President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday held two separate meetings with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors 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 inside 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,” says The Punch account of the incident.

“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),” the report said, adding:

“The G-7 and a founding member, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had walked out of the PDP special convention in Abuja on Saturday and consequently, announced the formation of the new PDP.

Also in the faction are a former Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje; a suspended National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and a former National Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja.

“They were said to have been miffed by the way Dr. Bamanga Tukur and the Presidency had been running the party to the exclusion of other critical stakeholders.

“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.

“Decked in a white flowing dress (agbada) and a traditional cap, Obasanjo first joined Jonathan and his wife, Patience, for Sunday service at the Aso Villa Chapel.”

Jonathan later in the night (from 9:25 p.m.) went into a marathon meeting with 16 PDP governors which dragged late into the night. Governors present at the meeting included Aliyu, Kwankwaso, Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Nyako (Adamawa), Idris Wada (Kogi), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), and Ahmed.

PDP’s lawyer, Mr. Joe Gadzama (SAN), also attended the meeting alongside the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

•Photo shows Governor Amaechi addressing a mini convention of ‘new PDP’ last Saturday in Abuja. The threat posed by the group has set off alarm bells in PDP.

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