PDP crisis: Jonathan to reject Obasanjo’s terms

President Goodluck Jonathan may reject the recommendations of the seven-man peace team led by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, which has examined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis.


It was learnt that some of the recommendations of the panel leaked to the Presidency and some PDP leaders at the weekend.

Some of the recommendations are rated as one-sided in favour of the G-7-Kawu Baraje faction of the party.

Also, the President has raised three strategic committees to suggest how to contain the aggrieved governors, if the peace efforts fail.

The committees, which were set up covertly on Thursday before the President flew out to Kenya, include Political, Legal and Contact.

According to sources, some of the decisions taken at the Obasanjo session with the two factions of PDP on Friday got leaked.

It was gathered that some of the recommendations include reinstatement of Adamawa PDP Executive Committee, restoration of Rivers PDP Executive Committee; recall of Governor Rotimi Amaechi from suspension — in line with the PDP Constitution—; and the resolution of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) crisis through a meeting between President Jonathan and the two claimants to the chairmanship

 – Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Plateau’s Jonah Jang.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Virtually all members of the peace panel agreed on these recommendations.

“The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, only differed on 2015 poll. He said Jonathan should be allowed a second term in office after he has accepted all these recommendations.
“If the recommendations are acceptable to Jonathan, members of the team will then mobilise party leaders on how to appease the North to allow Jonathan a second term in office.

“But the panel would ask Jonathan to make a written commitment that he will not embark on vengeance against the aggrieved governors, ex-governors and all those involved in the formation of Abubakar Kawu Baraje faction after getting a second term ticket.

“He is also expected to use his second term to promote unity and stability of the country.”
A Presidency source said the report was one-sided.

The source said: “The question is what the other faction is giving back. A resolution should be a give-and-take and not one sided.

“How come all the recommendations appear to indict the PDP hierarchy and the government. Does it mean that only Amaechi and others are right and the PDP is wrong all the way?

“Jonathan may ignore the report, if it contains all the one-sided recommendations, I can assure you.
“It is bound to be a carrot and stick approach because while some of the aggrieved have cases, there are others who are clearly guilty of indiscipline. The President cannot condone brigandage, while some elders appear to be stoking the fire from behind.”

But the president has put in place three committees to contain what is termed as “the rebellion or insurgency” of the governors and Baraje faction.

The committees are expected to submit their report on Tuesday.
Another source said: “The committees are to immediately fashion ways of containing insurgency within the party and also fashion appropriate response to contain the aggrieved members, especially if they continue to resist peace options.
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“The committees will ensure a holistic approach to the resolution of the crisis.”
The Baraje faction of PDP may today take up issues with the Bamanga Tukur faction on the interpretation of status quo ante bellum.

The faction might ask the court to prevail on the Police to end the siege to its secretariat.
The secretariat was sealed off on Saturday based on the order of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja.
The Lagos High Court, Ikeja Division had earlier ordered that the parties should maintain the status quo.

The battle ground is the Lagos High Court, Ikeja Division.
A source in Baraje’s camp, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “We are going to court to challenge the sealing off of our secretariat. We want the court to interpret its order on status quo ante bellum.
“We will ask for an order from the court to end the police siege.”