New PDP shelves rebel govs’ meeting with Jonathan

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.

On their part, he said the leaders were committed to ensuring that their current struggle did  not end as an exercise in futility but would achieve the set objectives of restoring our party to the path of honour and greatness.

“In this regard also, the party’s NWC billed for October 5  is hereby called off until our national chairman comes back form the Hajj,” Eze added.

He, however, regretted the inconveniences the action might cause the President, party faithful and Nigerians,  adding that in spite of this, prayer was superior to the meeting.

When asked when the meeting would now hold, Eze said, “Hajj will end on October 17. It is after that day that we would be abe to attend. So, we appeal to the President to consider a  date after October 17.

Meanwhile, the PDP has said that the party was bigger than any individual.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated this while speaking with reporters after the weekly meeting of the party’s National Working Committee     in Abuja.

Metuh, who spoke before the statement from the New PDP calling for the postponement of the meeting, said that the party had left the reconciliation to the October 7 meeting.

He said, “We discussed (at the NWC meeting) the efforts and mentioned our aggrieved brothers, we have left it for the meeting of October 7 to know how best to handle it.

“We hope that we will be able to achieve full reconciliation with our aggrieved brothers, but this party is bigger than any person or any group and PDP will survive all interests.

“This is a national party, the custodians of the party administration are ready and capable to handle all matters that affect this party after the peace meeting.”