The three day talks between the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress (AC) over the formation of a government of national unity may have collapsed Thursday following the withdrawal of AC from the talks.

This is coming just as the agreement between the ANPP and PDP on the unity government seems to have thrown PDP leadership into confusion following the reported annoyance of PDP chairman Ahmadu Ali with the party’s negotiating team for agreeing to a review of all contracts awarded by former president Olusegun Obasanjo between March 1 and May 29, 2007 when he left office.

Daily Sun learnt that the AC pulled out of the talks after the refusal of the PDP to embark on fundamental reforms in the country as proposed.

The AC had proposed the following:

• That a multiparty committee be set up immediately to examine the issues of electoral reforms in all their ramifications;


• That the fundamental rights of citizens held in unlawful detention throughout the country be enforced inorder to attain national reconciliation;

• That constitutional amendments be embarked upon in order to deepen our democracy;

• That the worsening social and security situation in the Niger Delta be urgently addressed;

• That the improper and controversial privatization and concession of strategic national assets carried out by the previous government be reviewed and investigated;

• That an urgent audit be carried out in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) between May 1999 and May 2007;

• That the compensation package for personnel of security agencies be enhanced as part of the efforts aimed at effective law enforcement and to guarantee security of lives and property; and

• That a major national home ownership scheme, based on a robust mortgage and an annual housing production target of one million housing units, be embarked upon for the purposes of recreating the middle class and wealth to effectively prevent crimes.

To the disappointment of the AC delegation, the PDP, on its part, was not interested in these critical social and economic issues that could improve the living standards of Nigerians. Rather, it was gathered, the party was more interested in two issues, namely:

• The sharing of ministerial slots among the parties, and

• Persuading the AC to withdraw its electoral petitions nationwide.
The AC went to the negotiating table with its full squad led by Alhaji Abubakar Rimi and Chief Audu Ogbeh at the Transcorp Hilton hotel. Both men had praised the initiative of President Umaru Yar’Adua to have opened discussions with the opposition.

But by Wednesday reliable sources hinted Daily Sun that there was deadlock because both parties were unable to agree on “certain fundamental issues,” a source who prefers to anonymous stated.
It was learnt that the PDP team had offered the AC only one ministerial list. The AC however rejected it.
The AC team it was also gathered had insisted on controlling the ministries of finance, foreign affairs and works and housing, among others.

Also rejected by the AC team was the veiled plot by the PDP that some AC top shots who were PDP members should return to the party.
A source said AC feels it is a plot by the PDP to weaken AC’s strength ahead of 2011 elections.
Although after Wednesday’s meeting, the two groups were supposed to meet Thursday to continue talks, there was still no indication that the meeting will hold as at press time.

It will be recalled that after Tuesday’s meeting AC national secretary, Bashir Dalhatu, told reporters that “we will make further consultations and make our position known within 48 hours.” But efforts to know whether they have taken a position failed as he could not be reached on phone.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, John Odey, told Daily Sun that discussions were still going on and as soon a date is fixed for another meeting it will be made known.

Asked whether there were disagreements over ministerial list, Odey said, “all through our talks with all the parties, the issue of ministerial list was not mentioned. That will be handled at the villa.”
Meanwhile, all is not well with the separate agreement reached between PDP and ANPP over the formation of the unity government. It was gathered that as soon as the pact was sealed, the copy of the agreement was reportedly taken to PDP chairman, Ahmadu Ali, while the BOT meeting was going on.
Daily Sun gathered that Ali was angry with the PDP team for accepting to review all contracts awarded by former President Obasanjo between March 1st and May 29 when he left office