‘Mu’azu’s peace talks with Obasanjo failed’

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

There are strong indications that efforts by the Peoples Democratic Party to make former President Olusegun Obasanjo to have a rethink  on his decision to stay away from the party’s activities  have failed. Investigations on Thursday showed that Obasanjo insisted when the new PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu visited him on January 26, that Jonathan  must  honour his alleged promise in 2011 not to contest the 2015 presidential election.A very reliable  PDP national officer  confided in  The PUNCH that  Obasanjo also  gave  other conditions that the new leadership of the party must meet before he would have a change of mind. They include the restructuring of the party as well as   the correction of the  anomalies relating to the removal of Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the national secretary of the PDP  and Bode Mustapha  as  national auditor in early 2013. Mu’azu was reported to have, during the closed-door meeting  in Abeokuta,    pleaded with the former President to back the President’s alleged 2015 interest  and other activities of the ruling party. Our source said  that  Obasanjo  told Mu’azu  bluntly  to address  the issues he raised in his December 2, 2013  and January 7, 2014   letters to President Goodluck Jonathan and  a former PDP National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga  Tukur. In his letter to Tukur dated January 7,   the former President   accused the PDP of negating the  principles of morality by giving prominence to a party chief in  the South-West, Chief Buruji Kasamu. He also said in the December 2  letter  that Jonathan  told him that he  had not informed anybody that he would contest  the 2015 presidential election. Obasnjo had in the letter to the President said, “Only a fool would believe that statement you made to me judging by what is going on. I must say that is not ingenious. You may wish to pursue a more credible and more honourable path.” The former President   added that  in 2011,  Benue State  Governor, Gabriel Suswan,  informed him that Jonathan had accepted a one-term Presidency. Part of the letter reads,  “I decided to cross-check with you. You did not hesitate to confirm to me that you are a strong believer in a one-term of six years for the President and that by the time you have used the unexpired term of your predecessor and the four years of your first term, you would have almost used up to six years and you would not need any more term or time.“I cannot comment much on the constitutional aspect of your second term or what some people call third term. That is for both legal and judicial attention.“As a leader, two things you must cherish and hold dear among others are trust and honour,  both of which are important ingredients of character.” He had also  said that he would like to see anyone in the office of the Presidency   as a man that could be trusted. But the President fired back at Obasanjo in his letter dated December 22, 2013.     He faulted the former President’s claim and accused him  of  wanting  to incite Nigerians against him. On  his purported interest in the  2015 election, Jonathan   said, “I am still of the considered opinion that it would have been best for us to do all that is necessary to refrain from heating up the polity at this time. Accordingly, I have already informed Nigerians that I will only speak on whether or not I will seek a second term when it is time for such declarations. “Your claims about discussions I had with you, Governor  Suswam and others are wrong; but in keeping with my declared stance, I will reserve further comments until the appropriate time.” The PDP  source, who confided in The PUNCH,  said although the party had not given up on efforts to ensure total reconciliation of Obasanjo and Jonathan, as of  now,  it (PDP) had not succeeded. He said, “Baba (Obasanjo) is still insisting on issues he raised in his two letters, particularly the restructuring of the party.  He had said that he would withdraw from the party’s activities, until grievances he mentioned in the letter to Tukur were addressed. “On Jonathan’s purported second term ambition, Obasanjo   stated  that nothing had changed from what he wrote in the letter to the President because it is a matter of honour.” It  was gathered that  PDP leaders were divided over  Oyinlola’s return as the national secretary of the party.Some members of the National Working Committee  are    said  to be uncomfortable with the idea. Mu’azu  met with Oyinlola  at his residence in Abuja few days ago as part of the reconciliation process going on in the party. The meeting between  them was a follow- up to the  Obasanjo-Mu’azu parley.Sources  said  the  Mu’azu-Oyinlola meeting was as a result of the advice  given   by the former President.Obasanjo  was said to have told Mu’azu that since the Court of Appeal had reinstated Oyinlola, there was no need for the PDP to pursue the case to the Supreme Court.It will be recalled that few days after the   judgment, the then Tukur-led  NWC announced Oyinlola’s suspension from the party.Apart from the former Osun State governor,   a former Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abubakar  Baraje; a former National Deputy Chairman, Dr.  Sam Jaja;  and   former National Vice-Chairman, North- West, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, were suspended by the Tukur-led NWC of the PDP.A member of the  new NWC, who spoke with one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said the committee   had  yet to be briefed on  the outcome of the meeting between Mu’azu and Oyinlola.He said, “We  are aware of the meeting our chairman had with the former secretary. But we are expecting him to brief us soon.”He, however, said  that not every member of the NWC was favourably disposed to the idea of Oyinlola returning to his position.The source  said, “First, there are those who are saying that we should allow  the Supreme Court to handle the matter. Read more on PUNCH

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