The impression President Olusegun Obasanjo is giving the public about his desire for a fortright successor may be unreliable because while he sent the state governors of states controlled by the PDP on an errand to pick the party’s presidential candidate, he was secretly meeting with former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, in Abuja.
Daily Sun gathered that Gen. Babangida arrived Abuja on Sunday ahead of the meeting, which reportedly held at President Obasanjo’s instance. Although details of the meeting were sketchy at the time of filing this report, reliable sources hinted Daily Sun that it may not be unconnected with the task of finding a successor for Obasanjo and mending fences.
It was learnt that before Sunday’s meeting, Obasanjo had requested to meet with Babangida, who had reportedly, avoided him for some time. Babangida was said to have shunned Obasanjo as the battle for the actualisation of the third term agenda became intense, having reportedly mobilised to frustrate the plot for tenure elongation. Before that, Obasanjo was said to have sent a private jet to convey Babangida to his Ota farm for a meeting, but the latter refused to honour the invitation.
Babangida, however, was said to have agreed to meet with Obasanjo on the condition that the meeting would take place in Abuja.
At Sunday’s meeting, Obasanjo was said to have extended a hand of friendship to Babangida as well as discussed 2007 elections.
Babangida was among prominent Nigerians who allegedly drafted Obasanjo into the presidential race in 1999. It is suspected that there exists a pact between them, to the effect that Obasanjo would hand over to Babangida on expiration of his two terms. Both political gladiators had denied any such pact.
