In a last minute effort to save the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Board of Trustees (BoT) has set up a reconciliatory committee.
The 18-member committee, chaired by a former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, is to reconcile the Ali Modu Sheriff camp with the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee. Inaugurating the committee in Abuja yesterday, Chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, said the trustees would not watch the party destroyed by the leadership crisis.
He expressed dismay that there are about 15 court cases instituted by contending groups within the party. According to him, there is need for a politician solution to the crisis, stressing that allowing the cases to go on might leave the party in a permanent crisis.
He appealed to litigants to withdraw their court cases and allow the reconciliation committee resolve the differences so that the August 17 convention would hold.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, Prof. Gana promised that the committee would be responsible and fair.
He pleaded with the Sheriff camp to allow the committee resolve the crisis by making himself available for discussions, saying the party should go into the convention united.
Other members of the committee included Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, Senator Ibrahim Ida, Hajia Inna Ciroma, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd) among others.