Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday
recounted his weekend’s meeting with President
Goodluck Jonathan.
He spoke to Sahara Reporters.
Atikuwas quoted as saying that he had retired to
bed when he was woken up and told that
President Jonathan had come to see him, adding
that the president was already waiting in his living
room.
Denying that he was asked to head an interim
government, the former vice president admitted
that Dr. Jonathan tried to prevail on him to rejoin
the PDP which he rejected.
He said the president also discussed the ongoing
war against Boko Haram, seeking his support for
Nigerian troops. He said they also discussed the
possibility of displaced Nigerians returning to the
areas that have been recaptured from Boko
Haram.
Asked by Sahara Reporters whether he thought
President Jonathan was interested in allowing
elections to hold on March 28, the former vice
president hesitated before stating that he would
not wish to speculate, but he said the president’s
body language did not reveal that he was
interested in the polls which are less than two
weeks to hold.
Atiku said he had always been opposed to an
interim government adding that he did so when
former military President Ibrahim Babangida set
up an interim national government in 1993. He
said he was offered a position in the government
through the late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua, which he
rejected. The position, he said was given to Lagos
politician Dapo Sarumi.
Atiku said he advised President Jonathan to
ensure that the elections were free and fair and
devoid of the bloodshed that trailed the 2011
general elections

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