Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, in Abuja, began a subtle move to douse tension generated among members of the Peoples Democratic Party
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, in Abuja, began a subtle move to douse tension generated among members of the Peoples Democratic Party over the outcome of last Saturday’s national convention in Abuja which produced Uche Secondus as chairman. This is despite the fact the party has a standing committee on reconciliation headed by the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson. The former President assembled a team of his loyalists, who it was gathered, would visit aggrieved aspirants with a view to appealing to them to forget about their grievances and work with the Uche Secondus-led members of the National Working Committee
Among those in Jonathan’s team are his former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN); a former Minister of State for Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda; a former Minister of Finance, Nanadi Usman; and his (Jonathan’s) bosom friend, King Turner. Jonathan’s first port of call was the home of a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Suleiman Abubakar, in Abuja. Suleiman had threatened to challenge the outcome of the convention in court, saying his name was technically omitted among those contesting the position of the National Publicity Secretary. He had said that he would go to court to challenge the outcome of the election into the position he wanted to occupy. Confirming the visit, Suleiman said he thanked the former President and promised not to go to court.
Meanwhile, Secondus has appealed to all those that contested and lost at the convention not to feel bad, saying there was no victor and no vanquished. The new party chairman promised to bring everyone on board in the running of the party. He stated, “By the special grace of God, elections have come and gone and I declare to you that there is no victor, no vanquished. Our first assignment will be to bring all and sundry together, that is reconciliation. We reassure leaders of our party, especially those who contested this election; we have already started work and by the grace of God, it will be productive.”
Also, together with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Uche Secondus, on Sunday night, met with former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George to seek his cooperation following the rancour that followed the PDP convention that held last Saturday, where Secondus emerged as the new party chairman.
“Chief George received them warmly and advised them, according to a source. “He criticised Wike for making such disparaging comments about the Yoruba. Wike apologized saying he meant no harm. Chief George told him to find a way of assuaging the Yoruba who feel very bad with the way they have been treated. He told Wike that the APC is already exploiting the Yoruba issue and that if it is not addressed properly, it could affect the PDP’s electoral chances in the South-West in 2019. Wike and Secondus thanked Chief George and said they would find a way of appeasing the South-West.”
Wike had, during a programme on Channels Television, titled ‘Sunrise Daily’, on Friday, said the South-West PDP lacked leaders that could head the party.
