Among those expected at the meeting slated for Thursday in Abuja, are former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; a former national chairman of the party, Chief Solomon Lar; former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida; and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is the rallying point of the breakaway group, known as New PDP.
The New PDP also comprises, among others, Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).
But in its comment of the faction, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the party would not comment on the fate of the seven governors that stormed out of the just-concluded special national convention to form a parallel party, stating that consultations were ongoing to resolve the misunderstanding in the party.
THISDAY gathered that the inconclusive outcome of the Sunday meeting summoned by President Goodluck Jonathan to discuss the problems affecting the party informed the decision by Obasanjo to summon a meeting of all the elders of the party to find an amicable resolution of the crisis in the PDP.
According to a source, “Those invited to attend the meeting are a former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida; a former national chairman of the party, Chief Solomon Lar; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd); and other elders of the party.”
The source said the party elders and founding members at the meeting would discuss the grievances of the seven governors and others that walked out of the special national convention and find a way to address them.
After the Sunday meeting with Jonathan, which ended at 2.05 am Monday, Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, had read the communiqué of the meeting, which said the meeting made appreciable progress in resolving the crisis in the party.
“This evening, Mr. President, the leadership of the party and the PDP governors met today, September 1, to discuss the incident that occurred during the PDP special convention on August 31, 2013 whereby some state delegations walked out of the convention ground to announce a faction of the party.
“The meeting was smooth and encouraging and the discussions will continue on Tuesday, when all the aggrieved governors will attend,” he said.
Meanwhile, the new PDP National Working Committee (NWC) Monday held its inaugural meeting, stating that the party was still consulting on how to find an amicable solution to the crisis that had torn it apart.
Metuh, who spoke on behalf of the party, said: “Consultations are going on at the highest level of this party; the president, national chairman of our party, chairman board of trustees, PDP governors are meeting on this and their discussions so far have been very encouraging.
“At the appropriate time, we will communicate to the media the decisions they have reached. The meeting is continuing on Tuesday (today) and once the meeting is over, whatever the outcome is, we will communicate immediately to the press and we will inform you the reasons behind the decisions.”
On the impasse over the fitness of Taraba State Governor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai’s resumption of duty, Metuh said it was not discussed at the NWC meeting, explaining that he would consult with the national chairman and report back to the press.
On why the party’s acting National Secretary, Dr. Aderemi Akintoye, was still in office despite the conclusion of the convention, Metuh said: “Do we have a substantive secretary from the South-west? My answer is no.”
In a related development, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, has faulted the involvement of Atiku in the breakup of the PDP.
According to him, Atiku should be protecting the party, which gave him many opportunities.
Gulak told State House correspondents Monday that as a politician, Atiku should acknowledge the uniqueness of the ruling party, which he abandoned at a point in his career but also ran back to at some point.
He said: “Atiku should be grateful to PDP. Atiku is indebted to PDP and the best way to continue to pay the debt is to protect PDP.”
Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that the party would be re-unified once the stakeholders conclude their dialogue.
Reacting to Gulak’s comment, Atiku’s media aide, Alhaji Garba Shehu, said: “I just spoke with the former vice-president and his response is that he has heard Mr. Gulak and does not dispute the fact that he is indebted to the PDP.”
He said his principal added that the best way to continue to pay that debt is to protect PDP, quoting Atiku as stating “that is exactly what I am doing: Protecting the PDP.”
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