vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo
Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo
yesterday met with Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) behind
closed-door at the Presidential Villa to resolve what is believed to be crisis
of confidence brewing in the ruling party.
The
meeting which lasted for about four hours had in attendance Senate President,
Dr Bukola Saraki , Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun,
former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola
Ahmed Tinubu .
Others
present at the meeting were National Chairman of APC, John Odigie-Oyegun;
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal; National
Vice Chairman (South West), Segun Oni; APC former National Interim Chairman,
Bisi Akande; and Prince Tony Momoh.
It
will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari begun a week-long official
visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar from Monday this week.
Though
none of the party leaders agreed to speak to the press after the meeting,
Special Adviser (Political) to the Vice President, Senator Femi Ojudu said the
meeting was consultative to generally discuss party matters.
It
was also suggested that the APC leaders may have discussed the travails of
Senator Saraki with respect to his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT)
over false assets declaration.
It
could be recalled that following his failed bid to have the Supreme court stop
his trial at the CCT, protesters besieged the National Assembly on Tuesday
demanding the resignation of Saraki as President of the Senate.
It
was believed that the APC leaders may have resolved to bury their differences
and close ranks in order to save Saraki’s job.
The
meeting is also believed to have discussed the crisis of funding facing the
party at the moment as President Muhammadu Buhari and governors elected on APC
ticket are said not to be forthcoming with the required funding for the ruling
party.
A
terse statement by the media office of the vice president issued after the
meeting, however read:
“Select
leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, drawn from the party’s national
headquarters, the legislative and executive arms of government had a
consultative meeting on issues affecting the party and the nation.
“The
meeting, which held at the Vice President’s conference room, was very useful
and resourceful towards achieving the goals of the party and the government.”
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