From Raji Bello, Sokoto
A reconciliatory meeting convened yesterday in Sokoto to work out consensus arrangement between the four leading aspirants jostling for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket ended in a deadlock.
A source who attended the parley informed our reporter that the truce was at the instance of the PDP’s Board Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, who was in Sokoto to persuade the warring aspirants.
The aspirants include the state Deputy Governor, Barrister Mukhtari Shagari, a former Minister of Sports, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, Alhaji Abdallah Wali and a former Senator, Alhaji Abubakar Gada.
The meeting was a follow-up of the closed-door meeting held at Giginya Hotel, Sokoto, on the instance of the presidency.
Peoples Daily gathered that the parley was to among other things discuss and pacify some of the aspirants to step down for one another and work together with unity of purpose ahead of 2015.
According to the source, “all the aspirants were present but none of them wanted to shift ground”.
Former governor, Attahiru Bafarawa was ostensibly absent from the second meeting held yesterday, though, the source maintained that, Bafarawa was not present because he was not invited.
However, Bafarawa had earlier told journalists after the first meeting which were attended by the BoT Chairman and other top party members that the meeting was aimed at strengthening the party in the state.
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