President Olusegun Obasanjo
dislike associating with corruption, And he has demonstrated this strong
character in his fall out with Ogun PDP strongman, Buruji Kashamu.
Anyway, there are strong indications
that Olusegun may have warned the All Progressives Congress not to field former
Vice-President Abubakar Atiku as its flagbearer in the 2015 elections.
Obasanjo, during the visit by APC
national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to his residence in Abeokuta, was said to
have warned the leading opposition party against fielding an “unclean vessel”
as its presidential candidate for the 2015 election.
A credible source said, “Chief
Obasanjo appreciated Tinubu’s visit to his home, but specifically warned the
APC to shut its door against ‘unclean vessel’.
“Chief Obasanjo reiterated his
refusal to join the APC when Tinubu visited him in his Abeokuta residence, but
warned the party to beware of Atiku.
“The former President appreciated
the move by the APC to find out what he knew about two of the APC aspirants
seeking the party’s presidential ticket.
He was happy that the party
consulted him over whom to pick as its presidential candidate.
The former President gave detailed
information on the APC presidential aspirants to Tinubu.”
The impeccable source, who was at
the meeting but did not want his name mentioned, told Punch that last week’s
visit by Tinubu to Obasanjo was meant to remind the former President of the
need to support the APC to realise its ambition of winning next year’s
presidential election.
But Atiku’s media aide, Garba Shehu,
said he was not aware of such comments by Obasanjo against the former
vice-president.
Shehu, who said that Atiku had
consulted relevant stakeholders on his plan to become Nigeria’s president next
year, said,
“You can quote me; we are not in any
way aware of such comment.
What I can say is that the former
vice-president has written a letter to his former boss, respectfully informing
him of his wish to bid for the APC ticket.”
He also said that Atiku had sent
similar letters to other Nigerians.
“These letters, which were
personally signed, had gone to thousands of other Nigerians, including
politicians, traditional and religious leaders as well as friendly-diplomatic
missions.”
Senate President David Mark and
Tinubu had last Friday held separate closed-door meetings with Obasanjo.
Both Mark and the former Lagos State
governor said the issues discussed at the meetings held at the Obasanjo’s
Hilltop residence in Abeokuta centred on the state of the nation.
Tinubu on his part, told journalists
that he discussion with Obasanjo on “some of his former boys” who would vie for
elective positions in the 2015 general elections, especially the Presidency.
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