Governor Ayo Fayose
of Ekiti state has rejected the recommendations of a committee his party set up
and vowed not to be part of any convention organised by the Ali
Sheriff faction
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A reconciliation
committee led by Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, in its report
presented to Mr. Sheriff asked the PDP national chairman to conduct a
convention within 6 months as part of measures to resolve the crisis in the
party.
New leaders of the
party would be elected at the convention, the committee recommended, even as
Sheriff has pledged not to seek the position of party chairman again.
While Mr. Sheriff
was declared party chairman by the Court of Appeal, another PDP faction led by
Ahmed Makarfi is supported by Fayose and some PDP governors.
In a statement by
his spokesperson, Fayose said he is certain that Sheriff is being sponsored by
Nigeria’s ruling APC and that he and his supporters would not participate in
any convention organised by the current chairman of PDP.
Below is Fayose’s
full statement:
Ekiti State Governor
and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors’ Forum, Ayodele
Fayose, has reiterated his support for the decision of the Senator Ahmed
Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee to appeal the Court of Appeal, Port-Harcourt,
judgement on the leadership of the party, saying; “There cannot be any
meaningful reconciliation with an impossible character like Senator Ali Modu
Sheriff who is obviously working for political interests different from that of
the PDP.”
The governor said he
was aware that well over $1 million had been provided by the APC to fund the
convention being planned by the Sheriff group while adequate security will also
be provided by the security agencies that are now more like part of the APC.
This is being done so as to sustain the party’s plot to turn Nigeria to a one
party State.
Speaking through his
Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the
governor, who said he was reacting in his capacity as the governor of Ekiti
State to the submission of report of the Governor Seriake Dickson-led
reconciliation committee to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, said; “all
constitutionally recognised organs of the party, including staff of the
national secretariat are with the Makarfi led Caretaker Committee and since
political party is about membership, Sheriff will continue to carry with
himself the burden of lack of legitimacy.”
The governor, who
said he had nothing against Governor Dickson, added that; “I respect Governor
Dickson, he is my brother and he is entitled to his own personal opinion just
as I am entitled to mine. But I must state it categorically that no genuine
lover of the PDP will take part in a convention sponsored by the APC.”
Governor Fayose, who
said implementation of the Dickson Committee report was beyond Mr. Sheriff,
noted that; “assuming but not conceding that the report is acceptable, can
Sheriff even implement it? Where will he find seven serving governors, seven
former ministers, etc?”
Governor Fayose
reiterated that no meaningful reconciliation can be done with Senator Sheriff,
adding that; “With APC calling for support for Sheriff, it should be clear to
all genuine lovers of the PDP who are behind the crisis in the party.”
He said; “I am
speaking for myself and the entire people of Ekiti State that I represent; we
won’t be part of any PDP convention sponsored by the APC and I must state
categorically that Sheriff is being sponsored 100 percent by the APC.
“We therefore remain
undaunted in our support for the Markafi committee and its decision to approach
the Supreme Court to challenge the Appeal Court, Port-Harcourt judgement.”
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