AS PDP•Obasanjo’s camp tables conditions
The Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are contending with a fresh challenge following the renewed interest of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in seeking the party’s 2015 presidential ticket.The Presidency is particularly upset by the development and is already pulling all strings to scuttle Lamido’s ambition.
He is the only one so far who seems to be ready to vie for the ticket with President Goodluck Jonathan after many party faithful had taken it for granted that it would be only the President all the way.
This development, the recent challenges and the 2015 polls, sources said yesterday, have forced President Jonathan and his strategists to now favour reconciliation with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo for guidance.
The Obasanjo camp is believed to havetabled conditions for reconciliation which appear difficult for Jonathan to meet.One of the conditions is the reinstatement of Obasanjo’s loyalists who have been ‘persecuted’ out of office
.These are former National Secretary ofPDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; ex-National Vice-Chairman (South-West), Chief Segun Oni; former National Auditor of the party, Chief Bode Mustapha; ex-DG of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; former DG of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa; ex-Minister Bolaji Abdullahi (who once worked in Otta), and a former Minister of Education, Ruqayyat Rufai, who was removed because of her loyalty to Obasanjo’s political son, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.
Other conditions are the return of PDP structure in Southwest to Obasanjo and addressing the issues raised by theex-President to Jonathan.
Presidential Villa had been uncomfortable with the state of affairs and Obasanjo’s ‘siddon look’ attitude since he wrote a ‘toxic’ letter tothe President.It was gathered that the absence of Obasanjo at the World Economic Forum for Africa and the involvement of his wife in#BringBack Our Girls protest in Abeokuta during the week have caused more upset for the presidency.In spite of global outcry, the government was said to be disturbed that Obasanjo has not commented on the Boko Haram menace as he used to do in the past.
The ex-President’s body language was assumed to be the abandonment of the President to his fate with political consequences in 2015.The Presidency is also jittery with the way Obasanjo’s loyalists have been romancing with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West.Only last week, Oni and his supporters in Ekiti defected to the APC.
A reliable source, who spoke in with the newsmen confidence, said: “There is really disquiet in the Villa on ex-President Obasanjo’s bitterness and how to address it
“Although some eminent Nigerians have intervened, Obasanjo has not given fresh advice to the Presidency onhow to move the nation forward and address insurgency in the country.“There is suspicion that Obasanjo might be up to a joker in 2015.
This is why everyone believes Jonathan and his strategists still need to make peace with the ex-President.“The ongoing plans by Governor Sule Lamido for the presidential primaries of PDP is being seen as Obasanjo’s PlanB.”Another source said: “Some forces in the presidency favour genuine reconciliation with Obasanjo ahead of Jonathan’s declaration of intent for second term.
“These forces believe that Obasanjo is still a beacon for Jonathan’s administration.There is no way his input won’t be useful to the nation.“They also think that the increasing opposition internally and externally against the Federal Government could be reduced if the government makes up with Obasanjo who is globally respected.
”The National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu has met with Obasanjo while more respected party leaders are also expected to l meet him soon.”But a source in Obasanjo’s camp said: “Baba is embittered about how some of his loyalists were hounded out of office.
The sack of Oyinlola, Oni and Mustapha without deferring to him andin defiance of court order have made Obasanjo unhappy. He is demanding the reinstatement of most of these loyalists and associates for peace to reign.”
Meanwhile, there is palpable tension within the PDP over the inability of its leadership to fully reconcile President Jonathan and the Jigawa governor.
Sources say the Jigawa governor’s men are currently reaching out to party chieftains to consult them on Lamido’s renewed presidential ambition. The Nation also learnt that the Governor himself has informed some top party topnotch of his resolve to vie for the presidential ticket of the PDP during the next general election
