Obasanjo Speaks Again, Insist Jonathan Must Respect One Term Pact

Not bothered by the fact that the dust raised by his letter to President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to settle down, former President Obasanjo has insisted that the incumbent president must honour the one term pact he reached with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors for peace to reign in the party and in the polity.

In his historic letter to President Jonathan, which was published by the media on Wednesday, Obasanjo raised over 10 burning national issues, which he advised the president to address quickly in the interest of peace in the PDP and the country.

Although presidential spokesman Dr Reuben Abati has described Obasanjo’s action as “malicious and indecent”, political watchers say of the Presidency that “it is no longer at ease”.

One of Obasanjo’s top aides told a newspaper correspondent that some eminent Nigerians have been making frantic efforts to get him to “forgive and forget”, but the source said that the former president has insisted on his quest to stop Jonathan from contesting in the 2015 presidential poll.

According to the aide, Abati’s response on behalf of his principal has compounded the feud as “Obasanjo is angry with the abusive language used against him.”

“I was shocked to hear Abati abusing Baba [Obasanjo]. I am not sure he was asked by President Jonathan to do that, but if he was, that is too bad and we will see who is right or wrong on those issues raised in the letter. Baba has said his mind and whether those concerned are listening or not is another matter,” the source said.

The source disclosed that some emissaries had gone to Obasanjo’s hilltop country home in Abeokuta and the one located on his Ota Farm in Ogun State to plead with him to sheathe his sword.

“Some highly placed Nigerians have been talking to Baba [Obasanjo] over the letter since he returned from South Africa. Some have been coming to meet with him, while others have contacted him by phone.

I believe these people should be going to President Jonathan instead of coming to Baba Obasanjo,” he said.

When asked what could be done to appease Obasanjo, another aide of the former president said, “The first thing President Jonathan should do is to make his intentions known on 2015; either to run or not.

But if he wants Obasanjo’s support, he should stop his alleged re-election agenda by honouring the single term pact he struck or forget about any support from the former leader.”

In the letter, Obasanjo said: “Up till two months ago, Mr. President, you told me that you have not told anybody that you would contest in 2015.

I quickly pointed out to you that the signs and the measures on the ground do not tally with your statement. You said the same to one other person who shared his observation with me.

“And only a fool would believe that statement you made to me judging by what is going on. I must say it is not ingenious. You may wish to pursue a more credible and more honourable path,” Obasanjo wrote.

The source further disclosed that once Jonathan publicly declares his intention not to run, “the agitation for the removal of [Alhaji Bamanga] Tukur as the chairman, since it was his bid he has been carrying out and I can assure you that those (PDP) governors who defected to the opposition would return to the party.”

On the alleged corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the source said every issue raised by Obasanjo should be addressed in the interest of the country.

“Baba Obasanjo wants transparency in the NNPC and every allegation of corruption should be addressed if corruption is to be reduced to the barest minimum.”

Obasanjo had also warned that: “This allegation will not fly away by non-action, cover-up, denial or bribing possible investigators…The dramatis personae in this allegation and who they are working for will one day be public knowledge.

Those who know are watching if the National Assembly will not be accomplice in the heinous crime and naked grand corruption. May God grant you the grace for at least one effective corrective action against high corruption which seems to stink all around you in your government.”

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