PDP crisis: Dickson meets ex-ministers, backs Modu Sheriff

The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, on Thursday had a meeting with the Forum of Former Ministers, with a call on them to rally round the new Chairman of their party, the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Alli Modu Sheriff.
While advising against litigation over internal party misunderstanding and their recourse to divisive and inflammatory comments in the media, the governor appealed for support for the new PDP chairman and the need for members of the forum to align themselves with the position already taken by the National Executive Committee of the party in respect of the leadership issues affecting it.
The governor also called on the National Working Committee of the party to produce a timetable soonest that will lead to the conduct of a conclusive and transparent convention.
He specifically urged them to align themselves “with the position already taken by National Executive Council in respect of the leadership issues affecting the party”.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Markson-Iworiso, at the end of the consultative interactions held in Abuja, Dickson thanked and appreciated them not only for their continued membership of the PDP, but also for their effort at putting together the forum to further strengthen the party.
The statement said: “The governor commended the former ministers for the inclusion of all members who served between 1999 till date, which has created a diverse blend of human assets which the party need especially now that the PDP is in opposition. Dickson urged them to join hands with other leaders and statutory organs of the party in the onerous task of re-building and re-positioning the party.
“The countryman governor seized the opportunity to call on other senior members of the party to put themselves in an organised platform and be ready for effective mobilisation of all party men and women across the country. He reiterated the call for the inclusion and respect of all major stakeholders of the party especially now that the party is in opposition.”
According to Markson-Iworiso, Dickson also enjoined the forum to join hands with others back home in their respective states to mobilise and re-position PDP “along the lines of reforms as proposed by the new leadership”.