PDP women leaders urge Sheriff, Makarfi to ceasefire
Disturbed by the lingering leadership crisis bedeviling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), some women leaders in the party have called for a ceasefire between the two warring groups within the party.
The women group declared that could no longer fold their arm particularly because of the 2019 general election which is fast approaching.
The gathering of the women was co-convened by former member of the House of Representatives and one rime Ambassador, Hon Nkoyo Toyo and a former member of the National Caretaker Committee, Aisha Bello.
The women gathering, Hon Toyo, said it has, “observed that there is a national clarion call for the PDP to put its acts together and play its role as opposition to the ruling APC”.
Consequently, the meeting after much deliberation, decided to call on all the combatants to observe a period of verbal ceasefire and allow for a genuine reconciliation efforts to be explored.
It noted the unhealthy exchanges in the press between the contending interests and appealed to all sides to subject themselves to the process of political reconciliation initiated by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The ceasefire, the women leaders suggested, should last for at least two months.
They urged former President Jonathan to look within and outside the party for enablers and influencers to assist in the reconciliation effort.
The women thus suggested the constitution of a ‘Committee of the Wise’ by former president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan which will be populated by persons of goodwill towards the Party with representation of not less than 40% being women and youth.
“It agreed to set up its own committee to engage in lobbying various leaders and brokers of the conflict to seek meaningful peace and political resolution of the crisis.
“The meeting expressed believe that the Party was larger than the individuals and ultimately the interest of the Party must supersede that of groups, individuals and fractions.
“It committed itself to relinquish to the future generations of the Party, a viable Party, conscious of its duty to all its members particularly, women, male and female youth and persons with disability”, the communique issued at the end of the meeting said.
