“I should also thank the governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson who is heading a very important committee and has been in Abuja for a very long time trying to resolve this our problem. I want to encourage him and his members to try their best so that we can join hands together with the BoT.
“The BoT is the conscience of this party and I think God will not forgive us if we sit down and do nothing. With all the court cases all over the place, about 15 of them, the way we can bring an end to them is to allow all the aggrieved persons to come together and agree to withdraw all the cases out of the courts and give support to this very important committee that will start work immediately.
“The committee is expected to submit its report to us within seven days to resolve this matter once and for all.
“We want to use this opportunity to clam down our members and to tell them that what is happening is normal in a democracy. After various consultations, efforts are being made to end the crisis. They should remain, resolute and determined, they should not listen to rumors, that this party is gone; it is not gone,” he said.
In his remarks, Jerry Gana assured that his committee was going to work for the return of peace to the PDP.
He urged Senator Sheriff to accept the olive branch being extended to his group and team up with the peace committee so that all the contentious issues will be resolved.
However, PDP’s attempt to woo Obasanjo back to its fold fell on dead ears, as the former president restated yesterday that he was not returning to his former party.
Obasanjo, who spoke to THISDAY through his media aide, Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi, said: “I’m referring you back to the statement issued over the weekend that ‘those who know me (Obasanjo), know that I have publicly announced quitting partisan politics’.”
He said Obasanjo was always firm with his decisions, irrespective of the appeal from the party.
Again recalling the statement at the weekend, Akinyemi quoted the former president as stating if Obasanjo quit the party when it was alive and seemingly united, he wonder why the former president would go back to a divided, factionalised party grasping for breath?
He said: “Mr. THISDAY, those behind the false news that he was sighted at a PDP meeting on Saturday wanted to get Obasanjo annoyed and embarrass him, adding: “Baba has told the world that he has quit partisan politics and that is final.”
Meanwhile, the South-West chapter of the PDP yesterday picked Olabode George, as the consensus candidate for the national chairmanship position.
George was adopted at a meeting held at the Government House, Akure, Ondo State.
Those in attendance were Governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), Mimiko’s deputy, Lasisi Oluboyo, Fayose’s deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, George, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, Mrs. Olusola Obada, Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun, Chief Dare Adeleke, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Senator Teslim Folarin and others.
Before George’s adoption, the zonal caucus had zoned the chairmanship position to Lagos and Ogun States.
A six-man committee headed by Adeojo was set up to appeal to other aspirants to support George. The committee is expected to submit its report in 48 hours.
Already, Jimi Agbaje (Lagos), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) and Adedoja (Oyo) had indicated interest in contesting for the chairmanship post at the party’s convention in Port Harcourt.
The meeting also agreed to zone the position of the deputy national publicity secretary to Oyo/Osun and national treasurer to Ondo/Ekiti.
Mimiko and Fayose spoke glowingly of George’s experience, charisma and loyalty to the party.
To the governors, PDP would be better served if George is elected as the national chairman, adding that it will be the first time a Yoruba man will be elected to lead the party since 1998.
