Jonathan Never Asked Me
to Resign, Says Sheriff
• Dickson’s c’ttee proposes convention in
second quarter
The embattled National Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu
Sheriff, has denied that former President, Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan, has asked him and the
Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee,
Senator Ahmed Makarfi, to resign as part of the
political solution to the crisis in the party.
In a statement issued by spokesman of the
Sheriff’s leadership, Hon. Bernard Mikko, it
urged leaders and members of the PDP to rally
round his boss in order for the party to conduct;
as soon as possible, a national unity convention.
“The public, PDP members and the media are
hereby informed that the issue of the national
chairman’s resignation as the political solution
has never been discussed nor was it put up for
discussion with former president and other
stakeholders.”
Mikko said instead of resigning that Sheriff is
hoping to work out modalities with stakeholders
of the party on how to organise a convention.
“PDP members nationwide and the media are
hereby informed that shortly before the Court of
Appeal judgment of February 17, 2017; all
parties and stakeholders agreed that on the
receipt of the court of appeal judgment
whichever way it goes; members will be
prevailed upon and urged to support the
judgment and orders of the court of appeal and
rally round the successful party to conduct; as
soon as possible a national unity convention for
the election of officers; the modalities of which
shall be worked out by all stakeholders of the
party.
“As a law-abiding citizen and advocate of the
rule of law, Sheriff hereby calls on all
stakeholders including but not limited to PDP
governors; national and state assembly
members; Board of Trustees (BoT) members to
make themselves available and give their input
on how we can as quickly as possible conduct a
national unity convention; where our national
officers will be elected. The national chairman
has promised and undertaken not to contest.”
Meanwhile, the Standing Committee on the
Reconciliation of the crisis rocking the party
headed by the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon.
Seriake Dickson, has recommended that the
next national convention of the party would be
held before June this year.
The committee at the end its meeting held
yesterday in Abuja, which reviewed recent
developments in the party and decided among
others that a political solution is the best option
to end the protracted crises in the party.
In a statement jointly signed by Dickson, the
Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator
Ibrahim Mantu and Secretary, Senator Joshua
Lidani, the committee said it would embark on
extensive consultations with all stakeholders
with a view of building confidence and
necessary consensus towards the Unity
Convention.
The statement read: “We endorse the resolution
of the meeting between the former President,
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan GCFR and PDP state
governors in this regard without prejudice to the
ongoing judicial processes.
“That as part of this process, it is imperative
that an early convention within the second
quarter of 2017 should be held in Abuja which
therefore should be all inclusive and where new
national officials of the party will be freely, fairly
and transparently elected.
“In furtherance of this, the reconciliation
committee shall embark on extensive
consultations with all stakeholders with a view
of building confidence and necessary consensus
toward the Unity Convention
“The committee appeals to all party leaders,
and members of our great party to exercise
restraint and focus on the loyalty to and the
overall interest of the party.”
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