Jonathan, three PDP govs meet over ministerial nominees

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday entered into a marathon meeting with three Peoples Democratic Party state governors loyal to him.

The governors include Akwa Ibom’s Godswill Akpabio, Cross River’s Lyel Imoke and Bayelsa’s Seriake Dickson.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, also joined them at the meeting.

The meeting, which was held inside the President’s office came about 24 hours after Jonathan and his loyalists met with four rebel governors – Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State;  Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; and Babangida Aliyu of Niger State-in a bid to restore peace to the already factionalised ruling party.

Akpabio, who is the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum; Imoke; Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State; and Katsina’s Ibrahim Shema attended the Monday peace talk which was later adjourned indefinitely due to the absence of three governors said to be on pilgrimage to Mecca.

Our correspondents learnt that issues bordering on how to fill the vacant ministerial positions occasioned by the recent sacking of nine ministers formed part of the discussion at the Tuesday meeting.

It was also gathered that issues relating to how to resolve the party crisis that had led to the seven rebel governors pitching their tents with a splinter group known as New PDP as well as the 2015 general elections formed part of the discussions at the closed-door meeting.

Imoke and Dickson left the venue of the meeting almost the same time at about 4.20pm while Akpabio left at about 4.40pm.

They did not speak to journalists when they were approached.

Indications that the issue of ministerial nominees could have been discussed was further confirmed when in turning down the request to speak with journalists, Akpabio promised that he would come back after picking a curriculum vitae.

He had not returned at the time of filing this report.

PUNCH