Former Senate Presidents, David Mark, Anyim Pius Anyim and Adolphus Wabara, alongside other chieftains have waded into the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Moved by the recent happenings in the PDP, top chieftains of the party have commenced an extensive consultations with the PDP Governors, Board of (BoT), National Working Committee (NWC) and other stakeholders in a bid to bring peace to the party.
On Tuesday, seven members of the NWC resigned from their respective positions, citing “bad treatment, unpleasant working environment”, as the reasons for their action.
The NWC members expressed their dissatisfaction with the leadership style of the party’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus as several Governors have dumped the PDP to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under his watch.
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River; Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara; Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi are all on the long list of cerebral PDP members who have switched allegiance to the APC.
Following the development, the elders have appealed to all aggrieved members of the party to remain calm, while assuring that all contending issues will be solved.
The 28 elders made the plea in a statement which they jointly signed in Abuja.
The elders are Mark, ex-Senate Presidents Anyim Pius Anyim and Adolphus Wabara; former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu; former Deputy Speaker Austin Opara; ex-Minister Jerry Gana; ex-Governors Sule Lamido, Ibrahim Danmkwambo, and Olagunsoye Oyinlola; ex-National Chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo; ex-Ministers Odion Ugbesa and Hajiya Zainab Maina, Senators Biodun Olujimi and Zainab Kure.
Others are a former National Chairman of PDP Sen. Ahmed Makarfi; a former Chief of Staff Mike Ogiadomhe; Senate Minority Leader Eyinnaya Abaribe; Sen. Helen Esuene; Sen. Agboola Hosea and Hajiya Adiza Adodo.
The statement said: “In view of recent developments at the National Secretariat of our great party, we have resolved to issue this press statement urging all party organs, party officers and party members to remain calm, faithful and orderly, as we proceed with urgent consultations and initiatives to resolve the contending issues.
“We wish to firmly reassure aggrieved stakeholders that we intend to be thorough, objective, creative, and balanced in our efforts to find lasting solutions to the fundamental matters arising.
”Towards this end, we have initiated moves to urgently meet with our Governors, the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, and other critical stakeholders. Since we all share the legitimate desires of our loyal members to offer a credible, effective and productive alternative, we have no doubt that we shall soon find positive, appropriate, pragmatic, and lasting solutions to the problems facing the party.
“We shall emerge from this crisis stronger, better, and more united. This is only a temporary challenge.
“We assure all Nigerians that the Peoples Democratic Party is resolute in providing qualitative leadership, sound programs, effective implementation strategies, and hope generating solutions to our national problems.
”On behalf of the elders and founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party, we wish to use this medium to thank all Party Members and supporters across Nigeria and in diaspora for their commitment, loyalty and strong support.”
