By Adeleye Kunle
Senator Walid Jibrin, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, has criticized the party for producing both its presidential candidate and national chairman from the same location
Jibrin, who appeared to support Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s cause, offered to resign as BoT chairman, sacrificing the remaining six months of his tenure.
Jibrin told Track News in an interview yesterday, “provided that brings the much-needed peace into the party.”
He stated that the party was awaiting the report of the reconciliatory committee formed to resolve the conflict between Atiku Abubakar and Wike.
Jibrin, the party’s conscience, stated that the party would speak with one voice on the rift so that the PDP would have something to campaign with in the south.
He listed the party’s organs, including the national caucus, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC), where issues would be thoroughly discussed and resolved before being tabled at the convention.
Jibrin stated that the party’s compositions, such as presidential candidate, national chairman, and BoT Chairman, were from a specific section of the country and insisted, “it is not fair.”
Apart from calling the current compositions unfair, the BoT chairman stated as the party’s conscience, “We will address it once the report is submitted.” It will be unjust for the party to have both its president and the national chairman, BoT chairman from the northern region of the country, implying that Iyorcha may leave only after the election if Atiku wins.”
Although he did not commit to the party agreeing to some of the Wike camp’s demands, such as Ayu’s immediate resignation to make way for justice, fairness, and equity, he insisted that the party’s various organs would meet and resolve the issue next week.
Jibrin exuded confidence that the PDP would win the presidential election in 2023, assuring that the schism, which he dismissed as mere quarrels, would be resolved by next week, when all party organs must have met to discuss the issues and reach a decision that would strengthen the party.
“To be honest, it will not be fair for Nigeria’s president to be from the north, the party’s chairman to be from the north, and the BoT chairman to be from the north.” We should have the report by next week.
“And if we find out that someone is wrong about what happened, we will come out openly and tell the party that they are wrong.” “Whatever we can do in the interest of the party to keep the party as the PDP,” he explained.
