PDP Reconciliation: Presidency Snubs Baraje, Awaits G-7 Govs
As the presidency prepares for tomorrow's meeting with the G-7 governors, it has shunned the emissary sent by the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because 'it is an illegal platform and an interloper'.
LEADERSHIP Sunday learnt last night that President Goodluck Jonathan was not favourably disposed to relating with the Kawu Baraje 'new PDP' because he strongly believed there is no faction in the ruling party. Presidency sources also said that President Jonathan would consider it a slight on him and his office if the affected governors failed to attend the meeting without formally informing him of their decision.
A competent source in Aso Rock told LEADERSHIP Sunday that the emissary from the Baraje group could not have arrived in the State House because the president does not recognise him and the faction he leads.
'Receiving any such message would amount to a tacit recognition of the faction. I suspect why they are yet to send any such message is in deference to this reality. They do not exist and President Jonathan does not think the PDP has any faction. So, why must a renegade group make representation to the president? The position as at today is that the presidency will not entertain any communication that has Baraje's imprint,' the source said.
The official also disclosed that the presidency was yet to receive any formal communication from the G-7 governors whom he is parleying with to resolve the intra-party crisis.
'The implication is that the presidency is still prepared for the October 7 meeting with the governors as agreed in their last meeting. Do not forget that Baraje is not part of the negotiations. Any communication to the president must be from the so-called aggrieved governors. In what capacity did Baraje announce in the media that he is putting off a meeting with the president when he is not part of it, even before his so-called emissary was yet to leave his house?' he added.
The source added that neither the presidency nor the governors have announced any shift in the date of the meeting.
'As it stands, the meeting will hold as scheduled unless the governors have developed cold feet.'
The source further said that the meeting, whether it holds or not, will decide the final outcome of the reconciliation process.
On whether failure to hold the meeting on Monday means the total collapse of the reconciliation process in the party, the source said the implication may trigger further actions.
'I cannot say that would mark the end of reconciliation, but you should know that the actions and utterances of the governors do not suggest that they are serious with the ongoing dialogue.
'How can a governor be declaring boldly that they will stay in PDP to fight Jonathan and Tukur? What it means is that nothing is being discussed and, at best, it is given that they are still in PDP but with a sinister motive.'
FG Planning Amaechi's Downfall – new PDP
Also, yesterday, the 'new PDP' accused the federal government of deliberately creating a hostile environment in Rivers State to distract Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The group described Amaechi as a role model for remaining steadfast and displaying exemplary leadership despite 'the hostile atmosphere deliberately imposed on the state by the federal authorities in their failed mission to bring about his downfall'.
In a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the 'new PDP' commended the governor for scoring yet another first with the unveiling of Port Harcourt as the first city in Nigeria to become the UNESCO World Book Capital.
The statement said the Rivers State capital defeated famous cities like Oxford and Moscow to become the UNESCO World Book Capital 2014.
The group said 'the event of last weekend was one in a series of events designed to usher in the 2014 dateline when Port Harcourt will become UNESCO 2014 World Book Capital.'