… Says, ‘critics should forgive me’
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, on Monday
begged chieftains and groups within the party who
were unhappy with his emergence as chairman to
forgive him.
Sheriff, who spoke at the PDP secretariat shortly
after he officially took over the party leadership,
however stated emphatically that he would not
relinquish the position as being demanded by his
critics.
“I won’t resigned because the leadership of the party,
in their wisdom, chose me to lead the PDP for the
purpose of rebuilding and repositioning the party at
this critical period,” Sheriff said.
The chairman said he would promptly embark on
consultations with opposing groups and stakeholders
in the party, with a view to seeking reconciliation
and acceptance from all.
“I will leave no stone unturned. I will go to everybody
for support. I will bring everybody on board. Let
those who were not consulted before I was appointed
forgive all of us for whatever wrongs have been
made.
“Let us put our differences behind us so that we can
overcome our challenges and rebuild the party
together. If all stakeholders agree to build the party,
PDP will become the biggest party in Nigeria again,”
Sheriff pleaded.
According to him, it is normal for people to be
aggrieved in such situations, pleading with aggrieved
parties to explore available internal mechanisms to
resolve the differences.
He described aggrieved parties as those who truly
love the PDP, adding however that going to the
media to voice their grievances would not solve the
problem.
Sheriff promised to unfold his agenda as soon as he
gets briefed on the present status of the PDP.
Asked whether he would only complete the truncated
tenure of the immediate past chairman, Alhaji Adamu
Mu ‘azu which is expected to end in March, Sheriff
replied that the party leadership would decide the
length of his tenure “at the appropriate time.”
The chairman promised to initiate discussions with
chieftains of the party that defected to other parties
before the 2015 general election, with a view to
wooing them back to PDP.
He dismissed reports linking him to the Boko Haram
terror group, saying he never sponsored any
activities of the group.
According to him, he was being targeted because he
fought the group when he was governor of Borno
State.
According to him, no court has ever linked him to
Boko Haram, adding that reports linking him to the
group emanated from the figments of the imagination
of the writers.
“Boko Haram killed my own brother. They killed
members of my family, so why should I sponsor
people to kill my own brother, my own family. I am
not a fanatic. I love to enjoy my life.
“Boko Haram are criminals who live in the bush and
eat once a day. I believe their sponsors will be caught
at the end of the day. I have nothing to do with Boko
Haram,” sheriff said.
He singled out a former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi
Fani-Kayode, among the people linking him with the
terror sect, saying “this time around, people like
Fani-Kayode will not go scot free.”
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