By Omowumi Omotosho
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum has inaugurated a seven-member committee, led by former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, to facilitate smooth preparations for the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 27, as well as its forthcoming national convention.
Saraki who is a national leader of the party is widely respected across the party strata all over the country due to his principles and unblemished commitment to the unity and progress of the party.
Saraki, it was gathered, participated in a strategic meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum which was held at the Bauchi State Governors Lodge in the federal capital territory(FCT), Abuja on Sunday night.
The meeting which was attended by both incumbent and former governors, centered on confronting the party’s internal issues and laying the groundwork for its long-term vision.
The former Senate President himself confirmed the development and his assigned responsibility in a statement he posted on all his official media handles.
He said: “I just left a meeting of the PDP Governors Forum, attended by its serving and former governors, at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge. We had a fruitful deliberation on the party’s present challenges and its future.
“The meeting was well attended. As part of the decisions taken to chart a way forward, the meeting set up a seven-man committee charged with preparing for a rancour-free NEC meeting scheduled for May 27th and the forthcoming national convention,” he stated
Saraki further revealed that the committee is headed by him as he will be working with the Zamfara State government, Dauda Lawal, Plateau State governor, Caleb Muftwang, and Enugu State governor, Peter Mba, governors of Zamfara, Plateau and Enugu States respectively. Other members are the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Seriake Dickson, Senator representing Gombe North Senatorial District, Senator brahim Dankwambo, and former governor of Abia State, Chief Okezie Ikpeazu.
“The committee is headed by my humble self, and I will have the pleasure of working with my brothers – HE Dauda Lawal, HE Caleb Muftwang, and HE Peter Mba, governors of Zamfara, Plateau and Enugu States respectively. Other members are Sen. Seriake Dickson, Sen. Ibrahim Dankwambo, and former governor of Abia State, HE, Chief Okezie Ikpeazu,” Saraki stated further.
The newly formed committee has been given the mandate to ensure that the NEC gathering proceeds without conflict and that the national convention is successfully organized.
The meeting also had the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in attendance. He, however, did not speak to journalists.
Some of the governors present at the meeting included Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Peter Mbah (Enugu).
Others were former governors of Cross River, Liyel Imoke, Achike Udenwa of Imo, Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.
The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagun, alongside former Caretaker Committee Chairman Ahmed Makarfi and several members of the party’s National Working Committee, were present also present at the strategic meeting.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed revealed that the gathering was held in anticipation of the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for the end of May.
He explained that the decision to invite former governors was aimed at leveraging their wealth of experience to address internal party issues and to ensure a smooth, conflict-free NEC session and national convention later in the year.
