Saraki Addresses Wike’s Withdrawal From PDP Reconciliation Efforts

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has weighed in on the renewed crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the withdrawal of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from the party’s reconciliation efforts.

Wike, in a statement issued on Sunday, announced his decision to pull out of the process, accusing Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah of fueling the internal discord within the party.

The escalating conflict is reportedly casting a shadow over the upcoming 99th National Executive Committee meeting, set for May 27.

However, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, speaking through his media aide Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that he intends to persuade Nyesom Wike to return to the negotiation table.

He said, “Wike’s pulling out of the arrangement is not really a setback as you inferred. It’s just an indication that we still need to do more work and intensify more efforts.

“A mediator cannot be seen reacting to every issue arising conflicts otherwise in the process of speaking, he may say something that the various parties may misintepret.

“Even in the first statement issued by Wike, you can see where he referred to his position in the reconciliation committee.”

Saraki also warned that Nigerians, including stakeholders of the PDP, could not afford to allow the opposition go into oblivion, stressing that the development would see the country evolved into a one-party state

“The alternative to PDP is one party state. The PDP goes beyond party. That is the only legacy party that is remaining. Out of the three parties with which we started this democracy, AD is gone, APP is gone.

“So, this is the only legacy party. Allowing it to die will be a major setback for democracy” he warned.

Anonymous sources within the PDP’s National Working Committee revealed to the publication that, in light of the ongoing crisis and the looming threat to the NEC meeting, the party’s Board of Trustees convened an emergency session on Monday (today) in Abuja.

Multiple insiders also confirmed that, aware of the potential damage a postponement could inflict on the party’s future, the reconciliation committee led by Bukola Saraki held a late-night meeting with key stakeholders on Sunday to address the escalating tensions.