Some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom has faulted the recently constituted Reconciliation Committee for not accommodating represenratives from aggrieved members.
They told newsmen in Uyo yesterday that the committee headed by Senator Effiong Bob is composed of only members of Maintain Peace Movement,MPM, a group in the party, and expressed fears that it would not be able to address the complaints of disenchanted memers.
One of the chieftains and a former chairman of the House of Assembly Service Commission, Chief Andrew Unwanta expressed dissapointment over the membership of the committee saying it was meant to fail on it’s mission right from the start.
“The committee to me is tilted towards MPM and I don’t think they really want to reconcile aggrieved members of the party because if they are sincere they could have also brought in people outside MPM.
“It could have been broadbased to accommodate people outside MPM, so for me the committee is merely an extension of the MPM structure. I have strong doubts if they really want genuine reconciliation because with what I am seeing in the membership of the committee the PDP leadership in Akwa Ibom do not actually want genuine reconciliation.
“This is important because they ought to have made the membership to include representation from aggrieved members who were disenfranchised especially during the ward congresses.” Unwanta explained.
Another chieftain and a governorship aspirant of the party Chief Owodiong Idemeko expressed doubts over the sincerity in setting up the committee but said he would still give them benefit of the doubt untill they complete their task.
On complaints over the committee not being broad based Idemeko was quick to point out that the current leadership of the party in the state has never accommodated the interest of other people than those of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s favoured aspirant, Mr Umoh Eno.
“It has been like this right from the beginning. The right thing could have been to include representation from the aggrieved members. In my mind it is a winner takes all approach they have adopted but I don’t want to second guess, when the committee invites me I will say my mind.
“But before then we will wait and see what they will offer in terms of sincerity in addressing complaints of aggrieved members especially stakeholders who felt slighted with the way the party carried out the process of electing it’s gubenatorial flagbearer.” He stated.
The PDP had a forthnigh ago inaugurated an 11-man reconcilation committee to help the party address differences that may have arisen during the processs of the just concluded party nominations.
State PDP chairman, Mr Aniekan Akpan, who acknowledged the existence of divergent concerns and grievances among members of the party had expressed the committment of the party in addressing disagreements adding that the umbrella of the party is big enough to cover everyone.
“After the primaries, our party candidates emerged while others did not win the party’s tickets. This may have caused them and their supporters to feel bad and perhaps discouraged.
“We value our members and we love to continue as one big family always this is why we thought it necessary to set up this Committee and we are sure that the committee will achieve the goals and objectives which the Party is out to achieve.
“As a party, we have a responsibility to reach out to everyone who holds a differing opinion from the outcome of the event, encourage them and help them restore their bearings as respected party men and women in the big umbrella family.
“We also need to reinvigorate their faith, hope and confidence in the PDP as the only party that holds a better future for them and the sustainable peace, development and prosperity of Akwa Ibom State.” Akpan had said.
