PDP Crisis: Jonathan Begins Peace Talks with Governors

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Former President Goodluck Jonathan tuesday night made good his pledge to mediate in the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when held a meeting with governors of the opposition party at his residence in Abuja.

The former president had earlier promised that he would intervene in the lingering leadership dispute in the bid to find a way out of the logjam which has been aggravated by the recent Court of Appeal judgment that restored Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the national chairman of the party.

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

So far, President Jonathan had met separately with the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee and Sheriff leadership as well as members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by Senator Walid Jibrin.

Yesterday’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.

Although the meeting was still ongoing at the time of filing this report, THISDAY gathered that Jonathan considers the decisions reached at the meeting the governors as very crucial since the governors are seen as the ones holding the axe and who can call both sides to order.

A reliable source said ex-president Jonathan is seeking for an agreement from both sides to set up a reconciliation committee that would iron out issues and be able to lay to rest the crisis in the party.

At the end of the meeting which lasted for about five hours, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State told journalist that they have resolved to pursue a political solution to end the crisis.
Fayose, who spoke with journalists said 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. A