To further the recent efforts at peace by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the national caretaker committee and the Senator Ali Modu-led faction have determined to meet with former President Goodluck Jonathan and elected governors on its platform to intimate them on their plans to reconcile.
According to ThisDay, the meeting has been set for Wednesday, October 5, 2016 and Thursday, October 6, 2016.
The meeting is also reported to involve consultative engagements with other important organs of the party, including Board of Trustees, BoT, and the party’s National Caucus.
The meeting agenda will primarily be to brief party’s stakeholders on the peace terms and the understanding that has been reached by the two factions, implore for their support and advice on how best to achieve long-lasting peace in the party.
In recognition of Goodluck Jonathan’s position as a key player in the party, the two faction leaders have agreed to meet with him, the report said.
Senator Ben Obi, the secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee, who confirmed the latest progress in the peace negotiations, also said that issues relating to the formation of a joint peace and reconciliation committee would be part of the topics discussed at the meeting.
He also expressed his strong conviction that the current move at making peace would result into a long lasting settlement of the dispute within the party.
“The measures that we did not take after our defeat at the elections last year, over one year ago, is what we are going through now. Some of the people did not even understand the vision of the founding fathers of the party, that was the problem.
“How was the party formed? What is the aim and goal of the party? These are the issues that the drivers of the party must understand.
“So we have reached a stage now whereby I think that we are beginning to have some understanding. Only recently, we were able to reach a point where Senators Makarfi and Sheriff met and decided that they must jointly issue a statement.
“Now the next stage is to move on in that stead. This week, we will be briefing stakeholders of the party and we will be coming up with members that will constitute a joint reconciliation committee.
“Don’t forget that you have various peace committees led by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson and Prof. Jerry Gana, all set up by the party to help search for peace and to reconcile the aggrieved parties.
“So by the time we explain the progress being made and how the two leaders agreed to issue a joint statement and other issues, I am sure that we will have a clearer picture of what to do next to further the peace efforts,” he said.
It is note-worthy that the two leaders of the factions within PDP, who are the principal players in the dispute, came close in settling their dispute in September when they issued a single statement in Abuja, saying that they were both resolved to set a joint reconciliatory process in motion.
