PDP CRISIS DEEPENS: 21 GOVS BOYCOTT FINAL RECONCILIATION MEETING

The crisis plaguing the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new dimension  as the party’s 21  governors  boycotted  its grand finale reconciliation tour and event marking the first anniversary of the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership  in Abuja yesterday.

Only two out of the 23 PDP governors and five deputy governors attended the  event.

Yesterday’s event was the culmination of the tour across the six geopolitical zones in the country which took place in Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Bauchi, Makurdi and Kaduna.

Though Akwa Ibom State governor Godswill Akpabio and his Kogi State counterpart Captain Idris Wada were physically present, the governors of Rivers, Katsina, Kwara, Niger and Gombe states were represented by their deputies.

Speaking in his capacity as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Akpabio denied reports that some governors elected on the platform of the party were bent on leaving the party for  the All Progressive Congress (APC). He added that he had spoken personally to each of the governors and they assured him that they were going nowhere but would rather attract other opposition governors into the PDP’s fold.

He said the PDP was not scared of any opposition as it remained the only party that had a national spread and was ideologically driven, just as he maintained that the APC being contemplated remained no threat to the party.

Welcoming party stalwarts to the event, the national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said that under his leadership the PDP had covered much ground in the drive to make the party a vehicle that guarantees social justice.

“Starting with Reconciliation without vengeance, Reformation without revenge and Rebuilding on the basis of equity and justice, our Triple R Agenda were intended to transform the party into a vehicle for uninterrupted national development along the lines of Mr President’s Transformation Agenda,” Tukur told a bewildered crowd at the venue.

The national chairman promised to look into all issues raised by members and party stalwarts during the tour, saying such remained an integral part and reason as to why there must be cohesion and unity in the party.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice President Namadi Sambo commended the National Working Committee of the PDP for the tours and called on all party members who may be aggrieved to eschew bitterness and resolve to address issues with clear minds.

He said the PDP shouldn’t be deterred by threats of opposition merger but rather choose to fortify itself through enhancement of reconciliation and resolve of conflicts as being pursued by the leadership of the PDP.

Many party chieftains attended the event. They included senators, ministers and top party chieftains. Delegates from all the 36 states of the federation also attended the event.

Source: Leadership