PDP Crisis: Jonathan, G7 Governors meet in Abuja

The leaders will meet again after hajj.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the aggrieved governors of the “New” Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, resolved on Monday, to take steps towards implementing the resolutions reached at previous meetings, in order end the crisis in the ruling party.

They also agreed to reconvene after some of the governors, currently performing the hajj in Saudi Arabia, return.

The decisions are contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting of both parties at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At the meeting held at the First Lady’s wing of the Presidential Villa were Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers) and Rabiu Kwankanwso (Kano), all of who belong to the Kawu Baraje-faction, which was floated on August 31.

Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) were absent as they had reportedly travelled for the Muslim Hajj Pilgrimage. They, however, sent their apologies.

Mr. Jonathan was accompanied to the meeting by Governors Idris Wada (Kogi), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River State), all members of the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP.

The two groups had met on September 15, during which they agreed to a ceasefire in order to find lasting solution to the crisis.

They also resolved to avoid inflammatory statements on contentious issues pending the resolution of the crisis.

However, a few hours after the meeting, Mr. Akpabio as well as the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, publicly declared that nobody could stop Mr. Jonathan from contesting the 2015 presidential election, which was one of the contentious issues at the meeting.

On their part, the governors, accompanied by the National Chairman of the “New” PDP, Kawu Baraje, visited the leaderships of the two chambers of the National Assembly. The visit led to violent confrontation between supporters of the faction and the Tukur-led PDP.

Although, journalists were not allowed access to the venue of Monday’s parley, which began at about 12 noon, Mr. Imoke, accompanied by Mr. Aliyu, however, read the communiqué to the National Television Authority (NTA) cameraman.

According to the communiqué, both parties agreed that in spite of the unfortunate events that occurred after their meeting in September, they would remain committed to finding an end to the crisis in the party.

“Sequel to the meeting held on the 15th of September and in line with the agreements reached at the meeting, the governors met with the President, Vice President and the Chairman of the board of trustees, with apologies from the Governors of Jigawa, Sokoto and Adamawa, who had travelled for the Hajj,” it stated.

“The meeting which was cordial, resolved that in spite of the unfortunate events that arose after the meeting of 15th of September, the parties remain committed to the resolution of the differences

“The meeting agreed to continue to take steps towards implementing the resolutions agreed to at the previous meetings

“In view of the above some of the governors it was resolved that the meetings be reconvened shortly after the Muslim hajj and Christian pilgrimages are concluded”.