PDP crisis: Jonathan, PDP governors in crucial meeting

AS part of efforts to find a political solution to the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former President Goodluck Jonathan was on Tuesday locked in a meeting with nine members of its governors forum.

After a long hiatus, the former president had earlier stated his desire to be more forward in the bid to find a way out of the logjam aggravated by the recent Court of Appeal judgment that restored Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the national chairman of the party against a resolution of its national convention to constitute the national caretaker committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Both groups have continued to lay claim to the leadership of the party with Sheriff taking over the national secretariat in Abuja to the anger of the Makarfi group.

President Jonathan had previously met separately with the feuding parties as well as members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by Senator Walid Jibrin.

Tuesday’s meeting took place at the former president’s office in Maitama, Abuja with governors of Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Taraba, Cross Rivers, Abia, Ebonyi, Gombe and Bayelsa states in attendance while Rivers state was represented by the deputy governor.

Sources closed to the meeting said it was expected to discuss issues crucial to the survival of the party “especially as it affects recent developments in the party.”

At the end of the meeting which lasted about five hours, chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and governor of Ekiti state told newsmen that the meeting was at the instance of Jonathan who was concerned about the situation in the party.

He said it resolved to pursue a political solution while the actors have been urged to refrain from making inflammatory statements that would further inflame passions in the party.

Fayose said: “It is my pleasure to tell you that we are here at the instance of the former president. He is genuinely concerned by what is going on in the party. And he thought  that an interactive session with the governors will go a long way to dousing tension.

“One, we want to assure all our supporters that we believe in this party, we believe in the success of this party.

“We want to appeal to everybody to be wary of making statements that could further worsen the situation. Rather we should make complimentary statements that can enhance the party the more.

“Again, we know that there are so many matters before the court.  But we believe that  a political solution will go a long way to solve this matter.

“And if we believe in this party, we will all be willing and ready to pursue a political solution, in which at the end of the day  every interest will be well represented.  That is the position of this meeting.”