The
Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
yesterday led members of his reconciliation team on a visit to former President
Olusegun Obasanjo.
It was
an emotional meeting at the Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta home of the former
President, who is believed to be the arrowhead of the aggrieved PDP chieftains
in Ogun State. With Obasanjo were prominent members of the party who are
opposed to the chairmanship of Chief Bayo Dayo, who was pronounced the
authentic chairman by the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
The PDP
National Chairman said he took the step following the ruling of the court,
which affirmed Dayo as the authentic leader.
Anenih,
according to sources, did not request Obasanjo to speak on his grievances
against the party leadership because he was already aware of the factors that
caused the crisis.
The BoT
chairman reportedly hailed Obasanjo for his contributions to the party and
reiterated President Goodluck Jonathan’s respect for him as one of the
prominent leaders and former President. The politician said the former
President had been responsible for the advantageous position of the ruling
party in the country, adding that he was an indispensable leader.
According
to the source, Anenih rejected the insinuation that the decisions taken by the
PDP national leaders on the leadership tussle in the state was an attempt to
injure Obasanjo.
He said
the party took certain steps in the overall interest of its members, based on
the rule of law.
The
former Minister of Works urged the former President to not to do away with the
baby he had nurtured to growth.
The
source added: “Anenih was in Abeokuta to pacify Baba and other aggrieved
chieftains of the party in Ogun State. It was a closed-door meeting. The two
leaders discussed party challenges and preparations for the next general
elections. What happened was that Chief Anenih came to pacify the man because
he was obviously aggrieved. Obasanjo spoke briefly as a party hero with
patriotism. He assured the party leaders that he would remain committed to the
growth of the PDP at all times.
“The
feeling at the meeting was that Obasanjo deserved respect in the party, based
on his position as the former President and national leader. I think that he
may be given some concessions, especially as they relate to the composition of
the Southwest leadership of the party, after the caretaker committee has
finished its assignment.”
Anenih
said he was in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to discuss “issues affecting
the corporate existence” of Nigeria with Obasanjo.
Members
of the BoT, including Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.
But the
BoT chairman said they deliberated on “issues affecting the security of the
country”.
He
declined to give details of whether or not the meeting discussed the planned
amnesty by the Federal Government for members of the Boko Haram sect or how to
end the sect’s insurgency and killings.
According
to him, amnesty is a “security matter” that should not be discussed in the
public.
Anenih
addressed reporters after his delegation held a meeting with the former
President.
It was
learnt that yesterday’s meeting might have been a prelude to another peace
meeting between Jonathan and Obasanjo. The source said both Dr. Jonathan and
Obasanjo were not happy about the way the media have feasted on the lingering
party crisis.
Besides
Anenih, others at the meeting, which reportedly lasted two hours, included
Senator Abdulahi Adamu, Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema and Senator
Mohammed Markafi.
Others
are: Senator Walid Jubril, Mrs Aduke Maina, former Ekiti State ‘Governor’ Segun
Oni, the sacked National Auditor of the party, Chief Bode Mustapha, as well as
Senator Dipo Odunjirin.
Anenih
also noted that the issues affecting the party were discussed, adding that he
was satisfied with the outcome of his meeting with Obasanjo.
Source: The Nation
No comments:
Post a Comment