Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan have finally settled their
differences, with reports indicating that the two leaders are now plotting
multi-layer strategies to ensure victory for the Peoples Democratic Party in
the 2015 general elections.
Details
of the new rapprochement were, however, sketchy even though it was learnt that
both leaders have agreed on a broad range of issues, including the need to
ensure unity and victory for the ruling party in the next general elections.
While
the media has been awash with reports of Obasanjo mediating between the
governors and the president, Saturday Tribune was told that almost all the
media reports failed to mention the direct reconciliation that took place
between the two leaders, which even preceded the ongoing peace moves within the
party.
Insider
sources told our correspondent that Obasanjo agreed to mediate in the crisis
within the Nigerian Governors` Forum (NGF) only after the peace deal between
him and the president. It was gathered that the Ota farmer had opened up on his
grouses with the president, with the source reporting that “the discussion has
nothing to do with the president’s reelection bid in 2015.”
The
source told the Saturday Tribune that the issues border on governance, certain
state policies, state of the party and alleged attacks on loyalists of
the former president. The president was also said to have expressed his
own displeasure, with certain actions of the former leader including
public criticisms by Obasanjo (of his administration) which could have been
channeled privately, open campaign against his second term bid, even when he
had not declared interest, as well as open disdain for the presidency by some
loyalists of the former president.
It was
learnt that the issue of attacks on the associates of the former President took
the center stage. The issue include the removal of the former national
Secretary of the party ,Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola which is till pendling in
court,the dissolution of South West executive of the party,the Adamawa party
executive crisis among others.
While
it is not clear what the two leaders agreed on,it was learnt that the President
may eventually give in to one or two demands of the former leader. It was also
gathered that the two leaders may have resolved to use the court process as a
spring board to meet some of the demands agreed to.
Saturday
Tribune was told,however, that the former leader rer-reintegrate his associates
back into the party. An endorsement of President Jonathan for another term is
also said to be on the cards “but it is an issue the former leader is yet to
take a stand on.”
It was
further learnt that part of the results of the former president’s move was the
peace meeting between the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and
the aggrieved governors of the party. The meeting which shocked bookmakers saw
two rival camps in peace talks with both sides opening up frankly.
There
are, however, conflicting reports on who actually brokered the peace
deal. While some accounts credited Chief Tony Anenih with the feat,
others cited former Head of State, AbdulSalami Abubakar. Other accounts noted
that pro Jonathan governors, some of who were also once beneficiaries of the
Ota farmer, initiated and sealed the peace deal. Some key loyalists of
Obasanjo, it was gathered, asked him to open up to Jonathan in the interest of
the polity.
Saturday
Tribune was told that a major fallout of the deal was the new responsibility of
Obasanjo as coordinator of the leaders caucus of the party, leading to his
hosting the peace moves within the Governors’ Forum of the ruling party.
Reports
indicated that Obasanjo has endorsed several other peace moves within the
party, but he is said to be evasive about the fate of the party chairman,
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The focus, it was gathered, was to ensure that all
outstanding issues are resolved before the August 31st convention of the party.
A
party source said, “Baba is back inside, and events of the last one week
confirm that the peace move is yielding results.”
Meanwhile,
recent reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is plotting to dump
the PDP may not be true after all, as the former vice-president has denied such
plan on his twitter page.
While
conceding that some of his associates were involved in the formation of the
Peoples Democratic Movement, he declared that he remained a member of the
ruling party.
A
loyalist of Abubakar also denied news reports that the former vice president is
in league with some governors to float a new party.
He
said, “That story is not true. Those governors listed were never allies or
associates of Atiku. Imagine that report linking Atiku with the likes of Sule
Lamido, Murtala Nyako and Rabiu Kwankwaso? These are openly not his friends. So,
how could they now form a new party with him?
“The
truth is that most of the governors mentioned in that report are
Obasanjo’s associates; and as reported by Saturday Tribune paper last week,
Baba has directed his associates – including some of the governors – not to
quit the PDP. And those affected have obeyed. That is why the peace move is on.”
