TheCable

Ali-Modu Sheriff, the court-endorsed national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said he’s willing to make any sacrifice to ensure that the opposition party outlives its trying times.

The Port Harcourt division of the appeal court had on Friday declared Sheriff the substantive chairman of the PDP.

Speaking during a news conference in Abuja on Saturday, Sheriff said there was neither winner nor loser from the ruling.

He urged party chieftains to see the court judgment as an opportunity to renew the party’s unity despite their bruised egos.

“I have been consulting with leaders of the party. From Monday, I will consult our members in the National Assembly; I will consult the BoT and everybody so that we can work together. I can assure you that within the shortest time possible, we will organise a successful national convention so that people can aspire for whatever positions they want to.

“I am determined to make my honest contributions to the success of this party. I am ready to make any sacrifice for the success of this party. We don’t want PDP to lose elections again. We need people to patronise our party. Democracy is about people, you either give them their right or they leave. What we are trying to do is to give the party back to the people.

“I want to assure that nobody is victor and no one is a loser. In fact, I have spoken to almost all the people that are affected by the court decision and assured them of my readiness to work with them to ensure that the party returns as one family.

“The judgement of the Port Harcourt Court of Appeal on Friday does not call for merriment or mourning. In my candid view, there was no victor and no vanquished.

“I see the judgement as a golden opportunity for a sincere renewal of our sense of unity and fraternity. No doubt, we have come a long and tortuous road wherein some of us have been bruised or outrightly wounded and are hurting. I understand also that for some of us, our ego has been agitated.

“Yet, I dare say that we can put all of that behind us and come together with one accord and move our great party, the PDP, forward.

“All of us are winners, Sheriff is not the winner and Makarfi is not the loser. I have received calls from our party leaders, the governors and members of the National Assembly.

“It is not about me or any ambition; it is about the survival of our great party. On this score. I can assure you that I shall be willing to make any sacrifice that can guarantee peace in our party.”