Ogun crisis: Jonathan gives Daniel, Martins-Kuye, others 48 hrs to reconcile
- Details
- Category: Politics
- Published on Saturday, 11 September 2010 11:01
- Written by The Nation
- Hits: 1510
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has waded into the combustible political crisis rocking Ogun State. He directed key stakeholders in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to effect a reconciliation within 48-hours.
The directive followed series of meetings held on Wednesday and Thursday in Abuja. For the third time in four days, stakeholders and chieftains of the PDP from the state will be meeting President Goodluck Jonathan today in a bid to find a lasting solution to the crisis rocking the party in the state.
The bitter feud within the party in the state boiled over on Monday when a group of nine lawmakers, allegedly loyal to Governor Gbenga Daniel, ‘impeached’ the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Tunji Egbetokun.
They also suspended other 14 members that make up the G15 said to be opposed to the governor and gave Daniel the green-light to borrow N100 billion that had been a source of controversy.
The development, described as antithetic to democratic norms, elicited reactions from the seat of power in Abuja which quickly summoned all the stakeholders to appear before both party leadership and the presidency, which is controlled by the same party.
The Nation reliably gathered that the first meeting was held between representatives of the two factions with the party’s national chairman, Dr. Okwesilezie Nwodo on Wednesday and it lasted for about two hours.
According to our source, Governor Daniel led one faction, while the Minister of Commerce, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, led the other. At about 8.00 pm that same Wednesday, the two factions met with President Goodluck Jonathan and it lasted for about another two hours.
The second meeting, which took place on Thursday with President Jonathan and Nwodo, had Daniel leading 10 others, while Kuye also led 10 others.
The source emphasized that the meeting was not separate as was the case during the one of the previous day.
“The president and the chairman met the stakeholders together. It was not separately as was the case the previous day. Daniel was at the head of a 10-man delegation, while Senator Kuye led another 10-man delegation. The meeting lasted for about four to five hours”, the source told The Nation.
The source was not too forth-coming on the specific issues discussed but maintained that it was both extensive and exhaustive.
“All I can tell you for now is that the discussions were extensive and exhaustive. It lasted for four or five hours and both parties frankly expressed their feelings. And all the president wants is that the crisis be quickly and permanently resolved. And I should also tell you that Mr. President directed both Governor Daniel and Senator Kuye to go back with their people, meet and discuss
frankly in the spirit of give and take and come back to him within 48 hours which is tomorrow Saturday.
"And I can also tell you that they have been meeting and they are making progress. By Saturday, they will meet the president, again," the source confided.
Speaking to The Nation on Friday, former presidential aide and PDP chieftain in the state, Chief Doyin Okupe, confirmed the rash of meetings, adding that the efforts being made to end the feud were proceeding well.
He said an amicable settlement was very close to the beleaguered party in the state.
Okupe stated that the issue of reinstating the supposedly impeached speaker would not be treated separately, ading that the stakeholders would be seeking a holistic approach to solving the crisis.
"What we are saying is that the party in the state has descended to a very low point which has now become a stigma of a sort to the people of the state. The current effort is a holistic one and I think it should produce the desired result very soon. We cannot continue like this; we must put an end to all this, and that is being done, or, at least the process is on", Okupe stated.
