TheCable

Ayo Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has opened up on why he withdrew support for Ali Modu Sheriff, the immediate past chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Fayose, who was instrumental to the emergence of Sheriff, said the former chairman had to go to forestall disintegration of the party.

Urging Sheriff to accept his removal in good faith, the governor asked him to join others in rebuilding the party and also support the Ahmed Makarfi-led committee, which has been assigned to preside over the affairs of PDP for three months.

“We cannot sacrifice the party for any individual,” Fayose said in a statement signed by his Lere Olayinka, his special assistant on public communications and new media.

“I supported Senator Ali Modu Sheriff in good conscience but when it became obvious that his continuous stay in office as the national chairman will jeopardise the collective interest of the party, I had no option than to support his removal.

“To me, the general interest of the party overrides that of any individual and there is no way I can stand in support of any plan to sacrifice the party for any individual.

“Anyone whose ambition threatens the collective interest of the party should be removed to save the party and that’s exactly what we have done.

“I therefore urge Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to accept the dissolution of the NWC and appointment of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee in good faith and cooperate with other well-meaning members of the party.

“We need to take these hard decisions so as to reposition the party to be able to achieve the much-needed electoral victory in 2019.”