G-5 governors change name to integrity group, say they’re still open to talks

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Five Governors of the main opposition party (PDP), protesting against the party leadership and other aggrieved leaders, on Sunday, styled itself “The Integrity Group” and said it is still open to reconciliation.

Rising from a meeting in Lagos on Sunday, the five Governors, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, alongside other aggrieved PDP leaders, rose from its meeting in Lagos and said they are still open to reconciliation with the leadership of the party.

Former Plateau Governor Air Commodore (retd) Jonah Jang, who read the group’s communique after its deliberations, said the camp was not against any peace move.

He said:” After a careful review of developments, we have decided to stand on the decision we took at our Port-Harcourt meeting. We hereby again reiterate that the window of reconciliation in our great party remains open.”

It would be recalled that the five Governors, led by Wike, are insisting that the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, should step down and be replaced by a Southerner since the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is from the North.

They have also decided to stay off the PDP Presidential Campaign until the party meets their demand that Ayu should resign.

Those present at the meeting include the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde; Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike; Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom; Enugu State Governor; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Senator Olaka Nwogu; Senator MAO Ohuanbuwa; Hon. N . Ikeje; Senator Nasir Suleiman; Senator Sandy Onor; Malam B. Adoke; Olusegun Mimiko; Ayo Fayose; Donald Duke; Bode George; Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih; former Governor of Plateau State, Dr Jonah Jang and former PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Osun State, Omoba Dotun Babayemi.