The visit on Thursday by the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to Benin during which Governor Godwin Obaseki’s camp expected him to ratify the purported harmonisation of the party’s State Executive Committee, has come and gone without Ayu touching the issue.
Expectations by Governor Godwin Obaseki’s loyalists that they would secure the support of the national body in endorsing and/or ratifying the reported harmonised structure by the governor were irredeemably dashed.
Ayu arrived in Benin as promised by Governor Obaseki but refused to make any conclusive pronouncement on the claimed harmonisation of exco by the governor.
He was diplomatic in his speech on the occasion even as he dwelled on the need for unity to overcome the harmonisation crisis.
Ayu, in the company of PDP Board of Trustees, BOT, chairman, Sen Walid Jubril. told party enthusiasts who converged on Garrick Memorial Secondary School, Benin, venue of the rally, to look at the brighter side of things.
The national chairman, together with his team members, did not dissipate energy on the issue, according to a report by Daily Times Anchor.
He only urged them to close ranks, stating that lack of unity deprived the PDP of the presidency and some states in 2015 and 2019 respectively.
He warned that Edo State might go a similar way if the leaders failed to address the rancour, drift and division prevalent among party members.
“Once the leadership is divided you won’t get a good result. All our emphasis is on unity. We cannot talk about taking over power in 2023 if our state leadership is not on good terms.”
The national chairman, however, gave an assurance that the party would set up a team to resolve the crisis in Edo PDP.
He noted that the party would ensure that the governor did not leave.
Earlier, Edo State deputy governor, Phillip Shaibu, on behalf of Gov Obaseki’s loyalists, laid out conditions that must be in place for them to remain in the PDP.
Shaibu, taking a cue from his principal, who, sometime last week, had lashed out at some perceived enemies, also spoke in a similar fashion, saying that those of them on the side of the governor demanded full integration for peace to reign in Edo PDP.
Recall that Governor Obaseki had, penultimate week, while addressing a gathering of PDP leaders, used very harsh and uncomplimentary language to describe those seeking to undermine his authority and leadership of the party, admonishing them to leave.
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