The crisis engulfing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be centered around President Goodluck Jonathan’s perceived interest in presenting himself for the 2015 elections.
Indicators pointed in this direction during a visit to Senate President David Mark by top members of the new PDP, comprising Kawu Baraje and Governors Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) , Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).
Baraje whilst consulting with David Mark and 22 senators in support of his faction, called on the Senate leadership to address the crisis in the PDP.
He demanded that the President be stopped from seeking a back door third term.
He also demanded “the reversal of the dissolution of the party executives in Rivers and Adamawa states, conduct of a fresh convention by the PDP due to the lapses in the recent one, removal of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman of the party, strict adherence to party constitution and total objection to third term for President Goodluck Jonathan from the back door”.
Baraje said: “I call on you and the Senate to look at all the steps we have taken with the aim of finding solution to the problems of impunity and injustice in the PDP.
“We call on you and the Senate, as members of the ruling party that the issue of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has gone beyond the ordinary man on the street.
“All the negotiations that have been carried out by ASUU and the Federal Government have yielded no result. Our students and our children are at home exposed to all sorts of dangers.
“ I call on you and the Senate to please quickly intervene and ensure that our universities are reopened.
“We can no longer keep these children at home. I also call on you and the Senate to ensure that the 2013 budget is faithfully implemented.”
In his response David Mark entreated the faction not to defect to another party.
He said: “We are stronger and better as one big , strong and united party . We need to work together and make our democracy sustainable.”
Mark said: “I will remain in PDP. All of us collectively, whether it is Baraje led or Bamanga led want to see our house stand and stand erect and stand in such a way so that it can stand the test of time.
“The obvious problems that you have raised here have all been in the newspapers. I have had occasions to plead with our elders. You have also met with our elders led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Both parties have presented their cases and I believe that the elders’ committee has also made a submission to Mr. President.
“Subsequently, you have also met with Mr. President and from what I gathered there is progress. It is slow but the progress in any peace move is better than no progress at all. As long as there is dialogue, there must be progress.
“The essence of our meeting from time to time is to exchange ideas, look at the areas where we have differences and try to iron them out.
“My position on the crisis in the PDP has always been that whatever happens, we must keep the members of the PDP in the National Assembly united because that is the only thing that can stand the test of time.
“Yes, we are a large family, there will be crisis but we should not translate that crisis to the floor of the Senate because once you do that then we are divided in the Senate.
“The Senate remains one united family and I have not declared anybody’s seat vacant. I have no intention whatsoever of doing that because this is a crisis that we are working on and trying to resolve.
“As long as we are trying to resolve this crisis, all the sides to it must be prepared o give and take.”
Mark said: Having spoken with you, I am also going to discuss with the Bamanga group and we will all be very frank because if we don’t put all the cards on the table, then we are not going to find a solution.
“We agree that there was a problem but it is a family problem and we will solve it. When we solve it, we will be stronger when we come out of it.”
“We should not allow the crack to continue so that lizards and all sorts of reptiles don’t begin to get into the house. What we will do as elders is to make sure that where the crack is, we cover it.”
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