All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and chieftains, led by Muhammad Buhari in group photograph with former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta on Saturday.
. PDP Senators in Secret Talks With Tinubu, Buhari, Others
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday told chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he was the godfather of the new political party.
The APC chieftains Saturday evening met with Obasanjo at his hilltop residence in the Ogun State capital, Abeokuta, in what was seen as part of the party’s membership drive.
The party members had on Wednesday paid a similar visit to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at his Asokoro residence in Abuja.
Obasanjo, while receiving the APC bigwigs, before leading them into a closed-door meeting that lasted about 1:30 minutes inside the mansion, said considering the fact that he had achieved political prominence since the beginning of Nigeria’s new democratic dispensation in 1999, he was the godfather of the APC.
He however admitted that the party was providing good opposition to his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding, “as an opposition, you are enhancing democracy.”
The former president also told the delegation, which was led by former Head of State Gen. Muhammad Buhari, that the visit to him was “an honour,” even though he noted that he was still a member of the PDP.
“I regard this as an honour to come and present your party and tell me the objectives.
But, I am a card carrying member of the PDP. However, the politics I play traverse Nigeria, Africa and world in that order.
“I am a Democrat and one of the essential ingredients of democracy is opposition. A democracy that has no opposition built into it is not democracy. As an opposition you are enhancing democracy. You are at home; you are welcome. As time goes on, I will just appeal that the politics you play is politics without rancour, without bitterness, with decency, that has Nigeria at heart.”
Obasanjo, who maintained that he was ‘incurable optimist about Nigeria” and totally committed to the country, said “nothing will divert me from that commitment.”
“In whichever party, for whatever office that [one] contested or aspired in Nigeria since 1999, such a person, young or old, man or woman, can claim to be my political child and I can claim to be, by virtue of the political office I have held, I can also claim to be political father.
So, you are here and you are welcome.”
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Gen Buhari had told their host that they were in Abeokuta to announce their party to him.
Also in his remarks, Bola Tinubu, noted that their visit was aimed at identifying with Obasanjo’s courage. “We are here because of your courage and salient point. Nobody can dispute the fact that he (Obasanjo) has information more than you. You have surmounted a number of crises. Nigeria is divided more than before, to realize stable Nigeria we want to encourage you to continue to speak the truth. We have resolved and determined to rescue Nigeria, we want you as navigator.”
After the meeting, Tinubu told newsmen that the visit was not meant to woo Obasanjo to APC, “but to draw from his experience.’
Those at the meeting include the APC Interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande,
national leader, Bola Tinubu, Nasir el-Rufai, Lai Muhammed, former Speaker, Aminu Maisari, Senator Bukola State and Tunde Oladujoye.
Also on the entourage, were governors Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Murtala Nyako, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Abiola Ajimobi, Rochas Okorocha and Ibikunle Amosun.
“I am a Democrat and one of the essential ingredients of democracy is opposition. A democracy that has no opposition built into it is not democracy. As an opposition you are enhancing democracy. You are at home; you are welcome. As time goes on, I will just appeal that the politics you play is politics without rancour, without bitterness, with decency, that has Nigeria at heart.”
Obasanjo, who maintained that he was ‘incurable optimist about Nigeria” and totally committed to the country, said “nothing will divert me from that commitment.”
“In whichever party, for whatever office that [one] contested or aspired in Nigeria since 1999, such a person, young or old, man or woman, can claim to be my political child and I can claim to be, by virtue of the political office I have held, I can also claim to be political father.
So, you are here and you are welcome.”
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Gen Buhari had told their host that they were in Abeokuta to announce their party to him.
Also in his remarks, Bola Tinubu, noted that their visit was aimed at identifying with Obasanjo’s courage. “We are here because of your courage and salient point. Nobody can dispute the fact that he (Obasanjo) has information more than you. You have surmounted a number of crises. Nigeria is divided more than before, to realize stable Nigeria we want to encourage you to continue to speak the truth. We have resolved and determined to rescue Nigeria, we want you as navigator.”
After the meeting, Tinubu told newsmen that the visit was not meant to woo Obasanjo to APC, “but to draw from his experience.’
Those at the meeting include the APC Interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande,
national leader, Bola Tinubu, Nasir el-Rufai, Lai Muhammed, former Speaker, Aminu Maisari, Senator Bukola State and Tunde Oladujoye.
Also on the entourage, were governors Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Murtala Nyako, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Abiola Ajimobi, Rochas Okorocha and Ibikunle Amosun.
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