I did not endorse Sheriff as PDP chairman – Jonathan

Former President President Goodluck Jonathan has denied reports that he endorsed Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Describing the report as false, the media aide to the former President, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, in a statement on Tuesday, clarified that Jonathan did not endorse Sheriff during the latter’s visit to the ex- President on Monday.

“The issue of endorsement never came up in the course of the visit, not at the closed door meeting with Sheriff nor during the former President’s interview with newsmen,” the statement said.

Jonathan, who repeatedly addressed Sheriff as “my chairman” during the visit, accused the media of infusing mischief in their report, stressing that he welcomed Sheriff to his house in line with a mediation role he was playing towards undying and strengthening the PDP.

According to the statement, the ex -President opened his doors to Sheriff upon the latter’s request, just as he had earlier done to the Makarfi-led caretaker committee members.

It added that the former President was prepared to broker more talks until the leadership crisis in the PDP is finally resolved.

The statement added, “Indeed, it may interest you to know that after meeting with Sheriff, the former President also met with Senator Ahmed Makarfi, leader of the PDP Caretaker Committee, and the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Walid Jubril, later in the evening.”

It emphasised that as a peace-loving leader of the party, the former President’s interest was to help reposition the PDP to enable it play a constructive role in the affairs of the nation and help deepen the nation’s democracy.