The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives on Tuesday inaugurated a 13-member Ad-hoc Committee, chaired by Patrick Asadu, to review the ongoing leadership crisis.
Ahmed Makarfi’s faction had filed a suit before the Supreme Court challenging the declaration of the Appeal Court which defaulted Ali Modu Sheriff as PDP’s National Chairman.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Ad-hoc Committee, Leo Ogor (PDP-Delta) who expressed optimism that the Ad-hoc Committee has the capability to carry out the assignment, said: “We are on a journey of salvaging Nigeria. Please do all you can to help this country.”
Members of the Ad-hoc Committee are: Toby Okechukwu, Tajudeen Yusuf, Rimande Shawulu, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Kingsley Chinda, Akinlaja Joseph, Joan Mrakpor, Okwu Samson, Ben Nwankwo, Simon Arabor, Sunday Marshal and Ali Isa.
According to the term of reference given by the caucus, the Ad-hoc Committee was mandated to review the extent of the ongoing crisis in the party especially the various peace efforts initiated by genuine leaders of the party and examine in general the current political development in the country.
The 13-member Ad-hoc Committee was also mandated to recommend for consideration of the caucus the way forward in all efforts to ensure unity, coherence and interest, and to coopt other members into the party.
In his remarks, Patrick Asadu (PDP-Enugu) who emphasised the need for expedite action towards rescuing the party from absolute collapse, said: “we cannot wait a day longer. And we must succeed in recovering our party and giving peace-loving Nigerians another chance of experiencing a truly democratic party in government and the gains that go with it.
“The option of failure to recover and rediscover our party does not actually exist. It takes only a cursory look at the almost two years of the present government for all to acknowledge that Nigeria needs its beloved party, the PDP, in whatever shape or form, not just as a vibrant democratic party but also as the party that forms and runs the government of Nigeria…
“The PDP government was not and could never have been perfect, and few human endeavours are totally perfect.
“But the worst of the PDP government is 100 times better than the best of the present All Progressive Congress (APC) government.
“We all are witnesses to a party under which the government has not only impoverished our people by leading us into an avoidable recession, without a single clue as to how to get us out of it.
“But also runs a government under which all truly democratic institutions are under siege, under which ethnic, regional and religious tensions have been promoted to unacceptable and unhealthy levels by selective application of the rule of the law, by systematic breaches of the Federal Character Principle and through an obnoxious and nauseating policy of government by exclusion of large segments of the society and a loud insensitivity to the insecurity of lives and property nationwide.
The ad-hoc committee is expected to report back within two weeks.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
