Ibadan – Some prominent leaders of the PDP in the South West Zone were absent at the Town Hall Meeting called by the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur,  in Ibadan on Friday.

The  absence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was a former Board of Trustees Chairman of the party, was conspicuous.

Also absent were the former Governors of Ogun, Chief Gbenga Daniel; Osun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola;  Ekiti, Chief Segun Oni; and Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo.

Equally absent at the reconciliatory meeting held at the Premier Hotel, were Chief Olabode George, the former National Vice Chairman of the party in the zone, and Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Governorship candidate in Lagos State.

The list of absentees included Mr Dimeji Bankole, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Adetunji Olurin, former governorship candidate in Ogun State and  Dr Jibril Martins-Kuye, former Minister of State for Finance.

Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, former Deputy Governor to Akala and Ms Jumoke Akinjide, the Minister of State for FCT, were also absent.

Some members of the party were seen  in groups discussing the absence of these prominent  members as no reason was officially given.

However,  in an interview with newsmen, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Olisa Metu, explained that Obasanjo was a busy man, who might have been engaged with other national or international events.

“I have been with PDP since its inception in 1999; former President Olusegun Obasanjo, if I can recollect, did attend South west meetings not more than twice, because of his busy schedule.’’

Metu said the absence of some prominent PDP figures from the meeting did not diminish its success as representatives from all the six south west states were in attendance.

The well-attended meeting was part of the national reconciliatory efforts of the Bamanga Tukur- led National Working Committee of the PDP, geared towards consolidating the party for future elections.

Similar meetings are expected to be held in the South East and South South on Saturday and Sunday respectively. (NAN)