President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors failed last night to resolve the crisis rocking the ruling party.

The meeting, also attended by PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Chief Tony Anenih was adjourned after five hours to October 7.

All seven aggrieved PDP governors – Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) attended the meeting held at the First Lady’s Conference room at the Presidential Villa.

There were three Pro. Jonathan governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Idris Wada (Kogi) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River).

Amaechi, wearing a white shirt, drove himself to the venue around 5:14 p.m. in a Black Range Rover marked Nasarawa AE 153 NBB. He drove behind the Niger State governor’s vehicle.

At the end of the meeting, Aliyu told reporters that the meeting was inconclusive and stood adjourned till October 7. He said both parties had agreed to stop making inflammatory statements.

He said: “Sequel to the number of meetings convened by leaders and stakeholders. The governors of Adamawa, Niger, Rivers, Kwara, Sokoto, Jigawa, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, Kano and Cross Rivers states met with the President, the Vice President and the chairman of the Board of Trustees and extensively deliberated on various issues.

“The meetings were cordial and deliberations fruitful with a clear commitment on all sides to resolve all issues raised at the meeting.

“The meeting (last night) also called on all parties to shield their swords and avoid further inflammatory comments on issues particularly during the course of our deliberations as we have all agreed to resolve all the differences.

“In the interim, all parties have accepted to commence immediate action and agreed towards complete resolution of all matters and continue to meet until all processes toward reconciliation are totally complete.

“The meetings will continue on Monday 7th October, 2013.

“We use this opportunity therefore to thank all members of our party and supporters for their patience and understanding as we will make sure and ensure that there is progress in resolving the crisis.”

To end the crisis in PDP, the G-7 and Baraje faction had tabled five demands before Jonathan and a seven-man peace panel headed by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The conditions are:
•The sack of National Chairman Bamanga Tukur.
•Return of party structure to governors in Adamawa, Rivers, Kano and other states.
•Sticking to one-term tenure by the President by foregoing re-election in 2015.
•Resolution of NGF and Rivers crises, including the lifting of Amaechi’s suspension.
•Stop the harrassment of governors by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Read more: The Nation Newspapers