EFFORTS aimed at reconciliation in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Thursday, following the visit of three of the G5 governors to the house of the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
Tukur had been at loggerheads with the G5 governors since late last year, with the crisis culminating in the suspension of the Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Wamakko, before it was lifted recently.
The meeting was reported to be part of the deal brokered by former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, which reportedly involved the governors meeting Tukur in his house as a mark of respect, while the party chairman was also requested to mend fences with those he had offended among the governors.
It was confirmed that as part of the peace efforts, three governors, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso of Kano and Wamakko visited Tukur in his house on Thursday.
It was also learnt that the governors and the chairman discussed the crises rocking the PDP in details and, afterwards, agreed to work together for the peace of the party.
A source at the meeting said the chairman apologised to the governors for whatever wrong he might have done against them, while the governors, in turn, also apologised to the chairman on whatever ways they might have spoken wrongly about him.
One of the issues resolved and apologised for was the suspension of Sokoto State governor.
Tukur was said to have told the governors that at his age and as an elder statesman, all he wanted was to contribute to the peace of the party and ensure President Goodluck Jonathan consolidated on his achievements.
He also told them that as a father, he could not be seen engaging governors in fisticuffs, while assuring them that the misunderstanding within the PDP would soon be resolved.
A source at the meeting also narrated that the proposal for the two contending chairmen of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to step down for a neutral candidate was still on the table.
“The party chairman apologised profusely to the governors and urged them to allow the reconciliation efforts to yield desired fruits. About 10 governors were at the meeting,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the peace meeting initiated by Chief Obasanjo was still ongoing.
It was learnt Obasanjo insisted that the best thing was for both Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Jonah Jang to step down and allow for a neutral candidate to take over the leadership of the NGF.
Since the last meeting, Chief Obasanjo was said to have reached out to Governor Murtala Nyako, who had publicly opposed to the request for both men to stand down.
“The aggrieved governors are not ready to accept both (Ibrahim) Shema and (Isa) Yuguda. They see the two more or less like Jang.They are likely to accept if a neutral person emerges,” the source said.
Nigerian Tribune also learnt that how to explain the stepping down of the duo to non-PDP governors was another major issue at the meeting, as the source said the non PDP governors may not accept a new chairman of the forum without election.
As of the time of filing this report, the meeting was still ongoing.
My supporters free to leave PDP – Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said while he remains a loyal PDP member, he cannot dissuade any of his followers from seeking another platform to promote their programmes.
Abubakar, following press enquiries on the reported registration of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), said he did not have the right to stop others from associating or seeking registration for new parties.
While acknowledging that many of his political associates were involved in registering the PDM, Abubakar said he had no powers to stop adults with common interests from coming together to form a party.
He also noted that many of his political associates were equally members of political parties other than the PDP.
According to him, freedom of association, as enshrined in the constitution, was the beauty of democracy.
Political analysts recalled the active role of the PDM in the democratic transition from the Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha and Abubakar Abdulsalami administrations.
The PDM platform, founded by the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, provided the impetus for his performance across the country during the September 1992 presidential primaries, which were later cancelled by the military regime.
Political observers also noted that the choice of Abubakar as running mate to Obasanjo in 1999 was a recognition of the active role of the PDM structure in his victory.
Source: Tribune
