Strong indications emerged wEDNESday that the lingering feud between Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, may soon be over as the two leaders met behind closed door last week in Abuja to explore possibilities of working together ahead of the 2015 general election. The meeting which was reportedly convened by the National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-east, Col Austin Akobundu (rtd), was said to have taken place at the residence of the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, in Abuja. Among those who were present at the meeting, according to THISDAY checks, were a former Governor of the old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo; Chairman of the state chapter of the PDP, Vita Abba and a personal friend of the governor from his Udi Local Government Area, Chief Tony Eze. Although, no official statement emerged from the meeting, sources close to the two political gladiators told THISDAY that both Chime and Ekweremadu were given time to freely express themselves on the reasons for the war of words between them in the media. It was also gathered that the deputy senate president had told the gathering that he was not having any personal differences with his state governor but that there was need for them to openly relate with each other without unnecessary bickering which had become the case in the state. After pleading with them to sheathe their swords, the meeting had prevailed on the two of them to ensure that the ongoing media war ended in the interest of not only the state but the party in view of the challenges it was currently facing across the country. The PDP national vice- chairman, according to a source, had told the Enugu State political leaders clearly that he was not ready to allow any crisis within the party circle in the zone, insisting that any form of crisis would adversely affect the party in the 2015 election, a development that would not be good for all the stakeholders. THISDAY gathered that after the meeting, both Chime and Ekweremadu were asked to go and sort out all issues concerning their individual ambitions and aspirations, but to ensure that whatever be their decision, it should not undermine the peace currently existing in the state and the zone at large. “I can tell you clearly that both of them agreed after the meeting to stop the ongoing media war. The only issue remaining now is for them to sort out the issue concerning their 2015 ambitions. To show their commitment in ensuring that peace is achieved, you will have noticed that their aides are no longer exchanging messages in the media since last week,” the source, who pleaded for anonymity told THISDAY. Efforts to reach out to Akobundu on THISDAY findings could not yield any result as his mobile phone rang repeatedly without response. Meanwhile, THISDAY also gathered that the crisis rocking the PDP in Udi Local Government Area culminating in the alleged removal of the party Chairman, Uche Ogbodo, as well as the purported suspension of some top government functionaries including, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Patrick Okolo; state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Chijioke Agu; Commerce and Industries counterpart, Jude Akubuilo as well as three other officials would soon be resolved. A source said the national leadership of the party had already waded into the matter and reportedly asked the state chapter to ensure that the matter was resolved amicably without blowing the matter out of proportion.
2015: Chime, Ekweremadu Move to End Feud, Hold Secret Parley
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