Obasanjo Moves To Reconcile With Atiku

By Dotun Oladipo and Olusola Sanni - 15.12.2007

There were indications during the week that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has started reaching out to his then deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, with whom he had a face-off close to the end of their tenure.

Sources told Saturday Tribune that Obasanjo had extended an invitation to Abubakar for a visit to his Otta, Ogun State, farm for them to settle their differences.

It was learnt that Obasanjo made the move through some of his close aides while in office, some of who would not want their names in print.

But the delegation that visited Abubakar was led by the former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Obasanjo’s Special Adviser (Political), Chief Akin Osuntokun.

But, Osuntokun, in a telephone interview with Saturday Tribune on Thursday said, “No such meeting ever took place.”

Likewise, Adeolu Akande, of the Atiku campaign organisation, also on Thursday said that he was not aware of the meeting. Aides to both Obasanjo and Abubakar who were present at the meeting however confirmed the meeting to Saturday Tribune.

It was gathered that Obasanjo believed that if Abubakar could visit him, it would thaw the ice in their frosty relationship that led to the former vice-president seeking his presidential mandate on the platform of the Action Congress (AC) instead of the Peoples Democratic Party, the party that brought them into power.

It is believed in Obasanjo’s camp that a rapport with Abubakar would boost the image of the former president.

Sources also said that happenings on the political scene had shown that the former vice-president could prove to be the only saving grace for Obasanjo with the move by some of the former president’s believed arch enemies to take control of the present government under President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Obasanjo’s major fear, it was learnt, was the growing profile of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, who is said to be eyeing the presidency in case Yar’Adua fails to recontest if the Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal upturns the April 21, 2007 presidential election.

Obasanjo, sources said, parted ways with Kingibe since the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election in which he was the running mate of the winner, late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

Obasanjo had reportedly vowed that he would not let Kingibe rise again politically after the former president was accused of working against the Abiola/Kingibe mandate.

In fact, Obasanjo reportedly worked against the emergence of Kingibe as SGF. He was said to have pleaded with Yar’Adua not to appoint Kingibe as SGF, but the President stood his grounds.

With indications that Kingibe was preparing for the presidential race in case of an annulment of Yar’Adua’s mandate, the thinking in Obasanjo’s camp is that only Abubakar could stop him, hence the move to enlist his support.

Sources said Obasanjo sees Abubakar less an enemy than Kingibe.
Sources also said the recent meetings Yar’Adua and Abubakar have been having is a source of concern to Obasanjo.

As such, he wants to frustrate the friendly move by Yar’Adua and prove that he could still have the support of the former vice-president.

It was gathered that Obasanjo does not feel comfortable that Yar’Adua had been fraternising with those he severed relationship with while in office.

Osuntokun’s delegation reportedly pleaded with the former vice-president to “forgive and forget,” a message they said was from Obasanjo.

Though Abubakar was said to be non-committal when he responded to the invitation by Obasanjo, sources said he was not excited by the move and would not honour the invitation.

One of his close confidants, a former minister, told Saturday Tribune that it was not possible for Obasanjo to woo Abubakar and expect a warm reception, after humiliating him.

Indeed, Abubakar reportedly told the delegation that he had no personal grudge against Obasanjo


http://www.tribune.com.ng/15122007/news/news2.html

Does Obj want to eat his cake and at same time have it? Well, in politics, only interest in permanent, every other thing remains flexible.

I wish him luck!