Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have nullified the suspension and counter suspensions issued by feuding members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), last week.
Chairman of the PDP Governors’ 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 party’s National Publicity Secretary, NPS, Hon. Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, for alleged abuse of office and insubordination.
In response, Ologunagba and Ajibade I announced the suspension of Damagum and the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Samual Anyanwu. The crisis got to a head when the Ologunagba group announced the party’s National Treasurer, Yayari Mohammed as Damagum’s replacement.
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 party’s National Assembly Caucus, and the Board of Trustees (BoT).
He said, “I 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.
“All the suspensions you heard about have been resolved by the Governors, the NWC, the Caucus of the National Assembly, and the BoT.
“There 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.
“There 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.
“So, whatever speculations and perceptions have gone out are wrong. Both parties have agreed that, in the interest of the party and Nigeria, we should return to the status quo during the suspension and counter-suspension.
“These suspensions have been lifted; there are no more suspensions. That is the resolution of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
“To members of the party, they should remember that it is the PDP we have, and it is the most experienced party that has produced government and good governance since 1999.
“We should make sacrifices and come together. Yes, we may have ill feelings here and there, but we should bury them.
“Our personal feelings should not be allowed to create perceptions that seem to divide us.”
In response to a question as to whether the date for the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, scheduled for October 24th remained sacrosanct, Governor Mohammed said, “The governors, BoT, and NWC will sit down and discuss the sanctity of the October 24 NEC meeting.”
Also speaking to reporters after the second leg of the meeting which was held at the Departure Lounge, of the private wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Amb.. Umar Damagum welcomed the development.
Damagum said, “There 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.
“As 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.”
Asked for comments about his colleagues, the National Public Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser, Kaamaldeen Ajibade SAN, Damagum said,
“Have they left? They are still in the party.”
