President Goodluck Jonathan and seven governors in the parallel Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday night agreed to “sheath their swords” and immediately begin to resolve the grey areas that led to the break of the ruling party.
All the seven governors from the Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led PDP governors were at the meeting while three pro–Jonathan governors; Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Idris Wada (Kogi) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River) were also present at the meeting which lasted about five hours.
No specific decisions were mentioned in a communiqué read out by Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu at the end of the meeting but further discussions have been slated 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, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Tony Anenih, six of the seven aggrieved governors and three of their counterparts supporting the president.
