Letter: Obasanjo Played a Fast One on IBB, Abdulsalam and they are Angry [READ]

Indications have emerged that that some Nigerian leaders are not happy with the dust raised by the letter from former president Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan which has placed them in a tight spot.

Among those said to be particularly angry with the former president are two former heads of state – Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalami Abubakar whom Obasanjo made reference to in the controversial letter.

In the 18 page letter to the president made available to the public, the former president had craved the indulgence of President Jonathan to share the content of the letter with Babangida and Abubakar.

He also stated that he had given copies of his letter to former defence minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma and second Republic vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme.

“I crave your indulgence to share the contents of this letter, in the first instance, with General lbrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who, on a number of occasions in recent times, have shared with me their agonising thoughts, concerns and expressions on most of the issues I have raised in this letter concerning the situation and future of our country.”

“I also crave your indulgence to share the contents with General Yakubu  Danjuma and Dr.  Alex Ekwueme, whose concerns for and commitments to the  good of Nigeria have  been  known  to  be  strong.”

It was however revealed that while the copy of the letter submitted to the president and even the one leaked to the public included the part where Obasanjo indicated that the two former heads of state had also shared their agonising thoughts on the state of the nation, copies given to them (IBB and Abubakar) by Obasanjo did not contain that part.

One of the embarrassed military leaders who visited Aso Rock on Wednesday reportedly told his host, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo over dinner that Obasanjo’s action was an “attention-seeking venture,” pleading with the government not to indulge him with a response.

The military leader was said to have advised Sambo to ignore the former president.

Sources close to Ota said yesterday night that Obasanjo withheld the part containing his discussions with Babangida and Abubakar from them because he thought they could discourage him from mentioning their names or even submitting the letter.

“But Obasanjo had thought it through; it was a masterstroke. He knew the reference will bring maximum pressure to bear on Jonathan.

He also wanted to send a clear message that he was not acting alone in expressing his concern about the state of the nation,” the source said.

A source however said last night that the former leaders were not too happy that Obasanjo decided to put them in a tight spot, almost without warning.

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