Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
The crisis rocking the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party deepens on Tuesday as the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee failed to reconcile the warring factions.
The party had on Saturday, August 12, at its non-elective convention in Abuja, dissolved the factional executive committees of the party in the state.
The Tuesday meeting which was presided by Makarfi was deadlocked as the two factions led by Mr. Iyiola Oyedepo and Mr. Sunday Fagbemi, failed to reach a compromise.
Makarfi and other members of the NCC had during the meeting excused the factions to arrive at a compromise, which could not work out. This development led to disagreements among the members of the factions.
The Makarfi-led NCC had summoned the party stakeholders from the state to Abuja in a bid to reconcile them and engaged Sen. Solomon Ewuga to serve as a mediator between the two warring factions.
But indications that the two-hours meeting ended without any compromise emerged as some of the stakeholders were seen discussing angrily in a group , while others hurriedly left the party premises.
Efforts to seek further clarification by journalists was refused by the former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Suleiman Abubakar, who declined speaking with them but directed them to a former senator, Suleiman Ajadi.
But Ajadi angrily rebuffed the journalists and shouted at them saying, “what journalists, what journalists, can’t you see we are discussing.”
Earlier, Makarfi, while speaking during the opening session, cautioned the two camps to toe the part of four other states that have resolved to work together, noting that Kwara State was reputed to be very politically mature.
Makarfi, who further urged them to put their house in order, warned that they risk losing the party’s structure in the state to members that might join later.
He said, “Kwara State is the only state we are meeting with like this. We have four states that we already have submissions from them based on the resolutions passed and approved at Convention.
“All sides to the conflict in the states jointly signed and made a submission in the overall interest of the party. “
He said state chapters like Lagos and Adamawa, which he said was already making progress, would soon make their submissions to NCC.
Makarfi said, “They didn’t require us to meet with them. Of all the seven states, we have four already and the others will conclude over the Sallah holidays.
“People can question the leadership qualities in any particular state where there are seven affected, and six will get it done and one will be there fighting among themselves. And Kwara is highly politically mature and active to prevent this kind of isolation.
“We have delayed the state because of the influx of people joining the party and they want accommodation. So, what we want is not just people who are in PDP to reconcile and move forward, we also have an influx of people wanting to join the party. And nobody will wait for any particular person.
“The earlier people put their heads together then they can be in a greater position to have, no matter the kind of influx, overwhelming control of political events. In this kind of situation, the delay is dangerous.
“Kwara, as you are waiting, you don’t know what development may occur. And before you know it, you start regretting why did you have to wait for so long.”
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