ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Aggrieved workers of the Peoples Democratic Party have vowed not to tender letters of apology as demanded by members of the National Working Committee of the party before discussions on how to end the ongoing crisis between them and members of the NWC would begin.
It was gathered that the members of the NWC at their weekly meeting on Wednesday reportedly directed the angry workers to write individual letters of apology and show remorse for their action before they could be listen to by the NWC.
One of the workers, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity said, “We we have been directed to write letters of apology and copy the Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees; the National Executive Committee and the Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum before they could listen to us.
“The NWC members said they were sad that we have caused the party a lot of embarrassment; they complained that we ought to have channelled our grievances through the Director of Administration, who, in turn, will pass it through the National Secretary to the NWC – without our making the whole matter public.”
It was learnt that the NWC took the decision after its meeting with the management staff of the party, which was held at the Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.
Since the crisis started, the NWC members have been avoiding the party’s national secretariat, located at Zone 5, Abuja.
Representatives of the workers who were at the meeting with the NWC members took their report to their colleagues at an emergency meeting held inside the NEC hall at the party’s secretariat.
At the meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, the workers said there was no need to apologise.
A source at the meeting stated that, “The Director of Administration, Bawa Gurama, counselled that we should sheathe our sword and comply with the NWC directives and await further action from the NWC.”
Findings revealed that though the angry workers admitted that they could be blamed for externalising the crisis, they, nevertheless, maintained that “they stand by the reply to the memo issued by the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, to them.
The source said, “We are not to be blamed for making the issue a public matter. It was the memo which the NWC leaked to the public through the National Secretary that led to our reaction.
“We will not apologise because we are not to blame for how it became a public issue. Therefore, we stand by the content of the reply to the National Secretary.”
It will be recalled that Oladipo had in a memo dated July 29, and directed to all directors and “PS/DD/HOD/SAs/PAs and Establishment Staff” of the party in Abuja, said the party was going to sack 50 per cent of its workers.
