Pdp Governors Back Modu-sheriff, As Party Demands Evidence From Those Linking New Chairman To B’haram

SAN FRANCISCO, February 18, (THEWILL) – Despite criticisms trailing the emergence of former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, the PDP Governors Forum on Wednesday expressed confidence in his ability to reposition the party and make it more inclusive.

This is as the opposition party's national auditor, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju challenged those claiming that the new Chairman has ties with Boko Haram to prove such allegation with concrete evidence or keep quiet. He stressed that the allegation that Sheriff is sponsoring the terrorist sect was a plot to discredit the party before Nigerians and the international community.

On their part, the governors, in a statement signed by the Coordinator of the forum, Mr Osaro Onaiwu in Abuja, explained that the emergence of Sheriff was one done after careful deliberation given the battle ahead, adding that: “Sheriff is coming on the job with immense wealth of experience and will no doubt use his vast network to rebuild the party.

“He will restore members' confidence and act as a counter-force to the many antics of the present APC regime.”

The PDP governors went on to advise the new national chairman to avoid all diversionary tactics and work towards uniting all aggrieved members and fashion out modalities to woo new party faithful.

“We urge you to shun all diversionary tactics that might be thrown at you and concentrate on how to bring all aggrieved party members together; as well as fashion out ways to woo new members especially the youths.”

“The forum is solidly behind you and will deploy its support to ensure that the shared vision for our party is realised as we prepare for 2019.”

The governors asserted that the situation in the country was an opportunity for Sheriff to show that the PDP remained the only true national party that could reunite the country.

As regards allegations that Modu-Sheriff is a “Boko Haram Sponsor”, Adeyanju appealed to all well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to ignore the new antics of opponents trying to spoil the party's chances of regaining power in 2019.

“We are very much aware that some elements are jittery over PDP's decision to pick him as its national chairman and the only way out for them is to label him as Boko Haram sponsor,” the national auditor of the party said.