allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Ebonyi PDP - What Manner of Reconciliation? (Page 1 of 2)

The Senator Jim Nwobodo led-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-east Reconciliation Committee was in Ebonyi last Tuesday, with the objective of reconciling the two factions thrown up by the contest for PDP chairmanship between Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Dr. Sam Egwu. Christopher Isiguzo, captures the intrigues and reports

Last Tuesday in Ebonyi, will remain indelible in the minds of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was the day the hitherto factionalized party was formally united in the spirit of reconciliation by the Senator Jim Nwobodo led-PDP South-east Action Committee. The committee has been charged with the responsibility of reconciling aggrieved members of the party in the entire South-east.

The party had, in the build up to the March 2008 National Convention, been polarized. While a group led by Chief Dave Umahi, with the full backing of the state government, gave its full support to the former governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, the other group led by a former local government chairman, Chief Sunday Adol Awam with a handful of supporters, threw its weight behind the former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

The polarization later culminated in the emergence of two state executive committees of the party. A closer look at the party in the state, would however, suggest that all was well. This is moreso that virtually in every nook and cranny of the state, the recognized party leadership was led by Umahi.

Umahi and his team emerged from a well attended state congress of the party held at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, earlier in the year. The congress was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and operatives of various security agencies.

The other group was more or less operating on the pages of the newspapers, without any visible presence in the state. This faction created the strong impression that there was internal acrimony within the rank and file of the party in the state.

All this seeming unhealthy rivalry within the party, however, gave way during the visit of Nwobodo's committee to the state last Tuesday. In the team were PDP stakeholders like Senator Nkechi Nworgu, Hon. Linda Ikpeazu, former Minister of Health, Prof ABC Nwosu, Chief Sonnie Iroche, Chief Lawrence Nwuruku and Chief Goodluck Opia, Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, among others.

The team, to its credit, not only succeeded in reconciling the warring factions, but also announced the endorsement of their action by both Egwu and Anyim, the principal figures in the fight. The development also painted the picture of a possible reconciliation between the two combatants.

Briefing newsmen at the end of their two-day visit to the state, Nwobodo said despite the "little problem that showed semblance of discord within the state party structure," the PDP in Ebonyi State was not only strong and vibrant, but also more focused than the rest of the states in the zone.

According to him, the major task before his committee was to recover all the states in the zone for the party, even as he noted that having himself being a victim of "political wickedness," he would strive to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party in the zone. He added that the alleged "political wickedness" that had pervaded the party was orchestrated by the policy of "divide and rule" by persons at the party's helm of affairs.

The former Anambra State governor hinted that the decision of those in authority not to tolerate any dissenting voice in their respective states, hampered the growth of democracy. He said further that with the establishment of the reconciliation committee, there were strong indications that lasting peace and genuine reconciliation would return to the party, not only in South-east, but at the national level.

The committee chairman however, disclosed that despite initial signals that tended towards division in the party in the state, his committee was able to achieve genuine reconciliation between the two opposing camps. He highlighted the necessity for the opposing views to be carried along in the scheme of things in the state "for peace to reign."

In a seven-point communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, Nwobodo disclosed that after his committee's meeting with party leaders and members in the state, it was discovered that the party was not only strong and vibrant, but the leadership was also credible. He explained that a serious consideration needed to be given to a policy of inclusiveness, accommodation or patronage. He specifically emphasised the need to accommodate those who have indicated strong interest to remain in the party.

He also canvassed the need for routine consultations with party elders who are either resident in Abuja or Ebonyi. This he reasoned, would enhance the credibility of the party leadership, adding that internal democratic processes should at all times guide party elections and decisions.

"We leave Ebonyi State with an understanding that all is well. And that the umbrella, the symbol of our party, is big enough in the state to accommodate all the party leaders and teeming supporters," he stated, adding that his committee prior to its arrival, only received one memorandum, stressing that it received a few others later, all of which, he said were in support of the state executive.

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