In order to view this page you need Flash Player 9+ support!
Party crisis takes centre stage as Jonathan meets PDP Govs
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday held a parley with the Governors elected under the umbrella of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the State House, on how to ensure good governance that will translate to dividends of democracy to the people.
The meeting, which was also attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, according to Governor Godswil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, was a kind of peer review mechanism.
He said the meeting also looked at areas that require improvement not only at the various states being controlled by the PDP, but as well at the national level with a view to ensuring that the party remains unbeatable.
"Mr. President invited all the PDP Governors to have a parley with him. I think this is the second of that type of meeting. We agree we should meet every two months to look at issues as leaders of the country. And particularly since the PDP is the ruling party.
“We must look at all areas of governance and look at areas that require improvement. It is a kind of peer review mechanism, where the PDP states come together to look not just at governance at the state level but also of the party itself at the national level.
"So that we look at things that can strengthen the party and also look at what Nigerians want, while we are delivering dividends of democracy in other areas Nigerians are clamoring for improvement. And I think this is good for the governance of the country. We must commend Mr. President for this initiative.
"Meeting the president and the vice president will augur well for the governance of this country. We will deliver more dividends to our people. Nigerians love the PDP and of course we want to give Nigerians the best. I can assure you that from the discussion we had, PDP will remain the party to beat because Nigerians are looking for good governance", Governor Akpabio said.
On the rumours making the round that the governors are not happy with the party leadership, the governor dismissed this, adding that the wrangling within the party will be resolved amicably.
He spoke further, "You know the PDP is a very large party. The party may have it's own internal challenges, of course we have our own modus operandi, ways of resolving all these issues. Various committees have been set up from the Board of Trustees, from the National Working Committee, I believe that at the end of the day, in the next one week, all those issues will be a thing of the past.
"Nothing like the PDP governors not happy. We identify with the party, we have confidence in the party and all the internal wranglings you are hearing those things are normal in any democracy. All these internal issues will soon be resolved.
"Mr. President who is the leader of the party has taken the right step, he has set up the right committees and you are aware that even in the state of Adamawa, we have the Governor Sule Lamido Committee that will soon bring a report which will bring the Adamawa crisis to an end.
"The governors are happy with the party and we are sure that under the leadership of President of Goodluck Jonathan, all the issues pertaining to the party will be resolved amicably and the party will come out stronger".
In attendance were Governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Ramallah Yero (Kaduna), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Theodore Orji (Abia), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Yomi Awoniyi (Kogi), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta). Cross River and Enugu states were represented by their deputies.
