The Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the party’s National Caretaker Committee chaired by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi of blackmail.
The faction made the accusation in a statement signed by Sheriff’s faction National Deputy Chairman, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, on Monday in Abuja.
Ojougboh said that his attention has been drawn to an interview granted by Makarfi where he said that Sheriff was planning a one party state.
He said that Makarfi in the interview was also claiming victory in the party leadership tussle with a pending case at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt.
“We thank God that the truth eventually is emerging. We have consistently told the world that the problem of PDP is Sen. Makarfi.
“He pleaded with Sen. Sheriff that both should continue in office till 2017 and work together into the Convention.
“Mr Chairman told him that he has legitimate mandate till 2017 while Makarfi has none,’’ Ojougboh said.
He added that Sheriff proposed everything humanly possible to achieve peace including relinquishing his mandate but the people that are infested with impunity would not allow PDP to have peace.
He said that the Makarfi-faction National Publicity Secretary was quoted in a national daily when he announced that they would “finish off Sheriff” in the Court of Appeal.
“It is very obvious from that statement that Adeyeye was quoting his masters who have assured them that they have secured judgment at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.’’
Ojogboh said that there is nothing Makarfi-led committee would not say or do to lay claim to the headship of PDP “which they plan to annihilate.
“It is interesting to note that the Board of Trustees of the Party has stated that the Party will not change name nor join a mega Party.
“Makarfi and his illegal Caretaker Committee is free to form their Party. They should kindly exit the Party with their impunity and corruption.’’
He said that the Justice Ashi’s judgment that Makarfi was making reference to has nothing to do with Sheriff.
“It is against the illegal Caretaker Committee and Makarfi.
“If the Judgment is implemented, all State Governors and Members of NASS produced by the Party will vacate their respective Offices.’’
Cairo pleaded with Makarfi and his people to exit the PDP quietly to allow for repositioning of the party.
Responding to the statement, Adeyeye insisted that Sheriff and his group were agents of the All Progressives Congress.
He alleged that the Sheriff-led faction were paid agents to destabilize PDP.
“ It is evident that they are all profiting from the crisis.
“We all are concerned about the massive rigging of the election in Rivers state by the APC. These agents of the devil are careless about that.
“If they are true members of the party will they be gloating over the open robbery of our party in Edo, Ondo and now Rivers?
“Their latest outburst no doubt must be at the prompting of their sponsors who want to use them to divert attention from the electoral heist in Rivers.’’
He noted that Sherriff and his cohorts have never for once spoken for the party against the APC. (NAN)