Pressure mounts on G7, Baraje, others to sheathe swords

 Despite setting up a disciplinary committee by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to try erring party leaders, the death of the first national chairman of the ruling party, Chief Solomon Lar, may fast track peace efforts in the party as pressure now mounts on the aggrieved leaders to return as a mark of honour to the late national leader.This is also following the upholding of the leadership of the PDP under the national chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and an extension of an olive branch to the Abubakar Baraje- led breakaway group. Solomon Lar had prayed for peaceful resolution of the crisis and had personally intervened to ensure amicable resolution of the crisis.

Talks are on-going among the leadership to capitalise on the demise of the late statesman without necessarily politicising his death as a soft landing for the aggrieved party leaders including the seven governors and the members of the new PDP. The party, it was learnt, will drop all the charges against the leaders while also attend to some of their grievances.

The PDP, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said the position of INEC had laid to rest all contentions regarding the leadership of the party.

“The position of INEC in affirming the leadership of the PDP under the national chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and rejecting the demand for recognition by our aggrieved brothers has indeed laid to rest all contentions regarding the authentic leadership of our great party.

“However, we wish to state categorically that this is not a time for us to gloat or preen ourselves over victory. We must use this window of opportunity to engender true reconciliations, put all the issues behind us and move ahead as one big united family that we are.

“In this light, we call on all our aggrieved brothers to relegate all personal interests and return to the fold so that we can ward off all external aggressions and forge a common formidable political front. We wish to assure that the PDP as the only true national party is large enough to accommodate all interests and persons as we remain loyal to the provisions of our constitution as a party.

“We must at this time close ranks and rally around President Goodluck Jonathan and our leaders at all levels so that collectively, we will ensure that our great party delivers on its mandate and promises as enshrined in the PDP manifesto, the ideals of our founding fathers and the Transformation Agenda of the PDP-led government for the overall good of our people”.