The senator representing Ogun East, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has said the court cases involving his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), may continue till 2019.
He gave the warning in a statement in Abuja yesterday. The statement reviewed the outcome of the meeting by members of PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) in Abuja, on Monday.
The senator said the decision by the BoT to hold the national convention in Abuja without resolving the crisis might not help matters.
“The outcome of such a convention will not be different from the botched Port Harcourt conventions where the process was manipulated towards achieving a predetermined end,” he said.
Kashamu added: “To say the least, those pronouncements neither portrayed a genuine spirit of reconciliation nor were they expected from leaders who are the conscience and respected leading lights of the party.”
While describing the initiative of the BoT members as laudable, the lawmaker said what the party elders ought to have done was “to preside over a transparent and unbiased reconciliation process whereby they would have summoned Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi and get the two respectable leaders to talk to each other in a room and come up with their own plans for resolution of the crisis.
“The BoT could then ask the two leaders to draw up plans and programmes towards hosting an all-embracing national convention.
“Anyone who does not cooperate with such a transparent and unbiased reconciliation process can then be viewed as recalcitrant and not having the interest of the party at heart.
“Truth be told; even if the convention is held in Abuja without finding an equitable and fair political solution to all issues in court, the legal tussle will continue till 2019, and that will be to the irreversible detriment of our party.”
Kashamu noted that the BoT has no business passing a vote-of-confidence in either of the two parties when many contentious legal issues were yet to be resolved.
He said by passing a vote-of-confidence in the caretaker committee means that the BoT was taken sides on the matter.
“It is not for nothing that the BoT is made up of the elderly and experienced leaders, who should be a rallying point for the party whenever there are issues or challenges such as this.”
He appealed to the BoT and party members to reflect on “our roles, choices and positions, knowing full well that we are making history with whatever role we play; good or bad, honourable or dishonourable – in the extant leadership crisis.”