Saraki leads PDP Chieftains to visit Chief Obasanjo

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Tuesday led a group of  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Saraki arrived at the former president’s house in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital with an entourage that included former Governor of Katsina State Ibrahim Shema; former governor of Gombe State, Hassan Dankwanbo; Former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, and Former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

The former senate president said, “I think that when we talk about kidnapping, when we talk about sense of belonging, these are issues that go across party lines and what is required now is for government to provide leadership in bringing all stakeholders together. Let us discuss and see how we can address some of these issues.

“We are very hopeful for the future of this country; we are very hopeful that everybody will have a sense of belonging. I think it is important that we all must come to the table and discuss. We can tap into a lot of resources, even on the issue of security, there are lot of people with a lot of experience that we can make use of.

My advice to government this time is that, this problem is a huge problem that cannot be left to just the government and the ruling party. I think this is the time the opposition, the ruling party and our international friends come together because the challenges before us are enormous and we need to address them.”

On the purpose of his visit to Obasanjo, Saraki said, “It is a very useful deliberation; we inform the former president why we are here –  the purpose of the committee and that it is important as an elder statesman. The president is someone who has been in our party before and someone committed to the unity, to the success of this country.”

This meeting in Abeokuta comes weeks after members of the PDP Reconciliation Committee led by Saraki met with former President Goodluck Jonathan at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.

Former governor of Gombe State; Ibrahim Dankwambo, former Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Pius Ayim; former governor of Cross River, Senator Liyel Imoke; former House leader Mulukat Adeola-Akande and former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema were all in attendance.

NP/Nnenna.O