President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday, held two separate meetings with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and 16 Peoples Democratic Party in what is believed to be his bid to resolve the crisis that led to the emergence of a splinter group in the party.
He first met behind closed doors with Obasanjo for about two hours in his official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja and then the governors, including four of the seven that are the arrowheads of the splinter group known as the "new PDP".
The four are Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Muritala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara). The other governors in the Group of Seven are Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).
Less than 24 hours after the splinter group emerged, Obasanjo, who did not attend the special national convention at the Eagles Square, Abuja, showed up at the Presidential Villa.
It was learnt that the President discussed issues bordering on
the crisis in the PDP with Obasanjo.
Hours after meeting with the former President, Jonathan also held a crucial meeting with Governors Aliyu, Kwankwaso, Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Nyako (Adamawa), Idris Wada (Kogi), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), and Ahmed.
Others were Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Garba Umar (Taraba Acting Governor), Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Jonah Jang (Plateau).
At the meeting, Obasanjo expressed concern over the development and called on both sides to maintain the status quo. He assured in a brief statement on Sunday evening that a meeting of the elders of the PDP would be convened before the end of this week over the matter.
Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio had told journalists at the convention's venue that he would reconcile the governors.
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