Jonathan, Mua’zu, Kalu in private meeting

Posted by admin Goodluck Jonathan (2010-present), Presidency Saturday, December 20th, 2014

FROM: TAIWO AMODU, ABUJA

Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC), have embarked on frantic moves to placate aggrieved chieftains of the party who are disenchanted with the way and manner governors have appropriated the party structures in various states to themselves.

One of such trouble shooting efforts by the leadership of the party and the Presidency, Daily Sun can authoritatively reveal, was the move to ensure that amity returns to the Abia State chapter of the party and dissuade former governor, Orji Uzor Kalu from dumping the ruling party.

Daily Sun checks revealed that the PDP chieftain has been under intense pressures from his loyalists to seek for an alternative political platform in Abia State following the overbearing posture of the state governor, Theodore Orji.

But a source disclosed to Daily Sun that worried about the unsavoury development in Abia State chapter of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan held a meeting with Kalu on Tuesday, to find a solution to the intractable crisis .

Daily Sun source revealed that the former Abia State governor met with President Goodluck Jonathan in company with the PDP national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and former Taraba State governor, Jolly Nyame.

‘’They were sighted in a black jeep, driving into the Presidential Villa, using the President’s private entrance,‘’ the source said, further revealing that in the President’s waiting room as at the time Mu’azu led Kalu and Nyame in were Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and House Majority Leader, Mulikat Adeola- Akande.

An aide of the national chairman of the party, who also confirmed that a meeting was held told Daily Sun in confidence that ‘’it lasted for over an hour. it was all about genuine reconciliation and how to move the party forward.

‘’Mr. President said emphatically that Orji Kalu is an asset to PDP and everything must be done to encourage him to stay in the party. The party is working to ensure reconciliation with its aggrieved

chieftains, not only in Abia State, but nationwide. We don’t want them to leave the party.”

Speaking with journalists when contacted on phone, the former Abia State governor, confirmed meeting with President Jonathan, but rebuffed pressures to reveal what was discussed.

When contacted, Senior Special Adeviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuden Abati said: “the meeting was a private one but I am sure it has to do with what’s gong on in Abia State.”

Kalu said: ’’ It was a private meeting between me and Mr. President and I am satisfied with what the President said. ‘’

Kalu had, last month, written to the national chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu, informing the latter of his withdrawal from the race for the Abia North senatorial ticket of the PDP. In the letter entitled: “Withdrawal from Abia North Senatorial District Race”, and addressed to Mu’azu, Kalu premised his decision on personal sacrifice to save Abia PDP from crisis.

The former Abia State governor in the letter dated November 24, 2014, expressed consternation over what he called the arm-twisting tactics of Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, in the choice of aspirants for elective offices on PDP platform.

He further expressed regret that Governor Orji deliberately allowed eminent Abia citizens to resign their positions to vie for the governorship position, when he knew, ahead of time, that he had a candidate in mind.

-Sunwp_posts