Jonathan moves to stop impeachment plot

The Presidency and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party have adopted subtle ways to tackle the impeachment threats against President Goodluck Jonathan.

This is coming after some members of the two chambers of the National Assembly have reportedly been collating signatures to impeach the President.

A top Presidency source who pleaded anonymity told Punch’s correspondent on Friday that President Jonathan had started intervening in states where there were rifts among the major gladiators, especially state governors and their National Assembly members over party tickets.

The government official said the idea behind that move was that any lawmaker who was on the same page with the President and his or her governor would not be part of the impeachment move. He cited the example of the President’s intervention in the crisis in Cross River and Ondo states during the week.

The source said, “That you have not seen the President meeting PDP lawmakers since the impeachment moves started does not mean he is not doing anything about the development. We are adopting subtle strategies of resolving crisis in the states which will lead to further harmonious relationship with the Presidency.

“For instance, it will interest you to know that the President, the PDP national chairman, President of the Senate, Governor Lyel Imoke of Cross Rivers State; his predecessor, Donald Duke and Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba met recently. That meeting was two-pronged: to resolve the crisis in the state chapter of the PDP and again stem the tide of impeachment.

“Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State also met with the President and stakeholders from his state chapter on Thursday. Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi also met with the President.

“All the meetings were aimed at resolving all crises and ensure that the party enters the election year united in all the states.”