Almost 48 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, held a closed door meeting at the latter’s Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta, Ogun State, details of what the two political gladiators talked about have been unveiled.
According to Tribune newspaper report online, sources at the meeting informed that Monday’s meeting between President Jonathan and Obasanjo was largely meant to straighten issues among the two of them.
It was disclosed that the meeting was to assure the former president that Jonathan had nothing against him.
Sources within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also informed that the meeting was meant to straighten issues, in line with President Jonathan’s belief in the African tradition which accords respect to elders.
“It is his (Jonathan) belief that elders, especially those who have held positions of authority before, are wiser out of office and that consultations with them from time to time is to be expected,” a source said.
It was gathered that Obasanjo was of the view that Jonathan had some ill feelings against him and that some occasional attacks on his person might have been sanctioned by the president.
“The meeting was frank and straight to the issues at hand. The president assured Obasanjo he would do nothing to injure his reputation, but insisted that respect should be reciprocal.
“He said in our culture, elders are to be respected, even when they make mistakes and that when issues of public communication are involved, caution should not be thrown to the wind,” it was further gathered.
“Two clerics were also on hand at the meeting, though the real meeting took place at the inner recess of the living room,” another source stated.
It was gathered that the presence of the cleric was to mediate in the seeming misunderstanding between the two leaders and pray for a peaceful Nigeria.
It would be recalled that Obasanjo had said recently that he would not compromise on his criticism of the president, insisting that Jonathan has failed in his performance.
The former Head of State had also pledged to support the best candidate in the next general elections irrespective of the candidate’s party.
Obasanjo disclosed this when the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and his entourage paid him a courtesy call at his hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
