Success Nwogu, Ilorin
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus; and a presidential aspirant of the PDP, Alhaji Sule Lamido, on Wednesday, held a private meeting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, had on Tuesday said it was premature for him to declare whether or not he would contest for president in the 2019 general election.
Saraki, while on his first visit to Kwara State since his Code of Conduct Tribunal victory at the Supreme Court, had also said it was not time for him to declare whether he would defect to the PDP or any other political party from the APC.
Other notable politicians who attended the meeting behind closed doors included the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed; his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom; a former PDP Chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, who also led the new PDP bloc of the All Progressives Congress; and the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, among others.
Also present at the meeting were the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; Senator Lawal Shuaibu; and Senator Barnabas Gemade.
According to sources at the meeting, though some of the politicians had joined the eighth Fidau prayer for Baraje’s late mother, Aishat, they later converged at Saraki’s house, where they were joined by other politicians, including Lamido, Secondus and others who reportedly could not attend the Fidau.
The sources said they strategised on the 2019 election politicking. There were also unconfirmed reports that the politicians discussed strategies for the speculated defection of Baraje, Ahmed, Saraki and his loyalists from the APC to the PDP.
Ologbondiyan, who confirmed the meeting, claimed that though it was a brotherhood meeting, they also discussed political issues.
According to him, they discussed how to move Nigeria forward.
He said, “It was a brotherhood meeting. Our leaders met and they shared thoughts on the future of Nigeria and how to improve the living condition of Nigerians and how to make Nigeria a better place for all to live in.
“It was a convergence of notable Nigerians. Do not forget that the essence of today meeting was to commiserate with Alhaji Baraje on the death of his mother. When politicians meet, they must discuss politics and how to improve on the standard of living of Nigerians. It will not be wrong to say some issues were discussed.
“I do not know when Saraki and Baraje will publicly declare their defection. I cannot speak on that.”
A former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, said neither he nor the state PDP leadership was aware of Saraki’s possible intention to defect to the PDP.
He stated that though they had no powers to stop Saraki and his loyalists from going back to the PDP, they must not submerge the current PDP members.
He also said they must work within the PDP rules.
Suleiman added, “The path is free. The sky is free for every bird to fly but their coming should not be to impugn on the integrity and liberty of the original members of the PDP. They are welcome. We do not even have the power to stop them. We are looking at the broader picture of our national interest. We are looking at the issues at the national level which is more cogent than an individual or group interest.
“But that does not mean they should have it at the back of their mind that when they come, they are coming to submerge the original landlords who are the major inheritors and original members of the party. So, they are welcome as long as they are coming to add value to the party at the national level and at the various generating units.
“We do not have the authority to stop them but they should know that they should come and work within the confines of the party. I am not aware of their coming in. The leadership of the party is not also aware.”
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