The Edo Publicity Secretary of the All Progress Congress (APC), Pastor Joseph Osagiede, says the party is ready for reconciliation if initiated by a neutral body.

Osagiede, who made the disclosure while briefing journalists at the party’s Secretariat in Benin on Monday, said either the presidency or the Benin traditional council should make such move.

According to him, “we have already said that we are willing for reconciliation, but we cannot constitute a reconciliation body when you are an interested party in the issue”.

“A neutral body from the presidency or Benin traditional council can set up a committee for reconciliation”.

He expressed optimism that the crisis in the party at the state level was dying down as the activities of the Edo People’s Movement (EPM), a breakout group of the party, was fading away.

“I think the APC crisis is already ending because we know that EPM is already folding up; we know that the members of EPM are also reaching out to us”.

Osagiede said it was expected that the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole should heed to the wish of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II who had called for peace to reign.

“The Oba’s wish is that there should be peace and for Oshiomhole to still be supporting EPM, he is working against the wish of the Oba.

“The National Chairman should take a clue from the Oba and come home, meet with the governor and take him to the Oba and say we have reconciled.

He added that he was not a factional publicity secretary of the party but the state publicity secretary, noting that those who left the party to form EPM had no bearing with APC. (NAN)