President Goodluck Jonathan, who last week bragged that he
was a better leader than Olusegun Obasanjo and every
Nigerian leader since independence, today sent a powerful
delegation to the former president to plead support for his
re-election bid.
Obasanjo had described Jonathan's presidency as below
"average," and that the "head" [of the government] was
"rotten."
His delegation to Obasanjo's Hilltop mansion in Abeokuta
today included governors Liyel Imoke of Cross River State,
Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Sule Lamido of Jigawa,
Babangida Aliyu of Niger and Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State.
When they emerged from a closed door meeting, Obasanjo
told the media that they had only discussed the insecurity in
the country.
However, SaharaReporters learnt that the governors, who
were protégés of Obasanjo during his tenure, had been
asked to visit the former president to beg the former leader
to tone down his opposition to Mr. Jonathan.
Following Obasanjo's hard-hitting "Before It Is Too Late"
letter to Mr. Jonathan last December, the former leader has
in the past few months stepped up his attacks, underlining
the corrupt nature of Mr. Jonathan's regime.
In turn, President Jonathan's attack dogs tried to attack
Obasanjo frontally, but today's delegation to the retired
General suggests a strategy is at work.
In "Before It Is Too Late," Obasanjo warned had Jonathan to
learn the lessons of History and avoid taking Nigerians for
granted.
"Move away from culture of denials, cover-ups and
proxies and deal honesty, sincerely and transparently with
Nigerians to regain their trust and confidence," he advised.
"Nigerians are no fools, they can see, they can hear, they
can talk among themselves, they can think, they can
compare and they can act in the interest of their country and
in their own self-interest. They keenly watch all actions
and deeds that are associated with you if they cannot
believe your words. I know you have the power to
save PDP and the country. I beg you to have the courage
and the will with patriotism to use the power for the good
of the country. Please uphold some form of national core
values. I will appeal to all Nigerians particularly all
members of PDP to respect and dignify the Office of
the President. We must all know that individuals will come
and go but the Office will remain."
That advice was not heeded, but with the economy in
trouble and the 2015 elections fast approaching, Mr.
Jonathan seems to have decided to swallow his pride and
court his political benefactor.
Another factor in the equation is a revelation by
SaharaReporters last week that Obasanjo will shortly publish
a three-volume autobiography that specifically details
Jonathan's incompetence and complicity in corrupt
activities. That has reportedly sent further jitters into the
presidency, culminating in the decision to send a delegation
of governors known to be close to Obasanjo to beg him.
Sources say of the meeting that Obasanjo did not express
interest in a truce, reportedly telling his inner caucus that it
is too late to mend fences with Jonathan. Obasanjo has
probably concluded that he cannot now support Jonathan
publicly without losing face at home and abroad.
One of the governors who attended the meeting today said
they didn't get any commitment from the former Obasanjo.
"Baba didn't say much after we presented our case for
reconciliation. He referred us to the letter he sent to
President Jonathan and said he stands by every word in that
letter."
Our source said Obasanjo did not turn down the fence-
mending approach because he said he did the same with his
former arch-enemy, Abubakar Atiku when two of his
protégés, Professor Babalola Aborisade and Otunba
Oyewole Fasawe intervened on the former Vice-President's
behalf of Atiku and asked for a meeting.
Source: SAHARAREPORTERS
