Opinion: PDP crisis: Sheriff, Makarfi must step down for reconciliation before national convention
Editor's Note: This piece was put together by Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, a former APC member who newly defected to the PDP in Delta state. In this article he is of the view that the PDP should not hold national convention pending the determination of the Supreme court. He is also reasoning that the two actors in the party crisis should step down for proper reconciliation
The planned convention by the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction, to say the least, is in bad taste and must not be encouraged by the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The best move will be to find a more acceptable strategy that provides a level playing ground for all stakeholders.
Ali Modu Sheriff unwilling to let power go. This fight has been since May 2016
The crisis is not meant to show or display class ego or to exhibit financial might and other potentials outside the main objective of rebranding the party and moving forward to greater heights.
The internal conflict should not be seen as a display of political might so as to show who is more powerfully connected. It must not be viewed from the winner takes all angle, rather stakeholders must resolve the crisis on the principles of "no victor, no vanquish."
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To avoid incurable division that may crack the party beyond redemption, it is expedient that the two major actors in the crisis, Senators Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi must of a necessity throw in the trowel so as to give room for an enlarged dialogue which will produce a clear cut direction for the party and a convention committee inaugurated for a transparent congress.
Going ahead with the congress in a situation where there is a pending matter at the Supreme Court will not only make the congress a laughing stock by the opposition, it also reveals the lack of internal democracy in the party where some stakeholders focus on a tiny group interest rather than the larger party interest of providing a robust opposition and at the same time strategising on the takeover of power from the APC in 2019.
To discontinue the legal process therefore, it will entail Makarfi and Sheriff stepping down while leaders of the party step in to genuinely reconcile the warring factions so as to reposition the party on the enviable part of greatness.
It is strongly advised that no congress should be held while the Supreme Court case is pending so that no bad blood is generated after the ruling as to permanently extinguish the party or fragment it to a point of no electoral value in 2019.
Ahmed Makarfi: He has the sympathy and support of the majority
I adopt the opinion of former Head of State and a great leader of the party, General Ibrahim Babangidda, which is to the effect that PDP still has the super potentials to bounce back to power; because of its grassroots knowledge and huge membership across the country. What is needed urgently is peace, unity and super synergy by stakeholders.
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It is a fact that PDP is the life wire of the APC and to block the blood vessels of the APC requires unity within the PDP and provide a strong opposition that Nigerians can comfortably key into, to kick out the APC national government which has brought economic recession, acute hunger, amplified poverty and hopelessness to Nigerians.
The future of PDP is very bright. This Umbrella must not be destroyed.
Time for Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi to step down for a genuine reconciliation to pave way for another congress that will take PDP to a higher level is now.
Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe is a former member of the APC who newly defected to the PDP in Delta state
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