Jonathan, govs take 2015 battle to OBJ •I remain OBJ’s son - GEJ •He’s our father too - Govs Ahead of the 2015 presidential battle, President Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday, moved to re-connect with his estranged godfather and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for a smooth-sail in the coming election. Jonathan visited Chief Obasanjo at his hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and met with him behind closed doors for about two hours. However, shortly after the president left, four northern governors opposed to his re-election bid also paid the former president a visit. Jonathan’s visit was coming as recent media reports suggested that efforts were being led by the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, to ensure that any lingering misunderstanding between Jonathan and Obasanjo were laid to rest before the commencement of electioneering activities. Obasanjo had in May similarly visited the President in his Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Villa during the Special Summit of African Heads of State and Government and 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU). Amidst heavy security, the president arrived the ancient capital city in a chopper and was driven straight to Obasanjo’s residence at about 11:52 a.m. Journalists were not allowed to cover the meeting and were not briefed when it ended. Although details of the meeting were kept under close wraps, Sunday Tribune gathered that the meeting centred on finding lasting solutions to the myriad of crises confronting the ruling PDP, as well as the Jonathan administration for the umbrella party to coast to victory in 2015. The relationship between the duo is believed to have been strained following the opposition of Chief Obasanjo to the re-election bid of President Jonathan and the open condemnation of some of the policies of the president by Obasanjo. The ill-feeling between them was said to have warranted the removal of some of the loyalists of the former president from key party positions at the zonal and national levels through judicial pronouncements. The gulf had given room for statesmen and political leaders to cement ties with Obasanjo to ensure a president of northern extraction emerges in 2015. Answering questions from newsmen on the visit to Obasanjo, at the residence of his media minder, Dr Reuben Abati, where he had gone to commiserate with the Abatis over the burial of their mother, the president, who confirmed the visit to Obasanjo, however, explained that his mission in Abeokuta was for the condolence visit to his Special Adviser but added that he could not have come to Abeokuta where the former president resides and not pay him a visit. He noted that Abati’s house was a stone throw from the former president’s residence, adding that coming to Abeokuta without visiting Obasanjo would have led people to speculate that there was a problem between the two of them. “It is true we saw President Obasanjo in his house because we came here to Abeokuta to commiserate with Abati who buried his mother yesterday. And knowing that Abati’s house is at the backyard of Obasanjo’s house, it will not be good if we come and not visit him. “Even the man himself will not be happy if we don’t visit him. I am like a son to Obasanjo,” he said. The president remarked that he had planned to attend the church service after the commissioning of the housing estate but was unable to do so because there was the need for him to fly out to Togo to meet President of Côte d’Ivoire, Allasane Ouattara, in order to preempt some looming political crisis. He condoled with the family of Abati, who he observed was a member of his family and advised the members to take solace in the fact that their mother lived to a ripe old age beyond the biblical three score and ten. In spite of the president’s remarks, it was expected that he would discuss the politics of 2015 and the crisis ravaging the PDP particularly the controversy surrounding the planned conduct of its mini-National Convention. Both men were thought to have differences in several political issues which their supporters are hoping would be resolved to bring them back on the same page again. In his remarks, Abati, who noted that the family were no longer expecting the president since he had previously been represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, at the service, expressed delight at the visit of the president, saying that they would cherish the momentous occasion. The presidential spokesman said he was happy with the life his mother lived as not many mothers would die and their burial would attract the presence of the nation’s president. The four governors were Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto). The governors also met with Obasanjo behind closed doors. However, fielding question from journalists, Governor Nyako, on behalf of his colleagues, also repeated Jonathan’s line, that they had come to “greet Obasnjo as a father and leader in the party.” According to Nyako:”we have come to meet with the most accomplished Nigerian ever on a very important matter”. All the governors left Obasanjo’s home at exactly 2:50p.m. Obasanjo, who is speculated to be backing Governor Lamido for the presidential race, is said to be on the same page with former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, T.Y Danjuma and other northern leaders on 2015 race.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 05:33:30 +0000
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