Many Nigerians were shocked by a 360 degree turn around of former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently at his country home of Abeokuta. The 80-plus year old politician drew public surprise when he appeared to have literally swallowed his own vomit.
Obasanjo said Atiku is now good to run for Nigeria’s most important office, contrary to his well-publicized position years ago and reiterated months ago.
For the four-year tenure of Obasanjo, his Vice President was a constant reference for rebuke and attacks by his boss who accused him of corruption and over dependence on marabouts and mysticism. Obasanjo was compelled to withstand the bitter rivalry for four years after consistent efforts to remove his deputy either by force or constitutionally, woefully failed. The two left the corridors of power amidst sullenness and wrath. Some two months ago, when Atiku appeared as a major contender for the Presidential election, Obasanjo did not hide his resentment warning Nigerians to deal with Atiku with a long spoon.
But days ago, the two sat and ate on the same table obviously with shorter spoons
He had said “it is not so much what you did against me that was the issue but what you did against the party, the government and the country.”
Obasanjo noted earlier “How can I be on the same side with Atiku? To do what? If I support Atiku for anything, God will not forgive me. If I do not know, yes. But once I know, Atiku can never enjoy my support” the former President had said.
In what represented the most documented attack on Atiku, the former President wrote in his 1, 522 pages book ‘from the day I nominated Atiku to be my vice, he set his mind not for any good, benefit or service of the country, but on furiously planning to upstage, supplant or remove me at all cost and take my place.
“All his plans, appointments of people and his actions were towards the realization of his marabous’ prediction. Once I realized his intention and programme, I watched him like a hawk without giving any indication of what I knew and letting down my guard.” Obasanjo also described Atiku as someone who does not stand by his words apart from the paint of corruption he splashed on him from head to toe.
Many continue to wonder: What must have motivated former President Olusegun Obasanjo to say nice things about his former foe, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku? The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Presidential aspirant had visited his private home with clergymen, Bishop Mathew Kukah and Sheik Gumi by his sides.
Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere led by Pa Ayo Adebanjo were also in attendance. The meeting held behind closed doors.
Speaking after the parley, Obasanjo praised Atiku, suddenly recognizing his place in the building of the modern Nigerian economy. Obasanjo said he now believed Atiku had “rediscovered and repositioned himself and is now good enough to enjoy support in the next election.”
An official of the Arewa Consultative Forum, (ACF) Mr Anthony Sani said Obasanjo suffers from dearth of vision, conviction and consistency required of a statesman. There are those who think Obasanjo had entered alliance with inconvenient friends and foes in other to decisively fight Buhari.
Newdawn was reliably informed that the new position of Obasanjo was mainly fuelled by the interests of retired military leaders of Northern extraction key among them two former Heads of State, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar. Sources hinted our correspondent that the duo are the arrowheads of the mobilization of influential interests in support of Atiku and would be involved in raising enormous funds to back up his aspiration. Babangida, one of Atiku’s main supporters was responsible for removing Buhari from power in 1985, scuttling the potential of remaking the country after a four year corrosive economic meltdown under the Shehu Shagari led government.
Babangida ran the country into a shipwreck leaving behind trails of pain, anguish and blood.
“Babangida and Abubakar were responsible for Obasanjo’s position on Atiku. They have been putting pressure on him since the PDP convention. They wanted someone they can trust. They wanted someone who can protect their interests,” a source close to the Northern leaders told Newdawn.
Some analysts think there is a growing force in the North who think ousting Buhari would be in the interest of the Northern ruling class but far from meeting the aspirations of the toiling masses .
“Buhari has stepped on toes of especially those Northern leaders who feed on corruption and ineptitude. He may not have fought corruption decisively but for even making it an issue is a source of worry for some Northern leaders”, another source that do not wish to be named told our correspondent.
However, there is the thinking that supporting Atiku was also necessary for Obasanjo to spur new relevance in the face of his floundering political influence in the country. For instance, while he was reputed to have supported the African Democratic Congress, (ADC) which contested the election in Osun State, the poor outing of the party merely indicated the little impact Obasanjo could muster in mounting political pressure on Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in spite of his boastful outings months earlier when he proclaimed the Buhari government as figuratively dying.
Obasanjo’s position may also have been informed by the need to support just anyone that would stand against Buhari, seen as the common enemy of the old political horses. Spokesperson of the Presidency, Mr Femi Adesina mocked the alliance between Obasanjo and Atiku last week saying the more they come, the harder they fall.
Some observers think Obasanjo’s political weight is over stretched by his admirers. It is being suggested that his support for Atiku may not in reality translate to any electoral numbers. In the South West where he comes from, he has not been able to make significant inroads since he left the corridors of power in 2007, yet he is not known as a philanthropist who could make up his political shortcoming with huge financial support for Atiku. Though, his opportunistic political career cannot be denied, always latching on public mood to create a false sense of heroism.
“Obasanjo needed to support Atiku as a face saving grace. He knows he does not have enough supporters not even in Abeokuta. He needed to hang on to the leanest straw” said Ben Agbi, an official of Return Buhari Campaign group. The 2019 election stands to determine if Obasanjo in the twilight of his years will be relevant or not. Agbi said even if Atiku wins, judging from Obasanjo’s precedence, his relationship with Atiku would be headed for the rocks in just few months. “Unfortunately for Obasanjo, this time around, Atiku is far from winning the Presidential election given the balance of forces”, Agbi added. Nigerians have just about four months to confirm if Agbi is right.
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