PDP: Power sharing may tear reconciliation apart

There were indications in Abuja on Thursday that power sharing among the warring factions in the Peoples Democratic Party might constitute a major obstacle in the desire to find a political solution to the protracted crises within the party.
There had been no love lost between Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions of the party.
Two major players in the Makarfi camp, who spoke on condition of anonymity with our correspondent, said that though they were waiting for the details of the reconciliation move, they said that it would be difficult for the governors and other members of the party to share power with some people in the Sheriff camp.
For example, they said it would be difficult for Chief Olabode George to share power with someone like Segun Adewale, who is the factional chairman of the party in Lagos State recognised by Makarfi.
One of them added,  “Do you expect Governor Ayodele Fayose to share power with Senator Buruji Kashamu in the South-West? Do you also expect someone like Senator Hope Uzodinma of Imo State to share power with a former Speaker of House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha?
“Also, you don’t expect the Governor of Delta State, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to share power in the state with someone like Cairo Ojougboh.
“Will someone ask Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to also share power with the likes of Bernard Mikko?”
Speaking on the proposed meetings that could culminate in the terms of settlement, the National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, told our correspondent that the party had yet to be officially informed on when, where and how the settlement would be arrived at.
Meanwhile, the Reconciliation Committee of the party met in Abuja on Thursday, where it approved the position of the governors on the need to use political solution to settle the crisis.
At the end of the meeting, the committee chairman, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State; the Deputy Chairman, Ibrahim Mantu and the Secretary of the committee, Ibrahim Lidani, issued a statement where the committee “appealed to the members of the party to exercise restraint and focus on the loyalty to and the overall interest of the party.
Meanwhile, Sheriff has said that there is no truth in the report in a national newspaper, (not The PUNCH) which said he and Makarfi had been asked to step aside by Jonathan.
He said neither his resignation nor that of Makarfi was discussed as the political solution during his meeting with Jonathan.
Rather, he said what was agreed on was that the outcome of the Court of Appeal would be respected by the two parties even before the judgment was delivered.