Speaker Causes Rift Between Tinubu And Obasanjo
OpenLife Nigeria reports that as Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been full of joy over the meeting he had with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he seems to have rejoiced too early as the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has caused a rift in the rather fragile and emerging relationship.
Without doubt, last week’s meeting with Obasanjo was a mile stone for Tinubu’s 2023 aspiration.
Part of the agreement between Obasanjo and Tinubu was non disclosure of the deliberations of the meeting.
However, Speaker Gbajabiamila, in a meeting with his constituents in Surulere disclosed what transpired during the meeting, assuring victory for Tinubu, come 2023.
The Speaker, who was present at the closed-door meeting, said from what he heard there, Mr Tinubu’s presidency was almost a reality.
He said Mr Obasanjo made encouraging statements about Mr Tinubu’s aspiration and even prayed for the APC presidential candidate.
“When we were going to Obasanjo’s house, we were eight, including Asiwaju Tinubu and me; we didn’t want many people to know about the meeting. So, we were to meet Obasanjo and five others from his side.
“But when we eventually got there, we met something pleasantly shocking: a mammoth crowd of our supporters were already at the former president’s house waiting for us.
“So, Obasanjo told Asiwaju Tinubu to pick three people from his side and that he would pick three from his side to meet behind closed doors.
“So, I, Chief Osoba and Chief Akande and Asiwaju went from our side. My people, what I heard there, what Obasanjo said, the victory of Asiwaju is assured.
“Obasanjo spoke at length and we were all happy. He embraced our candidate like a brother, gave him a pat on the back, and prayed for him copiously”, he said.
Reacting to Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila’s disclosure, Obasanjo denied comments credited to “those claiming to be supporters” of the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the outcome of his recent meeting with him.
He described such comments as “unhelpful”, saying the meeting was “more brotherly” than “political.”
Obasanjo in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, in Abeokuta, on Saturday, expressed dissatisfaction with the unauthorized report of the discussion at his meeting with Tinubu.
He said both parties agreed to a no statement from either side at the end of the meeting.
“Those claiming to be insiders at the meeting issuing statement on the discussion and those crediting to me statement I had not made are enemies of the visitor and are not doing the visit any good,” said Obasanjo.
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