PDP VS APC: DETAILS OF BUHARI, OSINBAJO, SARAKI, GOVS’ MEETING EMERGE
PDP VS
APC: DETAILS OF BUHARI, OSINBAJO, SARAKI, GOVS’ MEETING EMERGE
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday held a closed door meeting
with Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
It was understands that the meeting was part of last minutes
efforts to stop Saraki and aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) from leaving the ruling party.
The members, who have formed a bloc which already is in alliance
with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and over 30 parties, may pull out of
the APC in less than a month.
The politicans are almost against time since the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) had scheduled the conduct of Presidential
and National Assembly Primary Elections to begin on August 18, 2018.
The 24-hour arrangement
It was exclusively gathered that the meeting presided by Buhari
was at the instance of some APC Governors.
The state chief executives had visited Saraki Wednesday night
after he returned to Abuja from Ilorin.
They reached out to him on phone earlier in the day after news
spread that opposition chieftains were also in Ilorin.
Although Saraki’s trip to the Kwara capital was for the burial of
his ally’s mother, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, it turned out to be a political assembly
of disgruntled APC stalwarts and PDP leaders.
Photos from the event which showed the supposed political
opponents hobnobbing and all smiles were said to have unsettled the presidency
and APC leadership.
At the APC Governors-Saraki parley, the visitors told him they
were seeking ways to reconcile the various groups in the APC. Saraki was said
to have expressed readiness for sincere talks.
When they left, the Governors, who were
in Abuja, for the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) meeting, later visited the President.
They informed him that he must change his stand that the
deliberations be handled by the party leadership and Vice President, Yemi
Osinbajo, who met with the N-PDP faction at least thrice before talks broke
down.
The nation’s leader then agreed for the meeting that held today.
Issues discussed
Reliable sources disclosed that present at the Aso Rock meeting
were Buhari, Osinbajo, Saraki and the mediating APC State Chiefs.
The agenda was clear: APC must ensure protesting leaders and their
supporters do not exit the party.
The meeting deliberated on some burining issues in the party.
Saraki, It was understands, tabled areas bothering him and other aggrieved
topshots.
He also advised that others be visited or invited for genuine
talks to enable the presidency and the APC hear individual feelings, plights
and demands.
The meeting harped on the need for unity, with assurance that the
accord process will work this time.
President Buhari thanked everyone in attendance and mandated the
Governors to continue with further meetings and brief him directly.
It had reported details of the Ilorin
meeting.
In attendance were Saraki, PDP Chairman Prince Uche Secondus,
Benue Governor Samuel Ortom, Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and Rivers
Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Ex-Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, Senator
Barnabas Gemade among others.
The prominent political figures were hosted by Kwara Governor,
Abdulfatah Ahmed.
In his reaction, APC spokesman, Bolaji Abdulahi, said the
gathering had no political undertone.
“It wasn’t a meeting. It was Fidau for mother of Baraje. The APC
NWC was also represented there”, he told them.
Also speaking, Governor Ahmed said he was yet to take a decision
on his political future with the APC.
Ahmed spoke through Dr Muyideen Akorede, his media adviser.
He explained that the presence of the personalities in Ilorin was
“for the burial rites of the late mother of respected politician, Alhaji Kawu
Baraje and was not for the purpose of a political realignment”.
“While I have not been briefed on any planned defection, I am
aware that my principal and other political leaders in the state are gradually
being shown the way out of the APC.”
When contacted, a source close to Saraki informed our
corespondent: “They are all just talking. No one had joined anywhere yet”.
