PDP Crisis: Jonathan, Anenih meet rival PDP governors

Both factions to meet again on October
7.
Leaders of the two factions of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, met on Sunday
night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The late night meeting was presided over
by President Goodluck Jonathan and
attended by Vice President Namadi
Sambo and the Chairman of the PDP
Board of Trustees, Tony Anenih.
The meeting was attended by the seven
governors in the new PDP faction led by
Abubakar Baraje including Governors
Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Babangida Aliyu
(Niger), Sule Lamido (Jigawa),
Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara), Murtala
Nyako (Adamawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso
(Kano), and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).
Two governors from the Bamanga Tukur-
led PDP- Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and
Idris Wada (Kogi)- were also in
attendance.
At the end of the meeting, the two factions
were urged to desist from uttering further
inflammatory statements capable of
widening the divide while efforts are
ongoing to resolve the crisis.
The meeting, held at the First Lady’s
conference room, Presidential Villa,
Abuja, ended with both parties agreeing to
convene again on October 7.
After the meeting, Messrs Jonathan,
Sambo, Amaechi, Aliyu, Kwankwaso, and
Anenih briefed the Nigerian Television
Authority (NTA) on the outcome of the
meeting.
“All parties have undertaken to commence
immediate actions and agreed towards a
complete resolution of all matters and to
continue to meet until all processes
towards full reconciliation are concluded.
The meeting will continue on Monday,
October 7, 2013,” Mr. Aliyu said.
“Leaders and stakeholders and the
governors of Adamawa, Niger, Rivers,
Sokoto, Jigawa, Akwa Ibom, Kogi and
Cross River states met with the president,
the Vice President and the chairman of
the board of trustees and extensively
deliberated on various issues over a three
day period.
“The discussions were cordial and fruitful
with a clear commitment on both sides to
resolve all the issues raised at the
meetings, the meeting also called on all
parties to sheath their swords and avoid
further inflammatory comments on all
issues, particularly during the course of
our deliberations as efforts are being
made to resolve all differences.
“We use this opportunity, therefore, to
thank all members of our party and
supporters for the patience and
understanding,” he added.
Meanwhile, the first crack in the rank of
the Baraje-led PDP emerged on Sunday
as the National Treasurer of the faction,
Tanko Gwamna, resigned from its
National Working Committee.
Mr. Gwamna also pledged his loyalty to
Mr. Tukur, saying the current impasse did
not augur well of the development of the
party.
In a statement made available to
journalists, Mr. Gwamna said he arrived
at his decision after studying the
unfolding events in the polity and a deep
sober reflection of the consequences of
the outcome of such impasse on the
party.
He noted that as a lover of democracy, he
is of the belief that the current impasse
will not augur well for unity, peace,
progress and prosperity of the PDP and
Nigeria.
In the statement, Mr. Gwamna enjoined
PDP supporters nationwide to unite and
ensure the amicable resolution of the
current impasse.