Obasanjo meets Jonathan, calls for emergency meeting of PDP elders

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has asked elders of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to urgently convey a meeting to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the party.

Seven state governors and some other leaders of the PDP including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar announced the formation of a separate faction of the PDP; and announced Kawu Baraje as its chairman. The PDP leaders had walked out of the party's national convention held on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr. Obasanjo did not attend the convention. His aides said he had "cold".

Mr. Obasanjo stated his position on Sunday evening in Abeokuta after returning from Abuja, where he met President Goodluck Jonathan.

"The situation in our ruling Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) after the convention on Saturday and the parallel convention same day has given great concern to all well-meaning members of the party and particularly to the elders of the party," Mr. Obasanjo noted.

"While some select elders are making efforts to get the situation resolve as soon as possible, it is imperative to emphasise that the move will bring back peace and return the party to its vigorous and dynamic election-winning party that it has always been," he added.

Mr. Obasanjo, former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, however, begged the feuding camps to let peace reign and let the status quo remain, and appealed to elders of the party to call an urgent meeting.

"I want to passionately appeal to both sides for now to sheath their swords, maintain the status quo, with earliest conveyance of the Elders' meeting before the end of this week.

"Members are equally enjoined to remain calm until the Elders' complete their peace-making meeting," he stressed.

Mr. Obasanjo, after his arrival from Abuja, reportedly met some major stakeholders of the party at his Abeokuta residence on the party's crisis.

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