Saraki mediates in Amaechi, Akpabio dispute

Gov. Godswill Akpabio

by John Alechenu, Abuja

There were strong indications that temporary reprieve might be coming the way of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday.

This followed a truce brokered between the Nigerian Governors’ Forum Chairman, Rotimi Ameachi and his PDP Governors’ Forum counterpart, Godswill Akpabio by the former NGF Chairman, Senator Bukola Saraki.

Saraki, it was gathered, extracted a commitment from both men to operate in their offices based on the principle of mutual respect.

Saraki’s intervention in the face-off, our correspondent learnt, took place before the PDP governors met at an enlarged session later on Wednesday night.

Saraki at the meeting urged the two governors to help stabilise the party by avoiding unnecessary media war.

Relationship between Amaechi and Akpabio deteriorated with the formation of the PDPGF about two months ago.

At the peak of the crisis, Akpabio accused Amaechi of trying to breach the constitution of the NGF by seeking a second term.

Akpabio had said, “The southern part will do two years and the northern part will do two years for equity.”

After Wednesday’s meeting, which lasted for four hours, Akpabio, who addressed reporters, said the meeting was fruitful.

He said, “We received the report of the Governor Ibrahim Shema Committee on the South-West. It was an interim report; it showed clearly that a lot of work was done. All the states of the South-West met with the committee and the major stakeholders and reconciliation is in top gear.

“We are very hopeful that in the next few weeks, the full report will come out and the PDP will be fully reconciled.”

Akpabio added, “We also received a report on security of the nation from a five-man committee, which was headed by the governor of Adamawa State. It was a very in depth report.

“They X-rayed the situation in the country and also proferred major solutions that can bring the insecurity in the country to an end. We are very glad as PDP governors we are prepared to present the report to appropriate authorities, including Mr. President for implementation.”

On the 2015 elections, he said, “We looked at the situation of our party and we are very hopeful that in 2015, we will increase in number.”

He did not entertain any question.

Governors from Taraba, Bayelsa, Niger, Ebonyi, Abia, Kebbi, Bauchi, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Plateau, Katsina, Benue, Kogi, Cross River and Adamawa attended the meeting.

Those absent were Ramalan Yero (Kaduna State); Aliyu Wamako, (Sokoto State); Sule Lamido,( Jigawa State); Musa Kwankwaso, (Kano State); Abubakar Dankwambo, (Gombe State), and Ahmed Abdulfatah of Kwara State.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday evening was said to have met with the PDP governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A source said the governors moved to the villa directly from the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, where they had earlier attended the meeting of the NGF

The private meeting, which was said to have been held in one of the guest houses in the villa, was not opened to journalists.

Some PDP chiefs, led by the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, were also said to have attended the meeting said to be one of the fence-mending efforts in the party.

Source: Punch