Sheriff rejects BoT’s peace move, says Makarfi must step down

Ali Modu Sheriff, factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the recommendation of the party’s board of trustees (BoT), and has described the Ahmed Makarfi caretaker committee as illegal.

In a move to resolve the lingering crisis in the party, the BoT had recommended that the next convention should be held in Abuja, and a fresh convention committee be set up.

The recommendations were in line with Sheriff’s earlier demands.

But in a statement signed by Cairo Ojougboh, Sheriff’s deputy, the other faction said the outcome of the BoT did not match its agreement with party’s reconciliation committee.

“Having deliberated on the reported outcome of the BoT meeting of August 29, we have resolved that the resolutions feel short of the decision reached with the Dickson/Mantu reconciliation committee,” the statement read.

“The agreement we had is that Sheriff should chair a national executive committee (NEC) meeting where Makarfi will attend as a member of the BoT.

“At the meeting, a chairman of convention committee will be agreed upon, a new convention committee setup, including all other sub-committees, zoning, finance, accreditation, etc.

“The venue of the convention will be in Abuja, where a new leadership of the party will emerge, internal democracy will be respected and confidence will return to the party.”

The group added that it completely rejects the vote of confidence passed on the caretaker committee, taunting the committee for failing twice to “successfully organize a convention.

“Consequently, we can now confidently inform the general public that well-meaning Nigerians have been urging Sen. Makarfi to resign to save democracy,” the statement read.

“We, therefore, call on his friends and associates and family to advise him to do the needful and resign now to save multi-party democracy in Nigeria and stop impunity that has been the bane of internal democracy.”

It also alleged that the tenure of Walid Jibrin, the BoT chairman, had elapsed, claiming that he brought crisis to the party.

“In any case, his (Jibrin) tenure has expired, as he has spent more than 10 years as secretary and chairman of BoT, which runs contrary to the constitution.

“A party where we have eminently qualified persons like Sen. David Mark, Babangida Aliyu and others, cannot be led by individuals controlled by the love for money.

“The source of irritation in the party is the still-born illegal caretaker committee and the board of trustees should have advised that the illegality be addressed.’’