The leadership crisis rocking the Ebonyi State chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may soon be a thing of the past.
This followed the successful conduct of a stakeholder meeting convened by the caretaker committee chairman of the party, Barrister Steve Oruruo.
At a meeting held in Enugu on Sunday with the theme “Engagement for Peaceful and Transparent Congresses,” Oruruo reminded the stakeholders that “PDP is the bedrock of other political parties in Nigeria and, as such, shouldn’t be allowed to go down.”
Oruruo expressed optimism that peace has returned to the party at last.
“With the class of people that are here today, the PDP will bounce back. We’re not oblivious to the balkanization of the party as a result of improper conduct. The era of anyhowness is gone and every member of the party will have a say and that’s what we’ve come to do.
“Ebonyi is a PDP state, and those that have been chased away by power tussles are yearning to come back to their home, and we’re working to make the party accommodating and welcome these our brothers and sisters but the party needs to be strong enough to welcome them and as well offer the needed opposition to the APC in the state.
“We’re here to talk openly and genuinely and after this meeting, we will leave as one body,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, which lasted for over four hours, Oruruo said: “A very successful meeting. We were able to bring the elders and leaders of the party to the table.
“For a while, there has been a kind of fuss. The fact that they came together is also a victory on the surface. Beyond that, they were able to embellish their point, and speak from different points of opinion because I’m an entity of plurality of opinion.
“So, it was nice that they aired their views and we were able to reconcile their points, bring them together and also set the tone for the next outing—the congress of the party.”
While admitting that there might still be pockets of resistance, the caretaker committee chairman assured that they’re equal to the task.
He said: “We’ve been containing the problem with constant and sustained advocacy because we prefer peace and building bridges instead of walls.
“So, with that, continuous prayer and working together, I think the pains in the party will end.”
Also speaking briefly on the official defection of Senator Anyim Pius Anyim to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Oruruo said: “Senator Anyim Pius Anyim wrote to the party many months ago, indicating that he has resigned from the party, so this celebration is just an act of establishing the fact that he has made a choice in terms of the party to serve. So joining APC is very normal.
“Our part is the biggest party in West Africa and Africa as a whole and the only party that begot every political gladiator in Ebonyi State. The party is open, the umbrella is so large and those who have defected, at the appropriate time, will be back.”
The meeting was attended by the national vice chairman of PDP, Chief Ali Odefa; former governor of the state, Senator Sam Egwu who was represented by Fred Onwe; and the governorship candidate of the party in the last election, Chief Ifeanyi Odii, who was represented by the deputy governorship candidate, Senator Igwe Nwagu Paulinus.
Others are the former national secretary of PDP, Onwe Solomon Onwe, and the members of the caretaker committee.
