**POLITICS!** Goodluck Meets With Obj,Four Splinter PDP Governors President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday held two separate meetings with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and 16 Peoples Democratic Party in what is believed to be his bid to resolve the crisis that led to the emergence of a splinter group in the party. He first met behind closed doors with Obasanjo for about two hours inside his official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja and then the governors, including four of the seven that are the arrowheads of the splinter group known as the new PDP. The four are Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Muritala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).The other governors in the Group of Seven are Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers). The G-7 and a founding member, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had walked out of the PDP special convention in Abuja on Saturday and consequently, announced the formation of the new PDP. Also in the faction are a former Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje; a suspended National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and a former National Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja. They were said to have been miffed by the way Dr. Bamanga Tukur and the Presidency had been running the party to the exclusion of other critical stakeholders. Less than 24 hours after the splinter group emerged, Obasanjo, who did not attend the special national convention at the Eagles Square, Abuja, showed up at the Presidential Villa. Decked in a white flowing dress (agbada) and a traditional cap, Obasanjo first joined Jonathan and his wife, Patience, for Sunday service at the Aso Villa Chapel . The former President’s visit coincided with that of the President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi, who also worshipped with the first family inside the chapel. After the service, Jonathan led his guests to the children church where they took turns to pray for the children. The President, former President, Yayi and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, thereafter retired into the President’s residence “for lunch.” It was however learnt that the President discussed issues bordering on the crisis in the PDP with Obasanjo and bilateral relations with Yayi. It will be recalled that Wamakko, Aliyu, Kwankwaso, Nyako and Lamido had met with Obasanjo in his Abeokuta, Ogun State residence as part of their nationwide consultations over the state of the nation and the party. They also met with former military dictators, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, Niger State
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 12:50:49 +0000
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