November 11, (THEWILL) – Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed optimism that the crisis rocking the party will be resolved before the general elections.
Atiku spoke on Friday, in Minna, shortly after a closed-door meeting with former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, at his uphill mansion.
He was accompanied on the visit by his running mate, Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; the Director General of his Campaign Council and governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd), former Governors of Adamawa, Imo and Jigawa states, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Alhaji Boni Haruna, Emeka Ihedioha, Alhaji Sule Lamido and Olagunsoye Onyilola, among others.
Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, the former Vice president said, “We have always engaged the five governors and we will continue to engage them.
“It is a family quarrel and we believe that we will resolve it before the elections and you will see a very, very united and strong PDP face the elections”, he added.
Atiku described the attack on his convoy in Maiduguri, Borno state capital, as “most unfortunate.”
“We signed peace accord and it was unfortunate that the whole thing was sponsored by the political leadership in the state. It is not good for our democracy, but we have put that behind us and are focusing on our campaign.”
Atiku, who did not disclose details of his meeting with IBB, said, “It is customarily for us to come and pay our respect to IBB for his services to the country. We consider them, they are the fathers of post-war independence and they also nurse the current democratic dispensation in the country.
“We will continue to come and pay our respect to them and remind them of their contribution to this country”, he said.
But a confident source, privy to the discussion, told THEWILL that Atiku had pleaded with Babangida, to wade into the crisis rocking the PDP.
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