The
much-expected October 7 meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan
and the seven aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors has been
called off.
This is because, members of the New PDP under
the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, said they had sent an
emissary to Jonathan, seeking a postponement of the reconciliatory
meeting.
Jonathan, the aggrieved governors,
some elders of the PDP and some governors loyal to the President had
met at the Presidential Villa on September 15, where issues relating to
the crisis in the party were discussed.
Among those who were at the September 15
meeting, which was held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, were the
Vice-President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo; the Chairman, Board of Trustees
of the party, Chief Tony Anenih; governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger),
Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); and Rabiu Kwankwaso(Kano).
A communique issued at the end of the
meeting, which was read by Aliyu, said the meeting agreed that all
parties must sheathe their swords and stop provocative statements until
October 7.
But none of the two parties has been
able to keep to the agreement, as they have been making pronouncements
considered to be inimical to the agreement reached at the meeting.
However, the New PDP said it
would not be able to make the Monday meeting because some of its
members, including governors, would be performing Hajj.
A statement by the National Publicity
Secretary of the faction, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, in Abuja on Wednesday,
said the decision to seek a new date was arrived at after a caucus
meeting, on Tuesday night in Abuja.
Eze said that it was at the meeting that
the faction discovered that the date of the proposed peace meeting
would clash with this year’s Hajj, which he said would be attended by
some of its members.
He said, “Our National Chairman, Alhaji
Baraje, and most of our other key members, including most of the G-7
Governors and the five other governors that have indicated interest to
join us by next week, as well as members of the National Assembly,
former governors, and business moguls, are billed to perform the Hajj,
which is already in operation.
“Alhaji Baraje, the progressive
governors and other stakeholders performing the Hajj have been mandated
to use the opportunity offered by the Holy Pilgrimage to pray for the
restoration of peace and unity in our great party, the PDP, as well as
in our dear country, Nigeria.”
He assured the New PDP
supporters and Nigerians in general of the group’s commitment towards
bringing back the glorious days of both the PDP and Nigeria.
Eze also enjoined supporters of the
faction to be steadfast in their support for the struggle to enthrone
genuine democracy devoid of abuse of the rule of law.
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