By Jonathan Ugbal; Government House Correspondent
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caretaker committee led by the factional Chairman, Ahmed Markarfi midweek visited Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade in a bid to find a lasting solution to the lingering leadership tussle that has rocked the party.
Markarfi, accompanied by Senator Ben Obi and Senator Abdul Ningi said his mission to Calabar was in a bid to enthrone peace in the party and commended the strides made by the Governor Ayade’s administration especially in the areas of employment.
“I am a peace maker and at the end of the day, we will have to find how PDP rises and runs again, and not only to run again but rise and fly.
“We must find a way to work together as a family and that is the spirit that should be guiding each one of us,” adding that; “it is not an issue of one verses the other but what matters is whatever way the issues must be settled.
He continued; “In this period of high unemployment, you (Ayade) are not retrenching or cutting the salaries of workers but creating employment in the state. That is highly commendable.
“I say what I mean and I mean what I say. I don’t talk that much but whatever I say, anytime you wake me up even from sleep, I will still be on that particular issue I have said.”
In a similar vein, Senator Obi said that despite little resources, there has been meaningful development and spoke on the party’s plan to win the Presidency in 2019,
“This is a state with little resources, yet it has been doing so much, turning the state round with employment. While others are retrenching, he is employing, youth employment is a major factor of this administration and we are proud of him,” Obi said.
On preparations towards leading from the centre by winning the next presidential elections, Obi said that; “We just gave way for APC to come in and Nigerians have seen the difference, so we are gearing up to bounce back in 2019.”
Ayade held a closed door meeting with the delegation afterwards with the state chairman of the party, secretary and his chief of staff, Martins Orim in attendance.
Ayade who had earlier directed the state Chairman of the party, Ntufam Edim inok to declare loyalty for the Senator Ali Sheriff faction of the party after an Appeal court had pronounced him as Chairman of the party welcomed the team to the state saying; “The visit was a demonstration that there exist a commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the impasse of this time.”
Sheriff had visited Ayade earlier in 2016 but Government House Correspondents were barred from entering the EXCO chambers, venue for the meeting.
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