Panic in Aso Villa as Buhari, other APC leaders meet Obasanjo today

There is panic at the Presidential Villa,Abuja
ahead of a planned visit by leaders of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) to ex-President
Olusegun Obasanjo today.

The visit is coming on the heels of the recent
open letter from the former President to
President Goodluck Jonathan in which he
expressed disgust at the administration’s
“ineptitude” and the defection of five PDP
governors and 37 Representatives to the APC.
Presidency officials, who said a formal
response to Obasanjo’s tirade would come at
the appropriate time, feared that the ex-
president might use his meeting with the APC
leaders to launch a fresh attack on President
Jonathan.

It was gathered yesterday that Obasanjo might
meet the APC leaders in Abeokuta.
It is part of the ongoing consultations by the
APC.

Others expected at the session are the five
governors, who defected to the APC from the
PDP.

They are Governors Murtala Nyako
(Adamawa); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Rabiu
Kwankwaso (Kano); Aliyu Wammakko
(Sokoto) and Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara).

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said:

“Forces in the presidency are jittery that
Obasanjo might further open up on the state
of the nation. They are worried that such
pronouncement from Obasanjo would finally
be a setback for the PDP.

“If Obasanjo asks his followers to join the
APC, it will certainly be disastrous for the
PDP.

“The President and his strategists are
uncomfortable with the visit which they think
has the potency of undermining Jonathan’s
aspiration for a second term in 2015.”

Jonathan’s strategists are said to have been
meeting on how to manage the outcome of the

APC leaders’ visit.
Another source, however, clarified the mission
of the APC leaders.

He said: “Actually, the five governors were
expected to meet Obasanjo before their
defection to the APC. But they could not do so
because of the exigency at the time.

“The APC leaders and governors are going to
Abeokuta to rub minds with Obasanjo on why
a change is necessary in the leadership of the
nation.”

A governor, who responded to enquiries from
our correspondent, said: “At least, we will
expect Obasanjo to be neutral as the
campaign for the presidency in 2015 begins
early next year.”

A PDP source said: “We have got wind of the
visit of the APC leaders and it would be a
shock to the party, if Obasanjo has decided to
host them. In what capacity will he be
meeting with APC leaders?

“I think Obasanjo wants to confirm the
suspicion that he has sympathy for the APC.
Well, the electorate will decide.”
Meanwhile, the defection of some relations and
political associates of some ministers has
created a crack in Jonathan’s cabinet.

It was gathered that the presidency was
pained that the husband of a serving minister
has defected to the APC
Sources said some forces are pushing for the
exit of such ministers, while others insisted
that as long as those ministers are loyal to
the government, they should be left alone.