There was panic yesterday in the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following a secret meeting between Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council Director-General Rotimi Amaechi.
The meeting was held in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, between Saturday night and yesterday.
Lamido, who is President Goodluck Jonathan’s Northwest campaign coordinator, and the Rivers State governor were on the same side during the disputed Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) election.
It was learnt that Amaechi was in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, on the invitation of his colleague. He arrived at the Jigawa Government House at about 9:00pm on Saturday.
A source said the two governors held talks late into the night at the Presidential Lodge in the Government House, where Ameachi passed the night. They met again at about 10:05am yesterday for more talks, which ended at about 11:30am.
The NATION reports tha after the meeting, Lamido, who wore a blue dress and a blue cap to match, drove himself in a Peugeot 206 car. He declined reporters’ question as he returned to his official residence.
Ameachi, who drove himself in a black Toyota Landcruiser with few escorts to the Government House, also declined comment on his mission.
When reporters approached him for his comments, he said: "You can see me driving. I’m busy, I can’t talk now. Good bye."
Lamido is believed to be lukewarm towards the PDP presidential campaign.
He even gave conditions to join the team, saying the President must rein in the ex-militants and Chief Edwin Clark who have been beating drums of war in the name of support for Dr. Jonathan.
The ex-militants remain unrepentant, vowing to go to war should the President lose the February 14 poll.
The fears of the Presidency and PDP border on likely protest votes in Jigawa State against Dr. Jonathan.
But the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the party had a feeling that Amaechi went to Dutse as part of consultations to return to the party.
He said all the governors and others who defected from PDP to APC were not feeling at home in the opposition party.
The Presidency and the PDP were "caught unawares" by Amaechi’s visit to Dutse.
It was learnt that the shock was more profound because Lamido did not hint Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo about what a Presidency source described as a "nocturnal visit" - about 12 days to the election.
A highly-placed source said: "The Presidency and the PDP were jolted because the meeting between Lamido and Amaechi came barely few hours after the flawed rally in Kaduna State.
"In fact, at the Kaduna rally, Lamido, who is the zonal coordinator of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, was unusually silent and moody. We were all curious but we attributed his mood to campaign fatigue.
"Everyone is running helter-skelter to get in touch with Lamido on what actually transpired between him and Amaechi.
"But going by the fact that the nation is in election mood, we are suspecting that it might be about the presidential poll."
A source in the party said: "We are suspecting that this are last-minute wooing of Lamido by the APC is for swinging of votes for the opposition during the presidential poll.
"Some of our leaders, who met on the issue, ruled out Lamido joining APC. But there can be protest votes in the state against the President on February 14.
"You know Lamido is an ardent loyalist of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and you know the apparent disposition of the former President to Jonathan. Some are suspecting that Obasanjo might have a hand in the meeting."
Vice President Namadi Sambo was last night said to be looking into the "circumstances behind the meeting."
Attempts to get the reaction of Sambo’s camp were unsuccessful last night. One of his trusted aides sent a text message: "Sorry, I cannot talk right now".
Metuh underplayed the meeting, saying: "It is possible Amaechi went to discuss with Lamido on how to return to PDP.
"We have feedback that all our governors and members who defected to APC are uncomfortable in the opposition party. They want to come back to PDP. So, the meeting might be one of such moves. Maybe Amaechi wants to come back to PDP."
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