Rather than abate after the recent pronouncement of the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt confirming Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, as against Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the crisis in the party nose-dived into further precipice.
The Appeal Court declaration, rather than calm frayed nerves, unleashed emotional outburst and cries of injustice. The flurry of fireworks both from the Sheriff and Makarfi groups is a clear pointer that it is not yet “Uhuru” for PDP in its leadership tussle.
With his victory at the Appeal Court, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff in the speed of meteor shuttled from pillar to post to consult with some of the elders of the party in his bid to mend fences.
For example, he visited erstwhile President Jonathan, President Babangida and former PDP Chairman Aneni, making overtures to some aggrieved members of the party. With this on, the national legal adviser of the party, Barrister Bashir Maidugu threatened to take legal action against Ahmed Makarfi if he continued to parade himself or sign any document on behalf of the party.
In their separate reactions to the judgment endorsing chairmanship of Ali Modu sheriff, members of the Makarfi group were unanimous in rejecting the verdict and refused to recognise Sheriff as chairman. Already Makarfi’s group has declared it intention to proceed to Supreme Court on appeal and demand the closure of PDP headquarters for now.
In his reaction to the verdict, the formers Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha said that the leadership of Imo state chapter of the PDP met and rejected Sheriff as PDP national chairman and endorsed the decision of Senator Makarfi’s faction to challenge the verdict at the Supreme Court.
He added that Senator Ali lacked the credentials to lead the party. In his comment, the former Aviation Minister in person of Femi Fani Kayode stated that he remains with Ahmed Makarfi and the caretaker committee unless and until the Supreme Court stated the contrary. Fani Kayode described Senator Sheriff as agent of death to the PDP.
Perhaps the reaction of Chief Bode George, the former Deputy Chairman and member Board of Trustees of the party is more forthcoming.
According to him, “our convention is the basis on which Senator Ahmed Makarfi emerged. They said they had nullified the convention. Are they saying that we did not hold a convention?
The Appeal Court judgment is an injustice in our democracy.” There are now deep rooted prejudices, bitterness, hatred, suspicion and acute subversion between members of the contending groups in the same roof.
In action and disposition, whether silent or otherwise, each group appears to have crossed the Rubicon. The willingness of a group to swallow its pride to the other for the unity of the party appears elusive.
There are now deep rooted prejudices, bitterness, hatred, suspicion and acute subversion between members of the contending groups in the same roof. The willingness of a group to swallow its pride to the other for the unity of the party appears elusive
To compound the situation, the party caucus in the National Assembly that ought to serve as the rallying point is already divided. Already the deepening crisis is taking its tolls on the party with the defection of its members to the APC.
They stemmed their defection on the division within the PDP. Now the inevitable question: What is the way out of this imbroglio that is threatening the unity of the opposition party and by implication the stability of the nation?
Recall that from the onset, trouble erupted in the party over the issue of national chairman with the resignation of the then incumbent chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu.
With the vacancy created, there were jostlers for the post until Senator Ali Modu got the slot said to have been facilitated by some stakeholders in the party, led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state.
Though there was initial opposition to Senator Sheriff as chairman by many stakeholders in the PDP, with extensive consultation he was welcomed and directed to conduct a national convention of the party that would herald all the national officials, including the chairman.
However, this was not to be as there were allegations later, that Senator Ali was not only trying to perpetuate himself in office but also trying to change the rules to facilitate his presidential candidature of the party come 2019 elections.
In the midst of accusations and counter accusations, a controversial party convention was held in Port Harcourt with the outcome of Senator Ahmed Makarfi committee mandated to conduct another convention to produce all the national officials of the party.
Sheriff kicked against the decision. What followed next was the breakup of the party into factions, one led by Makarfi and the other by Sheriff. From the charged atmosphere, disposition and utterances of the stakeholders in both warring factions, there is need not only for caution but wisdom to prevent the party from disintegration.
There is need for sacrifice, not out of fear but for the sake of the life of the party. From the empirical evidence, if I were Senator Sheriff, I would step aside, notwithstanding the Appeal Court judgment.
This is the greatest sacrifice he can make to save the party. If he eventually wins in the Supreme Court, he has more rivers to cross. First, to get most of the stakeholders from the Makarfi faction to his side would be herculean if not near impossible.
This is because, in the course of the prolonged crisis, a lot of waters have crossed under the bridge creating distrust, disharmony and bitterness among members of the warring groups.
Yes, Sheriff may have the legal and financial strength but it would take the double muscle, wisdom and tact to compel followers who appear already disillusioned and disenchanted.
Izekor writes at victorizekor@ thepointing.com
