Thirty-six governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday held a crucial meeting that lasted over two hours before some of them (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors) headed to Aso Rock Presidential Villa for a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.
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Though the governors did not make the issues discussed public, a source told LEADERSHIP that the meeting which started at about 5.30 pm and held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge at Asoroko, that the political crisis in Bayelsa State and the need to save Governor Timipre Sylva’s job was the main topic of discussion.
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The source added that the governors wanted to present a united front to resolve the lingering conflict between the president and the governor of his home state. “The most I can say is that the governors have finished their meeting and are now discussing the political impasse in Bayelsa State after which they will meet Mr President.”
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All the governors who were present at the meeting later entered a Toyota Coaster bus and left the Rivers State Lodge for Aso Rock at about 8pm. But governors from opposition parties, namely, those from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), All Progressive People’s Alliance (APGA) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) had to return to lodge to join the bus as they had earlier left the meeting at about 7pm leaving only PDP governors at the venue.
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Among the governors who initially left the meeting were Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Governor Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) , Governor Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) . Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State arrived late to the meeting and left five minutes later and was not seen returning to join the bus that headed for the villa.
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The Director-General of the NGF secretariat, Asishana Okauru, who left for the presidential villa with the governors would only say that the governors were heading to a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.
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Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned indefinitely, further proceedings in a suit Sylva challenging his disqualification as the party’s governorship aspirant following the primary election held on Saturday..
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Sylva is seeking an order of court declaring him the candidate of PDP in the Bayelsa governorship poll come February 12, 2012. Justice Gabriel Kolawole had directed Sylva to put PDP on notice and urged the parties not to do anything until yesterday.
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The PDP had filed an application before the Court of Appeal asking it to stay further proceedings before the lower court.
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After hearing from both parties, Justice Kolawole remitted the matter to the Court of Appeal, saying that once an appeal had been entered, the lower court must comply.
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Governor Sylva was represented in court by his team of lawyers led by Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
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The court further held that there was evidence that PDP had appealed at the Court of Appeal and that it had also filed an application for stay of proceedings.
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Justice Kolawole commended Fagbemi (SAN) for quickly agreeing with other parties, including the PDP national legal adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, for the matter to go to Court of Appeal.
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The PDP has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to challenge the suit brought by Sylva, challenging his disqualification from the party’s governorship primary election held on Saturday.
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Also, a delegation of eight state governors led by the Chairman of NGE, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday refused to disclose the outcome of their meeting with President Jonathan, in their attempt to get the president and the PDP to reconsider Sylva for the party’s governorship ticket.
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Those who accompanied Amaechi to the presidential villa at the First Lady wing for the meeting with the president were Sylva, Governors Liyel Imoke (Cross River),? Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Ahmed Abdulfatai (Kwara), Patrick Yakowa (Kaduna) and Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi).
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