ABUJA- STRONG indications have emerged that following some crises that came up after the primaries in some states,President Goodluck Jonathan has concluded plans to reach out to some former governors, leaders, elders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who have been frustrated by serving governors that have taken over the structures of the party.
To achieve this, President Jonathan would be collaborating with PDP National Chairman Alhaji Adamu Muazu and the leadership of the party to ensure that they meet with these former governors, leaders, elders and stakeholders and resolve the problem especially ahead of 2015 general elections.
According to a source, the move is to allow the PDP go into the elections as a united family to confront the opposition, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The arrangement as gathered would be to pacify some of these personalities who are aggrieved especially as they complained of being schemed out by the governors to put in place their own persons as against the wishes of the people.
Prior and after the primaries in the states where candidates emerged, chieftains of the party who have been disenchanted with the way and manner the governors have appropriated the party structures in state chapters of the party, have protested to the National Secretariat against the conduct of the primaries.
It would be recalled that former
Governors Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, Obong Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State, Donald Duke of Cross River and other stakeholders in the states have complained openly.
Abia state a source said was one of such moves to nip in the bud the crises by the leadership of the party and the Presidency to ensure that amity return to the state chapter of the party as well as dissuade Orji Uzor Kalu from dumping the ruling party.
It was also gathered that the PDP chieftain has been under intense pressure from his loyalists to seek for an alternative political platform in Abia State following the overbearing posture of the state governor, Theodore Orji.
According to the source, the leadership of the party and the Presidency have expressed worry over the unpalatable development in Abia State chapter of the party.
For this reason, President Goodluck Jonathan summoned former Abia State governor, Orji Kalu, to a meeting
on Tuesday night, aimed at finding a solution to the intractable crisis in Abia State chapter of the party.
According to the source, Kalu met with President Goodluck Jonathan in company of the PDP national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and former Taraba State governor, Jolly Nyame.
The source said, ‘’They were sighted in a black jeep, driving into the Presidential Villa, using the President private entrance.”
The source further revealed that in the president’s waiting room as at the time Mu’azu led Kalu and Nyame to see President Jonathan were Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and
House Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande.
Confirming the meeting, an aide of Adamu Mu’azu said,
‘’it lasted for over an hour, it was all about genuine reconciliation and how to move the party forward.
“Mr. President said emphatically that Orji Kalu is an asset to PDP
and everything must be done to encourage him to stay in the party. The party is working to ensure reconciliation with its aggrieved chieftains, not only in Abia State, but nationwide. We don’t want them to leave the party, ’’
When contacted on phone about the meeting, former governor Kalu who confirmed meeting with President Jonathan, however rebuffed pressure to reveal what was discussed.
Kalu said: ’’ It was a private meeting between me and Mr. President and I am satisfied with what the President said.”
vanguard
