PDP Reconciles Ladoja, Adedibu, Others
From Chuks Okocha in Abuja
After over eight hours reconciliatory meeting, the National Working Com-mittee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday reconciled the various factions of the party in Oyo State, led by Governor Rasheed Ladoja, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and Chief Yekini Adeojo.
Also, the suspension clam-ped on Adedibu and Adeojo by the extended caucus of the party in the state was lifted.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, PDP National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said, "Peace has finally returned to the party."
He was flanked by Ladoja, Adedibu, and Adeojo at the rear. Hugging and embracing each other in the presence of the NWC members and the Ag. Chairman of the party's Board of Trustees, Chief Anthony Anenih, Adedibu said, "I have no problem with my son, the governor, I made him governor. I have no problems with the peace terms. I am a 78-year old man."
Also, the governor in response said: "I have always said it, I have no problem with Baba."
Ladoja was quick to add that the terms of the peace agreed to at the meeting does not include that the state chairman and secretary of the party will be changed. He said: "Nobody will be changed."
Ogbeh expressed happiness that peace has finally returned to Oyo State chapter of the party and said "the governor will now concentrate on the governance of the state to the delight of the electorate. What happened in Oyo state is a family affair and we are happy that peace has returned."
On the suspension of Adedibu and Adeojo, Ogbeh said, "We have said the suspension was ill conceived and hasty. Nobody is under suspension."
Earlier on at the meeting, Ogbeh had frowned at the spate of crisis in some of the PDP-controlled states and declared that the electorate did not vote for crisis, but deserved more than they are currently getting from their governments.
Ogbeh also warned that the dissipation of energies by the combatants is a distraction to governance.
Describing the crisis rocking Oyo State as unnecessary, he observed that the electorate did not cast their votes for the party to foist crisis and quarrels on the society in return for democratic dividends.
At the PDP national secretariat, security was provided by a detachment of mobile policemen numbering over 50.
Movement in and outside the party secretariat was restricted as visitors were searched before being allowed in. Those who could not give convincing reason for their presence around the secretariat were turned back. Some members of the Oyo State governor's entourage were turned back, as the leader of the Mobile Police team said they were instructed to allow only three delegates each from Ladoja, Adedibu and Adeojo.
The meeting started at about 2.45 p.m. with members of the NWC in attendance. Also in attendance was Anenih.
"We want to achieve peace, because this crisis is an unnecessary distraction to the issues of governance in Oyo state and the party in general.
"If we continue to allow this distraction to keep taking away from us the attention of the problems of governance, service delivery, the growth in the economy, provision of unemployment for our youths and health services, it will not be good for the image of the party.
"These quarrels are unnecessary and we must bring them to an end. The people did not elect us to quarrel or to fight, but to govern, and if we begin to quarrel and fight, we are only letting ourselves down," Ogbeh said.
He added that "the rest of the society can only laugh at us if we allow this distraction to continue."
He called on the various factions to speak their minds."
"We are dealing with a family problem, it is our party, there is absolute need for us in whatever we do, or say or think to bear in mind that the whole point is to have a strong and united party," he said.
The PDP Chairman said that the meeting was called primarily "to achieve peace and make sure that these problems and distractions are not what Nigerians elected us for."
He urged the feuding leaders to speak frankly, but politely.
Adedibu and Ladoja have been at loggerheads since last year after the general elections. Adedibu accused the governor of monopolising sharing of political offices and other largesse in governance.
The supporters of the two politicians had been clashing openly at party functions. Late last month, Ladoja's loyalists convened a meeting of extended caucus of the party to announce the suspension of Adedibu and Adeojo.
The national body of the party had initiated two reconciliatory meetings in Abuja and Ibadan to bring the two feuding leaders together. The two meetings collapsed with each of the two men accusing the other of violating the terms of agreement.
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