By Emmanuel Oloniruha
The feuding leaders of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, have undertaken to work together and signed an agreement to the effect.
The legally recognised chairman of the party, Ali Sheriff and the chairman of National Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi, signed the undertaking for genuine reconciliation.
The news of the truce was contained in the communiqué released after a meeting of the two rival leaders of the party with the National Reconciliation Committee led by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, on Thursday in Abuja.
The communiqué was read by the deputy chairman of the reconciliation committee, Ibrahim Mantu.
He stated that both key actors also agreed to desist from making inflammatory statements.
“The resolutions reached were that all actors of the party should desist from making derogatory, inflammatory and divisive statements against party officials, stakeholders and members.
“That PDP should not dissipate energy but focus attention on how to unite and be a formidable opposition capable of taking power from All Progressives Congress-led government.’’
Mr Mantu said all key actors in the ongoing peace process should henceforth desist from making statements attacking each other and capable of dragging the party to the mud.
He said all key actors in the PDP have agreed to work together with National Reconciliation Committee led by Dickson to engender peace and genuine reconciliation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the communiqué was jointly signed by Messrs Mantu, Dickson, Dave Iorhemba and Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the spokesperson of the National Caretaker Committee who represented Markarfi.
It was also signed by Ahmed Gulak, Benard Mikko and Dave Iorhemba.
NAN also reports that the meeting was attended by the deputy national chairman to Mr Sheriff, Cairo Ojougbo, who represented Mr Sheriff.
The PDP National Reconciliation committee led by Mr Dickson thereafter submitted its report to the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Walid Jubrin, in Abuja.
Mr Dickson appealed to all PDP leaders and members to join the reconciliation efforts of his committee, adding that the prospect in resolving the crisis was encouraging.
“Let us leave personal interest and ambition for now and be united. Let us drop ego, let us work together for the progress of the party”, Dickson said.
The governor said that the earlier the party came together the better it would be for Nigeria.
Mr Dickson said Mr Sheriff had also signed another undertaking not to contest for any position at the proposed national convention, and also to ensure a credible convention.
