Sheriff, Makarfi in war of words

chika ebuzor

November 17, 2016 4:20 AM

Sheriff had earlier threatened to take action against Makarfi’s committee if it continues to speak for the PDP.

The reported peace accord between the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might not go ahead any longer.

The recent war of words was sparked when Ahmed Makarfi, the Chairman of the PDP caretaker committee, called Ali Modu Sheriff an agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reports say.

Sheriff however slammed back at Makarfi, describing his caretaker committee as a disbanded group.

According to Punch, the spokesman in the Makarfi team, Dayo Adeyeye, said “My attention was drawn to another set of lies contained in a statement issued by Dr. Cairo on behalf of his master, the former national chairman of our party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

“As much as we don’t intend to trade words with these former members of the PDP, we, however, feel constrained to put in the public domain, once again, facts as they relate to the intents of these agents of the APC masquerading as PDP members.

“We wish to state clearly that Ali Modu Sheriff and his ilk are known enemies of our party, planted to destabilise the vibrant party that provided good leadership for the country for 16 years.

“We can say without fear of contradiction and as well challenge Nigerians to point out where, even, for once, those parading themselves as PDP members, have dared to issue a statement condemning any of the several gaffes of the APC government.

“We say clearly that not for once has Sheriff and his team of confused travellers said a word against the misgovernance of the APC.

“We are not surprised because we know it’s suicidal for a servant to criticise his master.”

In a swift reaction, Bernard Mikko, the spokesman of the Sheriff led faction issued a statement saying “The facts of the leadership crisis in the party are in the public domain, including the ongoing legal efforts that are being complemented with the political solution of reconciliation and rebuilding under the leadership of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, and supported by eminent Nigerians and strategic stakeholders who strongly believe that the PDP is not only a government in waiting, but also the only party with formidable structures and robust solutions to tackle the economic and social problems confronting our nation.

“Adeyeye, together with the other members of the disbanded caretaker group, is, therefore, advised to take this disclaimer very seriously because they are already in contempt of an Abuja Federal High Court ruling that declared the national caretaker contraption led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi illegal and also ordered them not to parade themselves as lawful national officers of the party after they missed their way to Port Harcourt on May 21, 2016 in defiance of a subsisting court order from another Federal High Court, Lagos division of May 12, 2016.”

Ali Modu Sheriff had earlier threatened to take disciplinary legal action against the Ahmed Makarfi’s caretaker committee if it continues to speak for the PDP.

chika ebuzor