Nigeria, June 1, 2016 – Former Deputy Senate President and member Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Mr. Ibrahim Mantu has advanced reasons why he and members of the Concerned Group opted to hold a parallel PDP convention in Abuja, while one was ongoing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Mantu who spoke at the BOT meeting of the party in Abuja today said the group held the parallel convention to end reign of impunity in the PDP.
“The Concerned Group took the decision to hold parallel convention in Abuja in order to end regime of impunity in the Party”, he said adding that the PDP made several mistakes in the past that led to the failure of the party at the polls in the 2015 General Elections but maintained that the party has realized its mistakes and will soon resolve all leadership crisis for a stronger and more united PDP.
He also thanked staff members for remaining united during the trying period.Chairman of the BOT, Senator Walid Jubril reminded staffers that the BoT is the only constitutional organ of the party following contradictory court orders against the National Caretaker Committee and the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC).
He reiterated the reason for visiting the secretariat and that the meeting with staff is in compliance with their constitutional role as the conscience of the party and managing the assets and liabilities of the party, which is inclusive of the staff.
He said the meeting is to encourage and re-orient staff on the way forward. He announced that the leadership will assume office when they have achieved maximum harmony on the issues at stake.
The BoT Secretary, Amb. Chief Ojo Maduekwe commended members of staff for their cooperation and urged them to continue to remain calm and united irrespective of the current leadership crisis in the party. He assured members of staff that the crisis will be over soon.
Earlier Director of Administration, Engr. Gurama Bawa thanked the BOT particularly for the gesture, and taking time from their busy scheduled to meet with staff of the party which he said is the first of its kind in the history of the PDP.
He equally thanked staff of the Secretariat for holding forth and believing in the party despite the temporary shutdown of party’s National Secretariat by the Nigerian Police Force due to the crisis that emanated from the National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Present at the meeting was Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin and the BoT Secretary, Ambassador Chief Ojo Maduekwe in attendance.
Other members of BoT present are: Senator Ibrahim Mantu, former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Chief (Mrs.) Stella Omu, former Chief Whip of the Senate and Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, former Military Governor of Plateau State.
This is the first meeting after the parallel convention in Abuja and Port Harcourt.
