Negotiation must precede peace talks in PDP –Ex-Speaker Bankole

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, has warned leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South-West to emulate the reconciliatory move that the national leaders of the party have initiated.

Bankole made the call during the meeting of the regional wing of the party held in Ibadan on Monday under the theme, ‘Working together to regenerate our party in line with the spirit of the founding facilitators.’

Among those who attended the meeting were a former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; a former Deputy Governor in Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi; Senator Buruji Kashamu; a former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; a former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin; and the National Vice-Chairman and Zonal Chairman of the party, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe.

The meeting was facilitated by the South-West PDP Board of Trustees, which was said to be working towards reconciling aggrieved members and strengthening the party in the South-West.

The former Speaker noted that after all that the party went through before the 2015 general elections, it was vital to bring back aggrieved members to the PDP in order for the party to regain its lost status.

Bankole, who said he was encouraged to attend the meeting because of the reconciliatory efforts of the party leaders, however, argued that negotiation must precede peace talks.

“There will not be reconciliation without negotiation. I attend this meeting because it is targeted at negotiating and reconciling the forces in the party.

“The option of going to court will not take this party anywhere and I will not be a part of it. This kind of meeting is not complete without some key figures that are still aggrieved out there. The South-West wing of the party must emulate what our national leaders are doing so that we can align and remain a strong force,” he stated.

In the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, which was read by Adedoja, the party said it commended “the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff joint committees in enthroning national peace and harmony in the party.”