Dickson’s reconciliation committee‘ll resolve PDP crisis –Gulak

By Omoniyi Salaudeen

Last week’s peace accord signed by the representatives of the two warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) brightens the hope of a final resolution of the crisis beveling the party. The renewed reconciliation move was at the instance of the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson. However, there is already a widespread report in the media of an alleged breakdown of the resolution among the gladiators.
In this interview, a former presidential aide and loyal member of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction, Ahmed Gulak, dismissed the insinuation as a figment of the imagination of some people.  

What is the way forward for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now that the latest reconciliation move initiated by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Sariake Dickson, has again broken down?
The Chairman of Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Governor of Bayelsa State, Sariake Dickson, is on it. He has successfully got all the gladiators to sign a peace accord for us not to be attacking ourselves in the media. That has been achieved and we are abiding by it. We should not be attacking ourselves; we should not be insulting ourselves. That is what the peace accord is all about. The peace accord is a process. And that is step number one. We are in the process and we hope and believe that the Chairman of Peace and Reconciliation Committee will conclude it in no distance future.

How would you react to the belief in some quarters that there might be an external force behind the crisis in your party?
Well, I don’t know those people. It may and it may not be possible. But what I know is that every sincere and committed member of the PDP should key into the peace process and reconciliation brokered by the Governor of Bayelsa State. I will consider anybody who does not key into it as an enemy within the party. Every genuine member of PDP who is concerned about the survival of the party should key into the proposal of Sariake Dickson.   

You are so optimistic about Dickson’s peace initiative. What gives you the confidence that the effort will not go the way of the previous ones?
That is my belief and commitment.

But there are already insinuations in the media that the peace effort has once again crashed. Hasn’t it crashed?
You are talking of insinuation, I am talking about reality. I don’t work on insinuation. There is nothing on ground to scuttle that process. That peace process is on, the reconciliation process is on. Dickson has successfully got all groups to sign an accord that we should not be attacking ourselves in the media. And that is already being adhered to. I don’t know what else you are talking about. Give me the list of those who are making derogatory statements in the media.

Some founding members of your party believe that the final resolution of the crisis can only be achieved through the Supreme Court judgment that is being awaited. What’s your take on that?
That is their own opinion. And they are entitled to it. They have the right; they are entitled to their own opinion. To say that the only final determination of the peace process is the Supreme Court is a wrong perception. To me and to every other committed member of the party, the court is not the final anchor of peace. If we allow ourselves to be dictated to by the court, we won’t get out of the crisis because no two persons come out of the court smiling. That is what we are trying to avoid. If some people believe that Supreme Court is the only way to achieve peace, so be it. It is their entitlement, it is their belief.

Isn’t it possible that some individuals may still find one fault or the other in the process and then decide to go to court again?
We are talking of party administration here. You can never prevent any rabble rouser or interloper to go to court. It is their right. But what we are saying is that majority of serious minded people believe in peace process, believe in reconciliation, believe in one family under the same umbrella.

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