Peace agreement not political solution to PDP crisis – Factional chairman says

Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, National Caretaker Committee, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said peace agreement between him and Ali Modu Sheriff was not “political solution’’ to the party’s crisis.

Sheriff and Makarfi groups on Thursday met with the Gov. Seriake Dickson-led Reconciliation Committee and issued joint statement “to cease fire and work with the committee for true reconciliation’’.

Makarfi said that the agreement was only to stop further media attacks on PDP officers, elders and other stakeholders across the internal political divide.

He said the clarification was important following some media reports that the “parties’’ had reached a ‘political solution’, and said that reports were untrue.

“For the record, the agreement was not a political solution but rather an understanding reached urging representatives of `the key actors’ from both groups not to dissipate energy among themselves.

“It was to focus on how to unite as a formidable force capable of regaining power from the failed All Progressive Congress (APC) led government in 2019.

“The agreement also implored both groups to desist from making public derogatory remarks against each other that could cause inflammatory reactions capable of dragging the party to the mud.

“ It is instructive to note that the National Caretaker Committee and all the organs of the party are working hard with Gov. Dickson-led committee with other stakeholders to reach a lasting political solution.

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“However, this effort is without prejudice to the appeal before the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal judgment of February 17, 2017," he added.

Makarfi called on all PDP members, supporters and lovers of democracy to continue to support the party leaders, elders and other critical stakeholders as they worked assiduously to bring the crisis to an end.