Governors, South West PDP Leaders Meet President Jonathan

Some governors and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South West attended the ‘closed door’ meetings with President Goodluck Jonathan on August 21, 2013, Wednesday.

The Governor of Sokoto State Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Kano Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were at the villa to confer with the President.

Mr. Wamakko, who had a private meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, told journalists that his visit to the Villa was “just a routine visit to the President of this great country” and had nothing to do with the planned National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the party.

He added that the consultations by five northern governors including Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) would continue.

The President also met with South West PDP elders led by former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Bode George.

South West PDP leaders who met with the President and Vice President Namadi Sambo include Abiola Ogundokun, Ebenezer Babatope, Iyiola Omisore, Hosea Agboola, Tunde Adeniran, Lekan Balogun, Musliu Obanikoro, Kayode Adetokunbo, and Wole Oyelese.

Speaking with journalists at the First Lady’s Residence , where the meeting held, Mr. George said the meeting was convened to settle some of the rifts in the south west PDP.

“We came to brief the leader of the party, situation in the south west and with all intents and purposes, we do not want to have an acrimony. You know, that is why we have come because we see that there is need to take a cursory look at the PDP south west. The house that has been built we cannot allow it to be destroyed. You know, if termites enter your house, you do not run out to go and be a tenant somewhere, you must fight it,” he said.

The PDP leader said he believes the meeting was very successful.

“The national convention will go on and the speculations about what is happening in the party and all that, you know, big man big problem. The way the new parties are coming up, we had been there since 1988. They will have to come and learn how to manage Nigeria, managing the tribal sectors all over the place, they will have to, learn how to manage Nigeria and that is what PDP has been doing,” he said.

When asked to comment on strategies by the party to win in the south west in 2015, he declared that “as an old soldier, you don’t discuss your strategies on the pages of newspaper. We will get there”.