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Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) National Convention Committee, Governor Badru of Jigawa State on Monday paid a courtesy visit to some notable members of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) caucus ahead of the Congress slated for 23rd June, 2018.
The first meeting was held with Speaker Yakubu Dogara at the National Assembly.
Badru who was accompanied by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Pauline Fallen, former Deputy Governor of Plateau State; Ismaila Kawu, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Reps) met behind closed door.
Badru and Speaker Dogara at the end of the meeting however kept mute on the issues discussed.
One of principal officers who attended the closed door meeting which lasted for over an hour, informed BusinessDay that the issue of withdrawal of Department of State Security (DSS) operatives was also discussed at the meeting.
According to him, no reason was adduced for the withdrawal of the security aides.
He however decline further comment on the issue bothering on the resolution of the nPDP members.
BusinessDay observed that the police operatives attached to the Speaker were also withdrawn.
Recall that the DSS authorities had ordered the withdrawal of operatives deployed to Speaker Dogara and his deputy, Yussuff Lasun; Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, nPDP chairman has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of frustrating the ongoing reconciliatory dialogue.
Baraje who stated this via a statement seen by BusinessDay, frowned at the withdrawal of the security operatives attached to the National Assembly principal officers.
Baraje in the statement said: “the public may recall that there have been ongoing talks between members of the former Npdp, the APC and the Presidency in recent days.
“Nigerians may further recall that a team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and four others, were to meet with the Vice President, His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo today.
“However, while we are truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general elections, it is appears that the Presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been negotiating in bad faith.
“We were alarmed that immediately after our meeting with the Vice President last week, the presidency misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily.
“Similarly, the leadership of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the Congresses from ward, local governments, states and zonal where many of our members have complaints, effectively presenting us with a fait accompli.
“The persecution of our members using state security apparatus have continued unabated.
We recognize the powers of the Police to conduct criminal investigations but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature.
“It appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which we now find ourselves which may no longer be conducive for members of the former nPDP to continue with the talks. Given the unfolding events in the last 24 hours,
where the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice President on Monday 28 May, 2018, have suddenly been accused of sponsoring armed robbery by the Police under the directives of the Presidency.
“Similarly, on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018, the Department of State of Services (DSS) also suddenly withdrew more than half of all the security details attached to the presiding officers of the National Assembly under questionable circumstances.
“The nPDP leadership has decided to brief our members on the unfortunate development and get a fresh mandate if good faith returns to the discussions,” Baraje said in the statement.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
