The desperate battle to secure former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid may have collapsed, The Nation learnt yesterday. Dr. Jonathan and Chief Obasanjo met for about one hour on Monday night at the former president’s Abeokuta home. The President requested for Obasanjo’s support. “It’s too late; I’m sorry,” Obasanjo reportedly told Jonathan. A source close to the meeting told our reporter on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the media. At the meeting were two Christian leaders – Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Bishop David Oyedepo of the Winners’ Chapel – who attended at Obasanjo’s request. None of those at the meeting spoke about it, but it was learnt that it was brief because Obasanjo insisted that for him, it was too late to back Jonathan. The former president has been a virulent critic of the Jonathan administration, which he accused of embracing corruption and burgling the anti-insurgency battle. Jonathan replied, slamming some “elder statesman who talk like motor park touts”. He, however, did not mention Obasanjo. Also yesterday, Obasanjo advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, to recruit “men and women of character” – if the party wins the February 14 election. Obasanjo said such abound in all political parties and also in every part of the country, adding that they make things better for a government, the country and the citizenry. According to the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), the advice applies to other political parties. Obasanjo spoke also on the report of the probe panel on the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), for the period Gen. Buhari was the chairman, saying the “report was not of any material importance”, as he was convinced that Gen. Buhari made no personal gains while his tenure lasted. The former president said he deemed it necessary to bring up the PTF report publicly now, believing that Nigerians, particularly politicians seeking elective offices, would “face issues rather than trivialities”. “Issues based campaigns are very important,” he said. Obasanjo, who noted that he is still a card- carrying member of the PDP and had chosen to remain firm in the party at the ward level, said regardless of the political parties participating in the general elections, Nigeria comes “first” and should remain “paramount” to him. The soldier-turned farmer was addressing a group of APC chieftains who visited his Abeokuta home. Among them were Gen. Buhari, his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Barnabas Gemade, Chief Audu Ogbe, Chief Bisi Akande and Senator Bukola Saraki among others. The APC national leaders and stalwarts, including wives of the party’s presidential candidate and his running mate arrived at Obasanjo’s mansion at 11:25 am. Gen. Buhari intimated the ex -President of the APC’s road map for the country and sought for his “support, trust and understanding” that the party’s in-coming government at the centre would give the nation a “better” and “quality” leadership.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 07:50:16 +0000
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