Osun poll: What Jonathan, Sambo, Mu’azu discussed with Oyinlola

A top level meeting was held on Tuesday, morning at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, between President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Muazu, with the former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, on the August 9, governorship election in Osun State. A source in the Villa told the Nigerian Tribune that the President and the other two officials pleaded with the former governor to join PDP’s effort at winning the August 9 election. It was, however, learnt that Oyinlola insisted on the lifting of his suspension from the party and his reinstatement as the party’s national secretary as the conditions for him to support the party. He was said to have expressed sadness at the way he was treated by a party into which he had contributed so much even as he wondered why the party found it difficult to obey the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ordered his reinstatement several months ago. “At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that there was the need to find a solution to the crisis over Oyinlola’s removal as the national secretary with a number of options being considered,” the source told the Nigerian Tribune. Giving an insight into how the meeting was arranged, a source close to Oyinlola said the former Osun State governor met Muazu in the Abeokuta residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo last Sunday, where he requested that the former governor meet him whenever he arrived Abuja. “Oyinlola was at the former President Obasanjo’s Abeokuta residence, on Sunday, for a meeting. It was while there that Muazu came in and they exchange pleasantries. Muazu then requested that the former governor would meet him as soon as he got to Abuja Oyinlola went to Muazu’s residence on Tuesday morning and midway into their discussion, the PDP chairman asked that they continued the discussion in his vehicle with Oyinlola’’s vehicle following for him to take as soon as they concluded the discussion. But that was how he was taken to the Villa where the President and the Vice-President were ready to meet with them,” the source said. Meanwhile, emerging from the Villa meeting, Oyinlola told State House correspondents that he was brought to the president by the PDP boss to see how they could improve the fortunes of the party. He, however, insisted that he remains the authentic national secretary of the PDP going by the pronouncement of the Appeal Court and whoever is claiming the post at this moment, is only a pretender. Pressed for comments, Oyinlola said: “I appreciate your concern but I was taken to the Villa by the chairman of the party, and we had some discussions as to how to move the fortunes of the party forward. That’s all I can say. Thank you.” On his reported comments that only Jonathan can decide his fate in the PDP, the former governor said: “The court has determined that,” adding, “All I am telling you is that in the face of the law, I remain the authentic secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party. Anybody in that office for now, is a pretender.” Oyinlola had also been reported to have resisted pressure from the APC leaders to defect to the opposition party, vowing on Monday to ensure that PDP emerged victorious in the August 9 governorship election in the state.[Nigerian Tribune]