Jonathan, Amaechi, Dickson hold secret talks

THERE were indications that President Goodluck Jonathan, the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Mr. Seriake  Dickson, on Thursday had a closed-door meeting in Rivers State.

The venue and agenda of the meeting were not clear as at the time of sending this report.

However, sources said the ongoing feud between the Peoples Democratic Party and the seven rebel governors loyal to the New PDP could be part of the discussion.

It was gathered that Amaechi and Dickson flew in the same chopper with Jonathan from the Port Harcourt International Airport to Okrika in Rivers State, where the remains of the President’s wife’s foster mother, late Mrs. Charity Oba, would be buried today (Friday).

A Government House source said Jonathan, Amaechi and Dickson might have met in the private residence of the President’s wife, Patience.

The source explained that the President, Amaechi and the Bayelsa State governor could cash in on the opportunity provided by the burial of Jonathan’s in-law to resolve their political differences.

Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, told The PUNCH that only Amaechi and Dickson, who were at the airport to receive the President, flew with him (Jonathan) in the chopper to Okrika.

Iyofor, however, said he could not ascertain if the President and the two governors had gone into a closed-door meeting when they got to Okrika.

“Governor Amaechi and the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, received the President at the Port Harcourt International Airport and the two governors joined the President in a chopper to Okrika.

“I am aware that they (Jonathan, Amaechi and Dickson) flew to Okrika in a chopper, but what I cannot say for now is whether they went into a closed-door meeting,” Iyofor said.

The PDP had been embroiled in a lingering crisis, which led to the emergence of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led New PDP.

However, ahead of the burial of the late Oba, security was beefed up around Okrika Local Government Area with soldiers, policemen and security operatives from other agencies stationed at different points to forestall any possible breakdown of law and order.

PUNCH