The Peoples Democratic Party has begged Nigerians to pray for it in order to survive the ongoing crisis within its fold.
The
former ruling party said its survival would be in the interest of
Nigerians and that every democracy-loving citizen of the country must be
interested in its survival.
The Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the party, Senator Walid Jibrin, who stated this in an
interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday, said the board
was happy with the recent assurances by the two factional leaders of the
party that they would work together to end the crisis.
Jibrin
said the board would be interested in every positive steps aimed at
bringing the members of the party under the same umbrella.
He said, “We welcome any effort by any person aiming at brining peace and progress to this great party.
“We
are open to suggestions that will bring peace and tranquillity to the
party, which is the largest opposition party in Africa.
“All
Nigerians, either in the PDP or in any other political party, must pray
for the party so that we will come to the end of the crisis soon. The
PDP’s survival is in the interest of everyone of us irrespective of
party affiliation.”
Jibrin assured members of the party that the
crisis would soon come to an end, adding that this would enable it play
the role of opposition to the current administration.
However,
the national headquarters of the party in Abuja was still being shut
despite the agreement reached by its two factional national chairmen to
sheathe their swords.
Our correspondent, who visited the party’s headquarters at Wuse Zone II, observed that more weeds had grown around the building.
Also,
the party’s flags had become worn out while some had become so dirty
that it was already becoming difficult for their actual colours to be
identified.
The security agents manning the three entrances to
the place said they had noticed the presence of reptiles like snakes and
lizards in and around the building.
An operative with the
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said, “We are tired of being here without knowing when the
building would be opened. We have started seeing snakes and other
dangerous reptiles here.
“We hope the leaders of the party are
serious about the claim that they have reconciled. Therefore, they
should come and open this dirty (pointing to the building) place now.”
For
the truce between the two factions to have a meaningful impact, a
former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said Sheriff
should withdraw all his cases in court.
Babatope, a member of
the party’s BoT, told our correspondent on the telephone that there
would be no meaningful progress if the two parties continued to discuss
when they still had their cases in court.
He said, “The two men should honour their words and respect the agreement they have signed.
“If Sheriff wants to be President in 2019, it is within his constitutional right and that should be respected.
“But
as leaders of the party and as former governors, they should know that
millions of Nigerians and members of this party are looking up to them
to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign in this party.”
Meanwhile, facts have emerged on how the two elders were forced to hold a meeting together in Abuja on Tuesday.
One
of the founding fathers of the party, who spoke with our correspondent
on condition of anonymity, said a former Vice President, Dr. Alex
Ekwueme, and a former Minister of Finance, Alhaji Ali Ciroma, played
prominent roles in forcing the two combatants to meet.
Senator
Ben Obi, who was said to have facilitated the interference by the two
leaders of the party, was said to have made sure that both Ekweueme and
Ciroma spoke with the two factional leaders.
Sheriff and Makarfi
were said to have been told that their names would go down in history as
the killers of the party if they refused to agree on how to save it.
They
were also said to have been told that since they were not there when
the party was formed, they should not be counted among those who were
working to see to its end.
