Jonathan meets Sheriff group, confusion over political option to resolve crisis

Shortly after he met the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, former President Goodluck Jonathan also met the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff group of the embattled PDP, but there was confusion yesterday whether the national chairman’s group was amenable to a political resolution of the crisis rocking the opposition party.
A chieftain of the group, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh, said on phone yesterday that Sheriff group will pursue the political resolution option to its logical conclusion. He confirmed that his group also met with Jonathan Tuesday night after the governors.
However, it filtered out that some hardliners in the group believe they can win at the Supreme Court and should not concede to the new peace process. “They are urging Sheriff to ignore the Governors because the party belongs to those at the grassroots and not states’ chief executives,” a source said.
Others are not too sure of the apex court, because of the “body language” of the court. They want a rapproachment so they don’t lose out completely.
“Even if they (the national chairman’s group) win at the Supreme Court, they will have nothing but court papers and an empty national secretariat when the governors are not with them,” a Senator, who does not want to be named, repeatedly boasted Wednesday.
everyday.ng learnt that as soon as the separate meetings with former President Jonathan ended, the contending former Governors were both advised to step down. “Makarfi agreed, but Sheriff asked to consult before giving his word,” a source said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported early Wednesday that the PDP had resolved to adopt political, rather than legal approach, to seek lasting solution to the party’s leadership crisis.
The Governors’ Forum met on Tuesday with former President Goodluck Jonathan and took the decision.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ekiti state, Mr Ayodele Fayose, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the forum meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, late Tuesday night.
Fayose said that the meeting was at the instance of Jonathan and that all interests in the party would be represented in the search for the needed solution to the impasse.
“He, Jonathan, is genuinely concerned about what is going on in the party, and he thought that an interactive session with the governors will go a long way to dousing tension.
“We know that there are so many matters before the court but we believe that a political solution will go a long way to solve this matter.
“If we believe in this party, we will all be willing and ready to pursue a political solution, which at the end of the day every interest will be well represented. That is the position of this meeting,” he said.
According to him, irrespective of the matters before the court, political solution is the best.
Fayose assured all PDP supporters that the governors believed in the party as well in its success, and urged members and the supporters to refrain from making comments that could compound the party’s crisis.
“We want to appeal to everybody to be wary of making statements that could further worsen the situation; we should make complimentary statements that can enhance the party the more.”
He explained that engaging the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, was part of the political approaches to be adopted in resolving the problems.
In attendance of the meeting were governors of Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Taraba, Cross River, Abia, Ebonyi, Gombe and Bayelsa. Rivers was represented by the deputy governor.