In the aftermath of his trouncing and conceding victory to his opponent in the presidential elections, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with nation’s Service Chiefs, PDP’s governors and ministers.
The governors were led by Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum ( PDP-GF) also included Theodore Orji (Abia); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River). Others were Idris Wada (Kogi); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Jonah Jang (Plateau) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu).
The security chiefs that met with the President behind closed doors were led by the Chief of Defence Staff( CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin and the Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu.
Also present was the National Security Adviser ( NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, rtd. They were led to the closed-door session by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.). None of the service chiefs spoke with reporters after the end of the parley which lasted about an hour.
The last time the security chiefs met with Jonathan was on March 17 when they briefed him of their preparation for the general elections and the success recorded in the anti-terrorism war in the North Eastern part of the country.
Akpabio, while speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, commended Jonathan for sacrificing his political ambition for the sake of Nigeria and setting a statesmanly record in Africa by conceding victory to the opposition despite the glaring flaws that characterized the election, like under-age voting, malfunctioning voter card readers, and intimidation.
He said despite the outcome of the presidential election, the PDP governors remained undaunted and ready to still prove the substantial relevance of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial polls during which they hope to retain the PDP states.
The governor reiterated the party’s position that it would explore possible legal options in seeking redress over the anomalies. He also dismissed insinuations that the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, had resigned his appointment, saying he had earlier spoken with Muazu and nothing of such had happened.
“I am sure the PDP as a party will react on matters connecting with the elections of March 28. “But as governors we came to pay solidarity with our president and to commend him for being a statesman”. The governor said that the PDP was glad not just to pilot the affairs of the country for the past 16 years but also giving Nigeria a very peaceful transition that had shocked all and sundry.
Some minsters who also met with the President, included Akinwumi Adesina (Agriculture); Ibrahim Shekarau (Education); Musiliu Obanikoro (State, Foreign Affairs II); Viola Onwuliri (State, Education); Mohammed Adoke (Attorney General); Abba Moro (Interior); Aminu Wali (Foreign Affairs) and Suleiman Abubakar (National Planning); Zainab Maina (Women Affairs); Omobola Johnson (Communication Technology); Sarah Ochekpe (Water Resources); Laraba Mallam (Environment) and Akon Eyakenyi (Land and Housing).
