Former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel

By Chuks Okocha

As part of the strategy towards the 2015 presidential primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan Monday night met with former governors from the South-west geo-political zone.

It was gathered that the meeting, which was seen as a fencing mending one, had former governors of Oyo and Ogun States, Alao-Akala, Gbenga Daniel, among others in attendance.

According to inside sources close to THISDAY, the meeting became imperative because of the allegations making the rounds that President Jonathan had forgotten some of the former governors, especially those from the South-west who helped him to secure the party’s ticket in 2011.

The meeting, it was gathered, was also part of the strategy to commence the recapturing of the region into the PDP family.

The duo of Daniel and Alao-Akala are currently facing prosecution for corrupt practices from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Another governor facing corruption charges is the former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje.

Also said to be held against the President was the alleged treatment meted out to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timi Sylva, despite the pleadings by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) that he should intervene.

Inside source told THISDAY that the fence-mending meeting with the former South-west governors who are members of the PDP may not be unconnected with the perception that the President has abandoned the former governors to their fate.

Some of the governors, it was gathered, are ganging up against the perceived second term aspiration of the President come 2015 because of the fear that he will give them the same treatment that the former governors are facing with the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies.

Former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, is currently being investigated by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force.

Over eighteen PDP governors would be completing their second term in office by 2015 and there are fears that with a second term aspiration of Jonathan, their fate is doomed as the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies would come after them.

The governors from the North who would complete their second term in 2015 include, Muritala Nyako, (Adamawa) Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Suntai Danbaba (Taraba), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) Ibrahim Shema (Katsina). The governors of Kebbi and Sokoto States would complete their second term in office in 2016.

In the South-south, the governors of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta states would be rounding off their second term in office by 2015.