A former Governor of Kwara State and the senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Dr. Bukola Saraki, is about now rallying support for the candidacy of Dr. Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party among governors elected on the platform of the party.
Sources told The Eagle Online that the burial ceremony of the mother of the Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, is the meeting point.
The burial is taking place in Kwara State.
It was learnt that the most of the governors meeting with Saraki are those of the South South, South East and North Central.
It was gathered that the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is using this as one of his strategies to win the support of the governors, some of whom were, before now, opposed to the chairmanship of Tukur.
Tukur, at the North East Zonal congress of the party, on Wednesday, lost to the acting National Secretary of the party, in the bid for who will be the zone’s representative at Saturday’s national convention.
The development, despite the fact that it does not affect the chances of Tukur at the convention, jolted Jonathan, who has been trying to rally the governors to support Tukur.
The President reportedly met with some of the governors who arrived in Abuja on Thursday night.
The meeting in Kwara State today is to further consolidate on the process for winning the governors over.
A source told The Eagle Online that the plot in the Presidency is to have Tukur as a ceremonial chairman while his deputy, who will be from the South South will pilot the affairs of the party.
The source said: “What a lot of people who are complaining that Tukur is too old for the job don’t understand is that Tukur has the clout to receive important personalities, those who would be assisting him, especially his deputy, will be the ones running the actual show.
“So there is no fear about the ability of Tukur to run the party.
“What is needed is for him to bring his influence to bear on the system.”
It was gathered that the governors are likely to meet Jonathan again this evening, ahead of the convention tomorrow.
By this evening, all the governors elected on the platform of the PDP are expected to have arrived Abuja.