Dr Iyorchia Ayu, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, has asked Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, to assist in resolving the party’s crisis by reaching out to disgruntled members.
Dr. Ayu stated that members of the National Working Committee would visit River State Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt early next week “for full reconciliation” as part of efforts to resolve the party’s lingering problems.
The NWC members will be led by the Deputy Chairman (North), Amb. Iliya Damagun.
The PDP Chairman stated these when he led members of the NWC on a condolence visit to Senator Wabara, who lost his wife recently, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Simon Imobo-Tswam.
Dr Ayu told Senator Wabara: “As the new BoT Chairman with diplomatic experience. We implore you to use your diplomatic skills to reach out to all aggrieved members and I am telling you that it is with our full support including that of the Presidential candidate and Vice-Presidential Candidate who called me 30 minutes before we got here.
“You have our support. The entire BoT should select and reach out to them. We are appealing that they should come back and let us work together.”
The internal dispute which followed the party’s presidential primaries has split members with allies of the presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and those of Governor Nyesom Wike trading words.
Governor Wike himself has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with happenings in the party and called for the resignation or removal of Dr Ayu as National Chairman to ensure the North does not hold all the key positions in the party.
The appointment of Wabara as BoT was part of efforts to address that concern but the Governor has insisted that Dr Ayu be removed.
During the visit to Senator Wabara, Dr Ayu who had insisted he won’t resign and criticised the call for his ouster, took a more conciliatory tone.
”My understanding is that the party wants unity,” he told Senator Wabara. “Thankfully you can play the role of a unifier even better with your immense preparation as a diplomat, former Member House Of Representatives, former senator and ex-Senate President who had worked with this party for a long period of time.”
The NWC will not only be visiting Governor Wike, according to Dr Ayu.
He said, “I want to also reveal to you that the NWC under the leadership of the Deputy National Chairman, Amb. Iliya Damagun, will be going to see not only Gov. Wike but every other person who is aggrieved. It is the unanimous decision of the NWC and we think that your leading the fight for peace and full reconciliation in the party will be helpful.
“There is a time for anger and there’s a time for the anger to stop. So help us to reach out to all aggrieved members try and heal the party with your new role as the party Chairman of the BoT.”
The BoT Chairman thanked the national chairman and other members of the NWC, saying he was overwhelmed with the show of goodwill, support and sympathy.
“I appreciate you all. We will work together to ensure the party wins in 2023,” he said.
Members of the NWC, who accompanied the national chairman included: the National Secretary, the National Treasurer, the National Auditor, the National Publicity Secretary, and the National Woman Leader.
