The stakeholders’ meeting of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, billed to hold, on Thursday, at the Oyo State Government House, meant to bring an amicable resolution to the crisis rocking the Party in the Southwest has been stalled.
Although many of the party leaders who were identified as the arrowhead of the crisis were absent, those present said the meeting was shelved due to logistics reasons.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who came for the meeting to broker peace between the key figures in the Party, was on hand to address leaders and elders at the meeting.
Fielding questions from reporters after a brief meeting with the leaders present, Governor Wike said he was in the State to visit his friend and in-law, Governor Seyi Makinde, while also being on the ground to inspect some ongoing projects in the State but decided to respect some leaders from the region who were also in the State initially for a meeting.
According to Wike, all the leaders and stakeholders had agreed since Wednesday night to shelve the meeting as a result of the absence of some other leaders due to logistics reasons and not to do a job that would require another urgent meeting thereafter.
Wike said: “Well let me state clearly that there was no PDP stakeholders meeting today. Yesterday night, we realized that for some logistics reasons, some persons were not around and we don’t want to have half meeting where we will reconvene. So, we decided that we would give them some more time and opportunity to come and meet.”
“And since we had that understanding, we had to agree that I should do some project inspections but then he said that there are some of the party leaders who are around and that it will be necessary for me to come and say ‘hi’ to them and I agree that it is part of our own culture to respect leaders. So that is why we have come to greet them and then we go for the inspections of projects,” he explained.
When asked how soon peace should be expected back in the PDP in the region, Wike said it would be presumptuous to give a definite timeframe due to the fact that all interests must be carried along to secure their commitment, noting that peace is not something that is achieved hurriedly.
“Politics is of interest and so you need to make sure that everybody is fully involved. Let us not be in a hurry, what is important is that the SW PDP is our belief and our hope that the way they have been in the way they will continue to be. Southwest is very important and key for PDP as far as Nigeria is concerned”, the Rivers Governor added.
Wike maintained that it is imperative for peace to return to the party in the region because of the significant role the region plays in the Nigerian project, commending Makinde for his effort at representing the party well in the region and appealing to the people of Oyo State to give him time to deliver on his good plans.
In his short remark, Governor Makinde of Oyo, vowed to continue in his pursuit of peace in the party in the region, noting that the region plays a pivotal role in the scheme of things in the country.
When asked why Governor Wike was involved to intervene in mending the peaceful process between the warring factions, the Chairman of the Southwest PDP Reconciliation Committee, Ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State explained that the Rivers State Governor was involved because of his relationship with Governor Makinde and Ex-Governor Ayodele Fayose.
Oyinlola said: “So far we have been able to have discussions with our party members in Oyo and Ogun states. Our next step, which ought to have taken off today, was shelved because of this meeting which was geared towards ensuring unity within the party in the Southwest.”
Some of the party leaders present at the meeting were, former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni; Ondo State PDP Governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede and Senator Abiodun Olujimi, among others.
Nnenna.O
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