The meeting, scheduled to hold at the Presidential Lodge of Niger State, located behind the Government House, was expected to have former heads of state, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdusalami Abubakar, in attendance.
But information at the disposal of the Nigerian Tribune indicated that Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, may not be present at the meeting, as he was said to have told the organisers late on Sunday that he would be out of the country.
Though only four governors were initially slated to join Generals Babangida and Abdusalami, Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Wamakko, was said to have confirmed his intention to attend the Minna meeting.
A source said following the escalation of the Rivers crisis on different fronts everyday, the two former heads of state had decided to intervene in the crisis.
It was learnt that Niger State governor, Dr Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, the initiator of the meeting, had approached the two leaders to intervene in the simmering crisis in Rivers and appealed that either of them host the meeting.
But it was gathered that neither of the former leaders was ready to host the meeting in his private residence, as a result of what was called the need to avoid the prying eyes of the media.
Besides the host governor, other governors expected at the meeting included Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, Kano; Sule Lamido, Jigawa and Murtala Nyako from Adamawa.
Governor Wamakko of Sokoto was said to have indicated late on Sunday that he would be available for the meeting.
The governors of Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa and Niger had, on Saturday, visited former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, at his Hilltop mansion, Abeokuta, for consultations on the 2015 election.
A source in the know said though the Minna meeting was originally meant to allow Amaechi to state his side of the story, his absence would not truncate the meeting, as it would help the leaders to map out strategies on how to curtail the crisis in the state.
“It has been reliably confirmed that the governor of Niger State, Dr Aliyu, will, on Monday, host a strategic meeting of some bigwigs on the Rivers crisis.
“The meeting, scheduled for Monday, July 22, will hold at the Presidential Lodge of Niger State Government House and I can confirm to you that those expected at the meeting include Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalami Abubakar and the governors of Rivers, Kano, Adamawa, Sokoto and Jigawa states,” the source said.
Another source stated that the Presidential lodge was arrived at because of its closeness to the Government House and the fact that the two former leaders refused to host the meeting.
“The two former heads of state actually declined to host the meeting in their respective residences because of what was called the need to avoid the prying eyes of the press and speculation thereafter,” the source said.
It was also gathered that besides the Rivers crisis, the meeting would also discuss the 2015 calculations, as well as figure out some possibilities.
“The meeting is partly to discuss the festering political crisis in Rivers State, as well as the emerging scenario and political developments on the road to 2015,” the source added.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
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