Jonathan in crucial meeting with pro-Tukur governors

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday held a meeting with governors loyal to the Bamanga Tukur-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The meeting, which began at about 9.15pm  at the First Lady’s Conference Room in the State House, Abuja, was still on as at 10.11pm when this report was being filed.

It was gathered that the closed door meeting was part of the consultations by the President’s loyalists to counter moves by the Kawu Baraje-led faction of the party.

Although journalists were barred from the event, it was gathered that the meeting attracted party leaders and PDP governors loyal to the Jonah Jang-led faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum.

The President was earlier scheduled to meet all PDP governors including those  who walked out on him at the convention ground last Saturday.

Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, had earlier issued a statement announcing a postponement of the meeting.

He had explained that the meeting was postponed at the instance of the aggrieved governors, who he said, asked for more time for consultations.

Those at the meeting included:  Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan; Political Adviser to President,  Ahmed Gulak; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur; Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Ramallan Yero; and  Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam.

Others include Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji; Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke; Bayelsa State Governor,  Seriake Dickson; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio; Gombe State Governor,  Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo; Kogi State Governor, Capt Idris Wada (retd); and Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda.

The newly elected Deputy National Chairman,  Uche Secondus also attended the meeting.