Atiku keeps mum on reason for visiting Obasanjo
…consultations for coalition ahead of 2027 on front burner says ex- NWC member
By Tunde Opalana
In an unannounced visit, former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar stormed the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Monday to visit his boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
Atiku served as Vice-President in President Obasanjo’s administration between 1999 and 2007.
The two fell out before the expiration of Obasanjo’s second tenure and have since not maintain healthy political relationship with Obasanjo openly renouncing support for Atiku’s presidential bid under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during both 2019 and 2023 presidential elections.
Atiku was said to have arrived the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential library, Abeokuta, at about 12:36 pm on Monday in company of key figures in the PDP.
On his entourage were, two former governors, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State who is now a serving senator representing Sokoto South Senatorial District as well as Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central.
Though issues discussed were not made public by both parties, a source close to the meeting which lasted about 100 minutes, hinted that it was a strategic meeting towards reshaping the polity.
Atiku simply replied curious newsmen at the end of the meeting that “it’s just a courtesy visit please, I am not going to talk about politics please”.
But the source, a former member of the National Working Committee of the PDP who is based in Abeokuta anonymously said Atiku decided to extend his consultation drive to the former president.
According to him, as part of the consultation, Atiku “came to seek Obasanjo’s views on attempt by notable figures across political parties divides to form a coalition with the aim of wrestling power from the incumbent President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
He told the Daily Times that though Obasanjo has resigned from partisan politics, he remain a key figure in the “Nigerian Project”.
Speaking further, he said “coming to Baba Obasanjo is not about PDP, it is about Nigeria. It is about how to revive and reorder the polity before the next general election.
“In recent times, leaders of some political parties and regional figures have been meeting and visiting themselves across geopolitical zones.
“If at all a new political frontier will emerge, it has to start from consultations like the ones we are witnessing in recent times.
“So, today’s meeting between both of them though unannounced but the outcome in the nearest future may be phenomenal”.
The Daily Times recalled that gladiators in a few of the parties have been meeting and making statements that smacks of realignment of forces ahead of 2027.
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This could be in tune with the constant call for a formidable coalition capable of unseating Tinubu by a former chieftain of the APC, Dr. Salihu Lukman who until his resignation, the National Vice Chairman of APC in the North West.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party , Mr. Peter Obi since late last year made significant visitations to political leaders in northern Nigeria, partying condolence and solidarity visits and making monetary donations to victims of one mishap or the other
He visited the PDP flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar at his residence in Adamawa State.
Former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el- Rufai and some politicians across party lines met in Abuja recently while the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and former governor of Kano State, Senator Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso met with the former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, who has fell out with President Tinubu.
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