Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has asked all stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party to support the new National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
Fayose called on all the parties involved and concerned about the development of the PDP to embrace the appointment of the senator as the party chairman as “his emergence at this time is the best thing in the present circumstance and those aggrieved should sheath their sword and deploy their time and resources into fighting the All Progressives Congress instead of their own party.”
The governor made this known in a statement released by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.
He said: “it is regrettable that those who abandoned the PDP to its fate when it lost power and did not say a word to defend the party have now found their voice against a decision taken in accordance with the party’s constitution.”
Declaring his commitment to the party, Fayose said: “With my antecedent as someone who has always defended the party, I can’t be linked with any decision that will not be in the best interest of the party. I therefore call on all my admirers and believers in my dogged fight for the revival of our party to support our new chairman, whom I believe has the required capacity to reposition the party.”
He also debunked claims linking the new chairman to the rampaging terrorist sect, Boko Haram, stating that the senator is not on trial at any court of law, for sponsoring terrorism.
“Has Ali Modu Sheriff been tried and convicted by any court for sponsoring Boko Haram? Is he even being tried for involvement in Boko Haram activities?
“Even APC Senator Ali Ndume is being tried for allegedly making contacts with the Boko Haram sect 73 times and he is still the Senate Leader.
“Also, Ali Modu Sheriff and their ‘Saint Buhari’ are in-laws courtesy of his (Sheriff) son’s marriage to Buhari’s daughter and no one has called the President a Boko Haram sponsor by association. Or are they also saying President Buhari could have allowed his own daughter to marry the son of Ali Modu Sheriff if he was indeed a Boko Haram sponsor?”
Fayose revealed that due process was followed by the leadership of the party in the selection of Ali Modu and the efforts to reposition the party could only prove fruitful if members respected the decisions of the party leaders.
He further implored the aggrieved members to consider the supremacy of the party over their respective interests while expressing confidence in Ali Modu Sheriff’s ability to drive the party in the direction for reposition.
“The party was in a peculiar situation and we need people who can stand up against these devourers of our collective heritage. I can say it confidently that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is such a person and in the collective interest of our party, we should all rally round him,” he concluded.
