The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, has described the defection of five governors of the party to the opposition All Progressives Congress as a sad development.

He, however, urged party loyalists across the nation not to panic over the  governors’ decision.

Anenih said this while responding to questions from journalists in Abuja, on Thursday.

The BoT chairman said he took solace in the fact that the party leadership including President Goodluck Jonathan, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, former National Chairmen, Senators Barnabas Gemade and Ahmadu Ali and himself “invested enough energy, commitment, maturity and sincerity in the collective effort at reconciliation.”

He said, “Indeed, I had expected the governors to stay on in the party which  offered them a unique opportunity to serve their people.

“Surprisingly, they decided to abandon their home and platform to take up tenancy in an opposition party even when it was apparent that the effort of Mr. President for genuine reconciliation was enough for them to see good reason to show restraint and understanding.

“However, as adults, the final decision was and remains theirs.”

Anenih urged members of the party  not to be disturbed by the departure of the governors, but to continue to mobilise grassroots support for the party and the President’s transformation agenda.

He noted that the  party was big and strong enough to rebound, as it had always done, in the face of such challenges.

He urged them to “rest assured” that, on its  part, the party at the national level, would strive relentlessly to continue to provide focused leadership as well as “keep your hopes and aspirations alive especially at this time and in the months leading to the crucial 2015 general elections.”

The BoT chairman also waxed  philosophical  that “What looks like a setback, in politics, can turn out to be a blessing in disguise.”

-Punch