Makarfi, PDP leaders failed to resolve party’s crisis in Kwara

….As factions remain adamant

Efforts by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
resolve the crisis rocking the Kwara State chapter of the party with a view to reconciling members of the warring factions yesterday failed to achieve the desired results.

The failure of the national leadership of the opposition party to broker peace between the warring camps led by Iyiola Oyedepo and Sunday Fagbemi, manifested openly barely minutes after the stakeholders came out of the peace meeting which held at the party’s national secretary in Abuja.

The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led leadership had summoned the party stakeholders from the state to Abuja in a bid to reconcile them.

The party had engaged Sen. Solomon Ewuga to serve as mediator between the two warring factions.

However, indications that the two-hours meeting ended in a deadlock emerged as some of the stakeholders were seen discussing angrily in clusters, while others hurriedly left the party premises.

When approached for comments, former minister of national planning Prof Suleiman Abubakar refused to speak with journalists. Instead, he directed them to a former senator, Suleiman Ajadi, who angrily rebuffed them saying “what journalists, what journalists, can’t you see we are discussing”.

Earlier, Sen Makarfi, while speaking during the open session, cautioned the two camps to tow the part of four other states that have resolved to work together, noting that Kwara State was reputed to be very politically mature.

Makarfi who further urged them to put their house in order, warning that they risk losing the party’s structure in the state to members that will join later.

According to Makarfi, “Kwara State is the only state we are meeting with like this. We have four states that we already have submissions from them based on the resolutions passed and approved at Convention. All sides to the conflict in the states jointly signed and made a submission in the overall interest of the party.

He cited the chapters of the party in Lagos, Adamawa as already making progress and will soon make their submissions to NCC.

His words, “They didn’t require us to meet with them. Of all the seven states, we have four already and the others will conclude over the Sallah holidays.

“People can question the leadership qualities in any particular state where there are seven affected, and six will get it done and one will be there fighting among themselves. And Kwara is highly politically mature and active to prevent this kind of isolation.

“We have delayed the state because of influx of people joining the party and they want accommodation. So, what we want is not just people who are in PDP to reconcile and move forward, we also have influx of people wanting to join the party. And nobody will wait for any particular person.

“The earlier people put their heads together then they can be in a greater position to have, no matter the kind of influx, overwhelming control of political events. In this kind of situation, delay is dangerous. Kwara, as you are waiting, you don’t know what development may occur. And before you know it, you start regretting why did you have to wait for so long”, he said.

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja