Goodluck Meets With Obj,Four Splinter PDP Governors

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  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.

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 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 .

The former President’s visit coincided with that of the President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi, who also worshipped with the first family inside the chapel.

After the service, Jonathan led his guests to the children church where they  took turns to pray for the children.

The President, former President, Yayi and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, thereafter retired into the President’s residence “for lunch.”

It was however learnt that the President discussed  issues bordering on the crisis in the PDP  with Obasanjo and bilateral relations with Yayi.

It will be recalled that  Wamakko, Aliyu, Kwankwaso, Nyako and Lamido  had met with Obasanjo in his Abeokuta, Ogun State  residence as part of their nationwide consultations over the state of the nation and the party.

They also met with former military dictators, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar  and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, Niger State