PDP Crisis: Anenih Cautions Tukur, Baraje Against Making Preemptive Statements

Baraje-TukurChairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, on Thursday called for restraints from the two factions of the party as efforts towards resolving the current political logjam could be undermined by inflammatory statements from both sides.

As the Abubakar Kawu Baraje led faction of the party promised to see to a logical conclusion the moves to take back the party from those who have hijacked it, the Bamanga Tukur led national leadership of PDP threatened to declare the seats of the dissident governors and lawmakers vacant if they failed to retrace their steps.

But Anenih in a statement entitled: “A Call for Caution”, issued in Abuja, said making preemptive statements amid reconciliation process was disrespectful to President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP leadership at whose instance, reconciliatory moves are being made.

“Following the walk-out staged by some aggrieved members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the special Convention of 31st August, 2013, there have been genuine efforts by the leadership of the party, including the President himself, to reach out and reconcile with the aggrieved members, using the numerous mechanisms for conflict resolution that exist in the party.

“A series of meetings have been held and more are scheduled to hold in the next few days.

“It is unfortunate that while the reconciliation efforts are being made, some of our members are making inflammatory statements, intimidating one another and issuing threats of court actions. Such actions do nothing but harm the efforts at reconciliation.

“Like a good family, we must avoid open confrontation and allow the leadership of the party to effect genuine reconciliation.

“Conflict is not new to the PDP and, as in the past, I am confident that, in spite of the differences, the current one will be resolved, with the party coming out even stronger and more united than ever.

“To make preemptive statements while the process of reconciliation is still on is disrespectful not only to the President but also to the party leadership. Such statements undermine the party and the enormous efforts being made under the transformation agenda of the Mr. President.

“I therefore call on all members of our great party to exercise restraint throughout this trying period,” Anenih said in the statement.

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