively obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday, indicated that the terms were agreed to by the Sheriff group.
It said, “After several consultation and verification sessions with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and associates, the committee received a positive and strong commitment to genuine reconciliation.
“Accordingly, the committee has resolved to submit an interim report.”
The report indicated that the convention should be shifted from Port Harcourt to Abuja, though it was still going to hold on Wednesday.
Besides, it also suggested that both Sheriff and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, should be allowed to address the convention.
The report also said that Sheriff must be allowed to hand over to the incoming national chairman after the elections.
The seven-point recommendation, which was sighted by our correspondent, added that all party congresses earlier approved by the National Executive Committee must remain, while fresh congresses could be held in states with disputed congresses.
The recommendations said, “All legal cases in the law courts to be withdrawn with immediate effect.
“All the party congresses earlier approved by NEC to remain, but fresh congresses to be properly conducted in states where severe disputes have arisen because of previous unacceptable congresses, after convention,
“Reconstitute the convention planning committee to comprise nominations from both sides;
“Agree on co-chairmen to preside over the convention planning committee;
“Ensure a credible, transparent and superbly organised convention to produce highly qualified and suitable national officers through a process of free, fair and highly credible elections.
“Both Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to address the national convention, with Senator Ahmed Makarfi declaring the convention open as convention chairman and Senator Sheriff to hand over to the new chairman after the elections.
“Party’s national convention to be shifted from Port Harcourt to Abuja, the Federal Capital City, but the convention should still hold on Wednesday, August 17, 2016.”
Meanwhile, a governor, who spoke with our correspondent on Saturday evening, described the inability of the party to hold the convention as a blessing in disguise.
He said there were signs that the convention would end on a sad note going by the revelations at Port Harcourt.
He said, “I think some of my colleagues were not sincere with the planning.
“Imagine all the states in the South-West, except Ondo and Ekiti, not having up to 10 delegates.”
(Punch)
