Buhari, Jonathan In Closed-Door Meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, met Thursday night to discuss the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta. A top Presidency source confirmed to Daily Trust yesterday that Jonathan arrived the president’s residence at Aso Rock at 9.00pm.

Daily Trust had exclusively reported on May 14 that Buhari may invite Jonathan for discussion over the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta. It can be recalled that the ex-president returned from Cote d’ Ivoire on Wednesday after spending some weeks there.

Buhari and Jonathan, according to the source, met behind closed doors for over one hour.
The source, who craved anonymity, said Buhari and Jonathan discussed “issues of national importance.” 

Asked to give an insight into what was actually discussed at the meeting, the source said: “You should know that Mr. President and the former president, Jonathan, could not have met at this particular time without discussing the resurgence of the Niger Delta militancy. I can confirm to you that they discussed the matter.”

The source however, declined comments on what Buhari and Jonathan specifically resolved to do about the issue.

On whether the duo also discussed the ongoing fight against corruption, the source said: “That was also a possibility. You know the ongoing anti-corruption crusade is also a very important national issue.”

A group known as Niger Delta Avengers, have blown up oil and gas installations in the restive region which had caused a major drop in Nigeria’s oil output from 2.2 million to 1.2 million barrels per day.

President Buhari had emphasized in his Democracy Day national broadcast on Sunday that the recent spate of attacks by militants disrupting oil and power installations would not distract his administration from engaging leaders in the region in addressing Niger Delta problems.

Buhari had also vowed that: “If the militants and vandals are testing our resolve, they are much mistaken. We shall apprehend the perpetrators and their sponsors and bring them to justice.”

The president had further assured that “On the Niger Delta, we are committed to implementing the United Nations Environment Programme report and are advancing clean-up operations.”

Buhari also said: “I believe the way forward is to take a sustainable approach to address the issues that affect the delta communities. Re-engineering the amnesty programmes is an example of this.”

“The policy measures and actions taken so far are not to be seen as some experiment in governance. We are fully aware that those vested interests who have held Nigeria back for so long will not give up without a fight. They will sow divisions, sponsor vile press criticisms at home and abroad, incite the public in an effort to create chaos rather than relinquish the vice-like grip they have held on Nigeria.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had Thursday represented Buhari at the flag- off of the clean-up operation of Ogoni land and other communities in Niger Delta that had suffered environmental degradation owing to exploration activities.

The Presidency, in dismissing reports that President Buhari cancelled his planned trip to Ogoni land, had clarified that “The Presidency is one”, clarifying that the vice president flagged off the clean-up operations on Buhari’s behalf.