The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reconciliation meeting billed for next week Monday, October 7, has been put off. This indication was given this afternoon by the faction of the ruling party under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the aggrieved governors in the New PDP had met in the State House on Sunday night, September 15, and agreed to meet again on October 7 even as they resolved to put aside their differences and commence immediate action towards restoring peace in the party.

Indications that the October 7 meeting would be postponed was given by the National Publicity Secretary of New PDP, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who said in a statement that the party had “sent an emissary to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, seeking a postponement of the reconciliation meeting billed for next week Monday, October 7.”

According to Chief Eze, “This decision was taken last night during the Caucus Meeting of the New PDP held at the Adamawa State Government Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, during which it was discovered that the date of the proposed peace meeting clashes with this year’s Hajj, in which several of our key members are billed to participate. Our National Chairman, Alhaji Baraje, and most of our other key members, including most of the G7 Governors and the five other Governors that have indicated interest to join us by next week, as well as members of the National Assembly, Former Governors, and business moguls, are billed to perform the Hajj, which is already in operation.”

Continuing, the statement said: “Alhaji Baraje, the Progressive Governors and other stakeholders performing the Hajj have been mandated to use the opportunity offered by the Holy Pilgrimage to pray for the restoration of peace and unity in our great party, PDP, as well as in our dear country, Nigeria.

“The Baraje-led PDP wishes to reassure its teeming supporters and Nigerians in general of its commitment towards bringing back the glorious days of both the PDP and Nigeria.

“We thank Nigerians for their understanding and support, while appealing for continued prayers for the restoration of peace as there can be no progress in an atmosphere of chaos. The fact remains that we are not only committed to restore peace to our party but resolute about it.

“We enjoin our teeming supporters to be steadfast in their support for our struggle to enthrone genuine democracy devoid of abuse of the rule of law.

“On our part, we as leaders are committed to ensuring that our current struggle does not end as an exercise in futility but would achieve the set objectives of restoring our party to the path of honour and greatness.

“In this regard also, the party’s NWC billed for October 5th is hereby called off until our National Chairman comes back form the Hajj.

“We sincerely regret the inconvenience(s) in any form this may cause our beloved President, party faithfuls and Nigerians as praying to our God should be the utmost part from us particularly now knowing very well that with God the elusive peace in our party and country can be achieved.”

•Photo shows New PDP Chairman Baraje.

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