PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governors have disagreed on the peace move announced by the two feuding factions of the party led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Sheriff.
Governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, who spoke on the matter with State House correspondents, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday, offered differing opinions on the necessity of the reconciliation move.
While Ikpeazu described it as a step in the right direction, Fayose rejected it, saying that it was only the Court of Appeal that could resolve the party’s leadership crisis, adding that PDP state governors have not been briefed.
According to the Abia governor, at the end of the day, the new reconciliation move would be a victory for the party and Nigeria.
While observing that the long period of the crisis had taken a toll on the party, he noted that it had also provided it with new opportunities to become stronger.
Ikpeazu said: “In every crisis, there are downsides because nobody will wish and pray for crisis. I think also that moments of crisis are also opportunities for strength, renewed vigor and to reinvent our vision.
“So, ultimately, I think the PDP has the resilience and what it takes to bounce back as a party.”
On how to secure the support of its founding fathers and others who may have left the party, he said the party would work to bring everybody back on board.
He added: “There is no doubt that party politics everywhere involves everybody whether you are a founding father or a new member. Political party is built around people and everybody has equal stake.
“Our interest is Nigeria. Therefore, all strata of people, opinion, I think, will be put into consideration because they are equally important.”
Ikpeazu deemphasised the role of PDP state governors in the resolution of the crisis, saying: “The important thing is Nigeria and the important thing is democracy. Whether you are a BoT member or a party person, it doesn’t really matter. PDP Governors Forum is not political party.”
But his Ekiti counterpart disagreed with him over the new peace move, saying that it will not work unless ruled on by the Appeal Court.
He said the governors have not been consulted while the cases in court have not been withdrawn.
Fayose said: “That move, you see, I’m not against anything called resolution within the party but everybody must wait for Court of Appeal to resolve this matter.
“Matters are in court, nobody has withdrawn any matter and they are resolving. What are you resolving?
“When matters are in court, you allow court to lay them to rest. The moment this thing doesn’t go with one side, they will tell you we are still in court.
“But allow the court to take a stand and reconciliation would be made easy. I’m not against anybody reconciling with each other but when you see that meeting, ask the conveners if governors were briefed.
