Kwankwaso, Wamakko meet with Jonathan

Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and his Sokoto counterpart Aliyu Wamakko left the Peoples Democratic Party two weeks ago, following a long-drawn dispute mainly over national chairman Bamanga Tukur, who enjoys the president’s backing.They were among the seven PDP governors who, along with their supporters, broke away from the party in August and formed the […]

Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and his Sokoto counterpart Aliyu Wamakko left the Peoples Democratic Party two weeks ago, following a long-drawn dispute mainly over national chairman Bamanga Tukur, who enjoys the president’s backing.
They were among the seven PDP governors who, along with their supporters, broke away from the party in August and formed the New PDP, which penultimate week announced merger with APC.
Two of the G7 governors, Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger, disowned the merger, while five endorsed it.
Last night’s peace meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja started at about 10:40pm, and was still on by the time of going to press.
Lamido and Aliyu also attended the meeting, along with Governors Jonah Jang (Plateau), Mukhtar Yero (Kaduna), Theodore Orji (Abia), Sa’idu Dakingari  (Kebbi), Idris Wada (Kogi), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi) and Taraba Acting Governor Garba Umaru.
Others were PDP Board of Trustees chairman Tony Anenih and National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.
Earlier on Saturday evening, Jonathan said in France that only two governors of the G7 governors had confirmed quitting the PDP.
He did not name names but was apparently referring to Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers who had made clear public statements of their defection.
“Out of the remaining five, two appear that they’ve actually moved to the other political party; while some are still on the fence. I believe in the couples of weeks, it will not be too long, it will be very clear whether they’re leaving or not,” he said.
Jonathan said the governors should not expect their supporters, especially their deputies, to join them in the opposition party.  
“We want those governors to come back to the PDP, but in the event some of them feel that it is better outside, they can also go and try,” he said.
“A governor elected by the people must not see himself as a king…. When you’re moving, you should know that you’re an individual, not all your supporters will want to move with you. They’re not your employees. Therefore, some of your supporters will stay. In some cases, the deputy governors in the states are saying that they’re not ready to move.
“It will be an interesting thing, and I’ve said that let’s see how it’ll play out. However, in politics, any party will want everybody in its camp and in the PDP, we want everybody.”