PDP crisis: Why govs nullified suspensions, ordered return to status quo
GOVERNORS elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have decisively stepped into the leadership crisis of the party.
In clear terms, they nullified the suspension and counter-suspensions issued by feuding factions of the partyās National Working Committee, NWC, last week, and asked the warring acting chairmen to return to status quo until a permanent solution was found to the feud..
Chairman of PDP Governorsā Forum, who is also the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, announced this at the end of a two-day meeting, yesterday.
Trouble started after the Amb. Umar Damagum-led NWC suspended the partyās National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, for alleged abuse of office and insurbordination.
In response, Ologunagba and Ajibade announced the suspension of Damagum and the partyās National Secretary, Senator Samual Anyanwu, over alleged anti-party activities and their role in the political crisis in Rivers State between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.
The crisis got to a head when the Ologunagba group announced the partyās National Treasurer, Yayari Mohammed, as Damagumās replacement.
Temporary truce
However, the Chairman of the PDP-GF, Governor Bala Mohammed, while addressing newsmen in Abuja explained that the decision to broker a truce; was reached after the PDP-GF consulted with representatives of the NWC, the partyās National Assembly Caucus, and the Board of Trustees, BoT.
He said: āI want to inform you on behalf of the PDP Governors Forum, Chairman of the Senate Caucus, and the representative of the BoT. We had a family meeting, and we wish to reaffirm that there is no faction in the PDP.
āAll the suspensions you heard about have been resolved by the Governors, the NWC, the Caucus of the National Assembly, and the BoT.
āThere is no faction; everything has reverted to the status quo under acting Chairman Damagum, pending the time the governors and other organs of the party will sit down and resolve all the issues.
āThere is no party that does not have problems. Some of them are legal, and we do not want to preempt the outcome of legal procedures.
New date for NEC meeting
In response to a question as to whether the October 24 scheduled date for the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting remained sacrosanct, Governor Mohammed said: āThe governors, BoT, and NWC will sit down and discuss the sanctity of the October 24 NEC meeting.ā
Damagun welcomes move, Yayari mum
Speaking to reporters at the Departure Lounge of the private wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after the second leg of the meeting, Damagum welcomed the development.
Damagum said: āThere is no crisis in the party as far as I am concerned but some people want to take advantage of the situation. I urge the press not to escalate things even where there is no crisis.
āAs far as I am concerned, the governors are our leaders and critical organs of this party, and when they speak, we must look at it holistically and also abide by it.ā
Asked for comments about his colleagues, the National Public Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser, Kaamaldeen Ajibade SAN, Damagum said,
āHave they left? They are still in the party.ā
Efforts to get Yayari Mohammed and Ologunagba to speak on the development were yet to bear fruits at press time.
Vanguard News
