Nigerian Breaking News P D P C R I S I S : JONATHAN, GOVS AGREE TO RESOLVE DISPUTE. President Goodluck Jonathan and governors in the breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party last night announced an agreement to “sheath their swords” and immediately begin resolving the dispute that caused the break of the ruling party. No specific decisions were mentioned in a communiqué read out by Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu at the end of the meeting shortly after 10pm, but further discussions have been scheduled for October 7. “Sequel to the number of meetings convened by leaders and stakeholders, the governors of Adamawa, Niger, Rivers, Kwara, Sokoto, Jigawa, Akwa Ibom,Kogi, Kano and Cross Rivers States met with the President, the Vice President and the chairman of the Board of Trustees and extensively deliberated on various issues,” the communiqué said. “The meetings were cordial and deliberations fruitful with clear commitments on all sides to resolve all issues raised at the meetings. The meeting also called on all parties to sheath their swords and avoid further inflammatory comments on issues particularly during the course of our deliberations as we have all agreed to resolve all the differences. “In the interim, all parties have accepted to commence immediate action and agreed towards complete resolution of all matters and continue to meet until all processes toward reconciliation are totally complete. “The meetings will continue on Monday 7th October, 2013. We use this opportunity therefore to thank all members of our party and supporters for their patience and understanding as we will make sure and ensure that there is progress in resolving the crisis.” Aliyu read out the communiqué flanked by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, board of trustees chairman Tony Anenih, six of the seven ‘rebel’ governors and three of their counterparts supporting the president. The six governors were Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa). Also at the meeting were Governors Idris Wada (Kogi), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom). The discussions began at about 5pm, and around 9pm security men sent away journalists from the Presidential Villa, saying the meeting was not meant for media coverage. But soon after 10pm, journalists were called back for a briefing, though before they arrived the communiqué was read out to a cameraman of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Last-night’s meeting was meant to conclude talks began in the wake of the break-away of seven governors from the mainstream PDP, following protracted crisis over the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and rift in the Nigeria Governors Forum among others. At the last meeting on Tuesday night, two knotty issues that remained to be resolved were on Tukur’s removal and on President Jonathan’s 2015 ambition. Concessions already made by Jonathan at the last meeting Tuesday were to restore Adamawa State PDP leadership backed by Governor Murtala Nyako and lift PDP’s suspension on Amaechi, Daily Trust learnt. The president had also told the Niger State governor and his Jigawa counterpart Sule Lamido to meet and sort out the NGF crisis, saying he would accept whatever decision they take on that. ‘New PDP’ treasurer quits Meanwhile, a major rift emerged in the leadership of the Abubakar Baraje faction of the PDP yesterday as its national treasurer Alhaji Tanko Isiaku Gwamna resigned from the National Working Committee. In a statement he read out on the Nigeria Television Authority’s Network News last night, Gwamna said he resigned after studying the unfolding events in the party. “This decision was arrived at after a careful study of the unfolding events in the polity and a deep sober reflection of the consequences of the outcome of such impasse on our party,” he said. -DAILY TRUST
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 09:43:52 +0000