S'WEST SENATOR, EX-GOV FIGHT OVER SGF SLOT
The scramble for juicy slots in the emerging cabinet of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president-elect is already threatening the warm relationship between certain stalwarts of the party in the South-west, Daily Sun can authoritatively reveal.
A former governor in the South -west who recently lost out in his bid for senatorial seat and a sitting senator from the zone, Senator Bode Olajumoke are no longer on speaking terms over what the latter viewed as a treacherous conduct by the former governor. A Daily Sun source revealed that following the dislodgment of the PDP in the South-west, some chieftains of the party met in Akure, the Ondo State capital to brainstorm on the likely power sharing arrangement that could take place and what could likely be zoned to the South-west.
Daily Sun source further revealed that the PDP stakeholders suggested that in the event that the North-east succeeded in its agitation for the slot of Senate president, the South-west should push for the position of secretary to the government of the federation.
'The name of current Senator and Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Bode Olajumoke was suggested and the party chieftains agreed to present him as nominee for the office, including those to be nominated as ministers and members of boards to former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.'
The PDP South-west stakeholders were, however, surprised that the former governor had played a fast one on them as he had reached Obasanjo and sought his support for the office before the agreed date the team scheduled its meeting with Obasanjo in Ota, Ogun State.
'Olajumoke has since been keeping his friend at arms length,' Daily Sun gathered.
Meanwhile, Acting National Chairman of the party, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed yesterday left Abuja to meet President Goodluck Jonathan in Obudu Ranch in Cross River State, where the president is meeting with top chieftains of the party. National Secretary of the party, Chief Kawu Baraje, who is presently out of the country is expected to join Dr. Mohammed in Obudu this week.
Mohammed and Kawu, on behalf of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), are expected to offer suggestion on opposition political parties that could be accommodated in the new Federal Executive Council (FEC) that would be constituted after the May 29 official inauguration of President Jonathan. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is believed to have played a supportive role in the massive votes garnered by the PDP presidential candidate, while the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) adopted the PDP presidential candidates.
Apart from the composition of the new federal cabinet, the issue of the zoning of the principal positions in the Senate and House of Representatives is also expected to feature in the talks between the president and PDP leaders.
Intensive lobby had already commenced for the principal positions in the Senate and House of Representatives.