There is disgruntlement in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the composition of a 30-man reconciliation committee by National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and members of the Interim National Working Committee without consulting key organs of the party.
The committee, chaired by Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson has former Governor Asheikh Jarma as Deputy Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagun as Secretary, and comprises others like former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu; Senator Umar Gada; Dr. I. A. Obuzor; Salisu Suleiman; Senator Walid Jibrin; Senator Hope Uzodinma and Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
Also in it are Mr. Niyi Fadimula; Chief Jerome Eke; AVM Chris O. Marizu(rtd); Hon. Tijani Ibrahim Kiyawa; Dr. Christy Silas; Mr. Jangwe Yusuf; Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme; Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Yakubu Shehu; Mohammed Kuchazi; Mrs. Adedeji Otiti Olanrewaju; Chief Dapo Sarumi; Prince Arthur Eze; Chief Emma Iwuagwu; Chief Dosu Fatokun; Mr. Harold Eze; Hajiya Fati Sabo; Hon. Wakili Mohammed; and Shittu Mohammed.
Such organs as the National Executive Committee (NEC), the National Caucus and the Board of Trustees were unaware and never consulted before the committee members were named. Similarly, the composition of the committee was not an agendum at the last NEC meeting of the party.
According to former Adamawa State governorship aspirant, Dr. Umar Ardo, the reconciliation committee is dead on arrival unless it is re-constituted, and has the possibility of hampering the party’s chances at the 2015 polls. He urged Tukur to reconsider the appointment of Dickson as Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee.
“Other than the fact that as a governor, Dickson would have little time to devote to such an onerous and time-consuming task, I also think that he is eminently unqualified to handle such an assignment,” Ardo said.
“In the first place, Dickson lacks the national exposure and experience that such a task requires. Secondly, Dickson himself is a subject of conflict within the party apparatus and membership. The way and manner in which he was brought in as governor, and the furore and controversy that it generated across the country, drain him of all moral standing to undertake a reconciliatory mission.”
He argued that considering that Dickson and Jonathan both hail from Bayelsa State, Dickson will be biased and unfair in his judgment. He further explained that since the president’s 2015 ambition is a core cause of current disputes within the party, he could not fathom Dickson playing an independent arbiter.
“In fact, Dickson’s appointment will only be seen as an act of nepotism aimed at satisfying the impulsive determination of the president to achieve his aspiration,” he added.
“This perception will automatically estrange most aggrieved members and stakeholders of the party. The committee will thus be dead on arrival.”
Speaking anonymously, a top-ranking official of the party faulted the installation of Governor as Chairman of the committee, saying the committee would not succeed as there is no difference between Dickson and President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Is Dickson not a party to the PDP crisis, going by the face-off between Bayelsa and Rivers on oil wells?” he asked. “Some of us are suspecting that the 30-man panel has a hidden mandate because some apostles of third term tenure are members of the committee.”
He accused leaders of the party of playing to the gallery at a time when governors have been talking to senior Nigerians in a bid to end the crisis and salvage the country’s democracy.
Another high-ranking official revealed that many members of the party would not work with the committee. The public office holder who is also a member of G-19 said many are uncomfortable with the composition of the committee, as its members do not have what it takes to broker peace.
He said that Tukur did not consult any organ of the party, not even the PDP Governors Forum or the 50-man Advisory Committee chaired by one-time Vice-President, Chief Alex Ekwueme.
He added that leaders of the party have been mismanaging it in clear defiance of elders, and asked why Tukur should compose any other reconciliation committee asides the reconciliation mission composed by Chairman of the BOT, Chief Tony Anenih, which was accepted by PDP governors.
“What of Governor Ibrahim Shema’s reconciliation panel?” he queried. “Outside Anenih’s committee, we will not work with Dickson’s committee at all. Some of us told Anenih that were he not involved, we would not have granted him audience.”
But another party member at the PDP Secretariat countered the argument, assuring that Dickson’s committee would painstakingly harmonise all previous peace ommittees.
He explained that Dickson was chosen for his persuasive and consensus-building skills which could help unite the PDP family, urging aggrieved members of the party to give Dickson’s Committee a chance to harmonise all previous reports of peace committee.