OBASANJO BEGS G-7 GOVERNORS TO GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo today appealed to the aggrieved G-7
governors under the aegis of the strife-torn ruling People's
Democratic Party (PDP) to give peace a chance and to continue with the
reconciliation meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Obasanjo made the call while responding to the appeal by the aggrieved
PDP governors for him to call President Jonathan and Alhaji Bamanga
Tukur to order in view of how they have been using police to harass
them at their meeting.
The governors, who were at Obasanjo's residence in Abeokuta, were
Aliyu Babangida (Niger), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Sule Lamido
(Jigawa), Muritala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano).
Those who were absent were Governors Ahmed Fatai (Kwara) and Aliyu
Wamakko (Sokoto).
According to an inside account, it was Kwankwanso who set the ball
rolling telling their host how the police interrupted their meeting in
Abuja and recalled their similar encounter and how their members had
been subjected to harassment from the Federal Capital Development
Control which has marked their properties for demolition.
Four other governors corroborated him, while Amaechi gave his own
experience in Rivers State and told Obasanjo that his life was under
threat as the agents of the First Lady had been harassing him.
"All the governors present narrated their ordeal to Baba Obasanjo.
They urged him to come to their aid by calling President Jonathan to
order.
They cited how the police have been harassing them whenever they are
meeting. They claimed the FCT minister is threatening to demolish
their houses in Abuja among others," the source said.
Speaking further, the source said " Although they told Baba that they
have made up their minds to dump the party, Baba cautioned them
against leaving the party.
He urged them to embrace dialogue and regard the ongoing crisis as a
storm in a tea cup that would soon be over.
Baba told them that PDP crisis was a family affairs that must be
resolved without any interference from the outside.
He appealed to them to jump the ship to reconsider their decision in
the interest of the party.
He however promised to speak with President Jonathan over the issues
raised by the governors."