2023 ELECTION: Unlike OBJ`s response to the comments and media reports about the visit of Peter Obi to Abeokuta, the former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo immediately denied endorsing the APC Presidential Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and also cautioned them of falsehood, Clariform explain why.

BASIC FACTS

The APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu recently visited the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo with large entourage of dignitaries.
After the meeting, both Tinubu and Obasanjo refused to speak to the press on the outcome of the meeting.
About 24 hours after the meeting on Thursday, the Tinubu’s team Friday hinted that the former president endorsed Tinubu.
The former president`s media team on Saturday denied endorsing Bola Tinubu for president.

WHAT WE KNOW

Nigeria former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Saturday sent a warning to supporters of APC Presidential Candidate for 2023 election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Recall that Tinubu and some APC chieftains had visited Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Wednesday in closed door meeting.

Accompanying Tinubu were, Governor Dapo Abiodun, his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele and former Governors, Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel, former interim national chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Though both sides refused to disclose the outcome of the meeting to the press, barely 24 hours later, Gbajabiamila spoke on what happened during the meeting between Obasanjo and Tinubu.

Speaking on Friday, the speaker of Nigerian House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said, Obasanjo made encouraging statements about Tinubu’s aspiration and even prayed for the APC presidential candidate.

However, the Special Assistant on Media, to former president Obasanjo, Kehinde Akinyemi on Saturday, said the statements coming from those claiming to be supporters of Tinubu are “unhelpful.”

The former President said the discussion during the visit was “more brotherly than political”, and at the request of Tinubu, Obasanjo agreed to no statement from either side.

This is entirely contrary to the developments after the visit of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, whose visit to the former president was widely reported in the Nigeria media space as an endorsement.

This was never countered or rebutted by former president Obasanjo. Unlike the case of Bola Tinubu, the OBJ media team never released any contrary press statement denying any endorsement.

Clariform also notes that the Peter Obi campaign team never directly or indirectly commented on the meeting the LP candidate had with former president Obasanjo with regards to his presidential ambition.

However, the former president is known to have endorsed the emergence of Nigeria`s next president from the Southeast and has never hidden that intention from the public space.

NOTABLE QUOTES

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of Nigerian House of Representatives and supporter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu said on Friday:

“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 close 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.”

However, in a statement contradicting the Tinubu’s team, Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi on Saturday,

“Statements coming from those claiming to be supporters of Tinubu are “unhelpful.” the discussion during the visit was “more brotherly than political”, and at the request of Tinubu, Obasanjo agreed to no statement from either side.”

“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.”

FLASHBACK

Obasanjo and Tinubu have always been at dagger drawn. Between 1999-2007 when both men were president of Nigeria and governor of Lagos state respectively, the FG withheld monies meant for LGAs in Lagos State.

The move was a result of the creation of 37 LGAs that later became LCDAs (Local Council Development Authorities) after the supreme court ruled against the creation of the 37 LGAs.

Though the Nigerian Supreme Court ruled that the monies be released, that never happened until both Bola Tinubu and Obasanjo left office as the governor of Lagos State and president of Nigeria respectively.

It was the government of late Musa Yar’Adua that eventually honoured the judgement of the nation`s apex court.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu had used every political gathering or campaign to lampoon Obasanjo even after both men had left government, thus emphasizing the “no love lost” relationship between them.

It was therefore, a surprise when the team of the APC presidential candidate`s visit to Obasanjo was announced last Thursday.

TAKEAWAY

The image of candidates at all levels will be better served if their team and spokespersons stick to the truth and desist from making statements that will be countered.

The above raises more questions than answers. For the APC in particular, this is coming too soon after the “bishops” debacle that greeted the unveiling of Kashim Shettima as the party’s running mate. A word they say is enough for the wise.

Clariform further notes that the former president, Olusegun Obasango has earlier met with the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi at the same venue of his Abeoukuta residence and presidential library.

The meeting was reported in the media as an endorsement of the LP candidate who hails from the Southeast, which the former president has long supported to produce the next president of Nigerian in accordance to equity and good conscience.

This Peter Obi`s endorsement by Oludegun Obasanjo, which was widely reported in the Nigerian media space was never countered by the former president either directly or indirectly through his media team.