Olawale Olaleye
27 November 2011
President Goodluck Jonathan may have concluded plans to meet with leaders of all the major political parties on the state of the nation this week.
Sources in the presidency who confirmed the meeting, said issues that will top the agenda include national security, withdrawal of fuel subsidies, the Sovereign Wealth Fund as well as other economic issues.
Parties invited to the meeting with the president are the Peoples Democratic Party, Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, All Nigeria Peoples Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance and the Labour Party, among others.
Throwing some light on the need to meet with the leaders of other political parties, sources said that the president believes that there is a need to forge a consensus through consultations on burning national issues.
The president is also of the view that in the light of the inability by state governments to reach an agreement with the federal government on their monthly allocations from the Federation Account for the second month in a row, it has become necessary to brief party leaders on the state of the nation so they can pass on the message to their state governors.
Sources further revealed that party leaders have been duly informed of the meeting and the presidency is trying to extract assurances that they will attend.
It is not clear if the ACN national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu have confirmed their attendance, but indications are that several political parties will be represented at the meeting.
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