A member of the Nigerian Senator’s Forum, Yisa Braimoh has condemned in strong terms, attack on the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Anenih by a former Information Ministers, Edwin Clark and his friends.
Clark and his friends met at his residence in Abuja on Thursday under the aegis of Congress for Equality, attacking PDP BoT chairman for agreeing that the seven governors in the New PDP have genuine grievances.
In a communiqué read by former Senate President, Ameh Ebute, the group called on Anenih to distance himself from the governors. Present at the meeting were former Minister of Police Affairs, General David Jemibewon and former Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), General Ibrahim Haruna.
Braimoh, who was at the Senate between 2007 and 2011, the effort of the BoT chairman which is geared towards the resolving the intra-party crisis should be supported by all.
While calling on Clark and his friends to be statesmanlike in the attitude and approach to critical issue, Braimoh also noted that their attitude is not in the best interest of President Goodluck Jonathan that they seem to be protecting.
The statement he issued on Friday reads, “It is sardonic that while elders of the PDP should spare no effort to put an end to the lingering crisis threatening our party, Chief Clark and his friends who should be voices of moderation are the ones stoking the fire and choosing to be part of the problem rather than the solution. It is, indeed, pathetically sad that they are unconscionably widening the gulf between contending parties.
“While the position taken by Chief Tony Anenih as Chairman of the BoT of the PDP is statesmanlike and helpful to the process of finding solutions to the crisis, the attitude of Chief Edwin Clark and his friends in the Congress for Equality only helps to worsen the crisis. They should therefore emulate Chief Anenih.
“They should have known, if they were not being mischievous, that as chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Anenih is expected to play the role of an impartial arbiter, which does not admit of dissembling. This is what he has appropriately done in the circumstance. His attitude does not detract from his commitment to the unity of the party and the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
“Chief Edwin Clark and his friends should know that they are not helping President Jonathan by taking positions that are capable of worsening the crisis especially when the Presidency and the PDP leadership have initiated peace talks with the aggrieved governors.”
“It is patently fraudulent for Chief Clark and co. to present the correct position by Chief Anenih at promoting efforts at reconciliation as tantamount to identifying with the aggrieved governors. This type of shenanigans should not be the stock in trade of people who are supposed to be elder statesmen.”
He also called their attention to the fact that it was not the first time that Anenih would say that some governors have complaints against some elders of the party.
Braimoh stated further, “Permit me to quote Anenih’s exact statements in Asaba which were also repeated in Abuja: ‘It is true that some Governors have complaints against the leadership of the party; however, such complaints are not sufficient to warrant any rebellion as speculated. There have also been some complaints against the Governors.
“In any case, the problems raised are not insurmountable as, indeed, they are already being addressed by the leadership of the Party’. So, why are Clark and his friends trying to make political capital out of a non-issue? Nobody faulted the honest appraisal then. Why are they trying to ridicule themselves by trying to make an issue out of a non-issue?”.
