PDP crisis: Jonathan fixes Sept 30 deadline to end peace talks •New PDP insists on conditions for truce INDICATION emerged on Wednesday that President Goodluck Jonathan has set a deadline of September 30 to end all peace negotiations in respect of the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This is as the splinter group insisted that the conditions given to President Jonathan must be met and within stipulated time before peace can return to the party. Sources close to the party confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that the president believed that endless political talks would hurt the performance of his government. It was learnt that the president was worried that the way politics was being played was attempting to dwarf performance and that many were no longer talking of delivery of democratic dividends. “The president is wary that the way politics is being orchestrated to take the centre stage is dwarfing performance of the task of governance. “He believed that he was elected and that the governors were also elected to deliver dividends to the people. He believes that with endless peace talks, governance will suffer. “He has, therefore, declared that by September 30, all such meetings must be brought to an end and that anyone who has issues should bring them up now, after which he will face governance and deliver the goods to the electorate. “His view is that Nigerians want to see development and not endless meetings that will not be of any use to the common man,” the source said. It was also confirmed that the reconciliation meetings by leaders of PDP in respect of the ongoing crisis in the party failed to arrive at a concrete resolution at the Abuja meeting which lasted till early Wednesday. Sources close to the party told the Nigerian Tribune that the meeting, which closed at 3.00 a.m on Wednesday, was unable to find a conclusive resolution to the crisis. It was learnt that the leaders, including some of the aggrieved governors and others considered loyal to PDP resolved to continue to hold meetings in respect of reconciliation on Sunday. It was learnt that the aggrieved governors were insisting on the removal of the national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, while the group also indicated that their camp would be ready to ensure the resignation of factional claimant to his seat, Alhaji Kawu Baraje. The New PDP, speaking through the national youth leader, Timi Frank, dismissed reports that the crisis rocking the party would soon be over, insisting that though discussions were ongoing, the crisis would be far from over until all the conditions given to the president were met within the stipulated time. He stated if the conditions were not met within the stipulated time, the leadership of the new PDP would unveil its next plan of action, when and if any agreement was reached with its numerous supporters across the country. Frank maintained that the new PDP would not betray the trust of the Nigerian people, adding that it was wrong for the Special Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak, to have attempted to hoodwink party members into believing that truce was in sight. “The truth remains that the crisis in the PDP is far from over. While there has been ongoing talks, it would be wrong for persons who, in the first place, instigated this crisis, to begin to play to the gallery. “The truth remains that options are open but definitely, the crisis is far from over, moreso that we have noticed that even in the middle of discussions, there seem to be shifting of goal posts. “It is regrettable that informations made available suggest that attempts were being made to hound up members of the New PDP in some states like Bayelsa. Such practices will only aggravate ongoing negotiations “I want to urge security agencies to remain neutral and not to join in the present squabble in the party. I also enjoin party stalwarts, supporters and, indeed, Nigerians to remain steadfast in the bid to enthrone a new order and instil internal democracy within the ruling party,” he said.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 06:52:53 +0000
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