Ex president Olusegun Obasanjo has been given 48 hours by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clarify recent remark he made about regretting choosing Atiku Abubakar as his vice-presidential candidate in 1999.
Obasanjo had over the weekend stated that he chose his running mate incorrectly for the 1999 presidential election.
On Monday, June 27, Senator Walid Jibril, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustee, said that while the party has great respect for the former president, it would be regrettable if the statement that has been attributed to him were to prove to be accurate.
The party, also threatened to reveal the ex president’s character if he did not clarify his remarks within 48 hours, claimed that he was upset with Atiku Abubakar for cutting short his agenda for a third term despite the latter’s assistance to the Obasanjo administration.
Atiku Abubakar 2011 President campaign
Photo by www.mortenfauerby.dk
©mortenfauerby 2010 – all rights reserved
In Jibril’s words:
“I wish to appeal to former President Obasanjo to come out openly to repeat what he has said
Whether or not he was misquoted or meant what was credited to him.
Although he has not debunked what was reported, one can assume that what was quoted to have been said by him is correct, but if he fails to openly come out and say which is correct in 48 hours, you will hear the bombardment and I will have no option but to break the egg and tell the whole world and Nigerians who is Obasanjo.
There is no doubt Obasanjo may still be angry with Atiku even after helping him to succeed but perhaps for truncating his third term agenda. In any case, Alhaji Abubakar Atuku is our presidential candidate and I can tell you for sure that he will be the President in 2023 insha Allah.”
While speaking on the outcome of the party’s primaries and the selection of Okowa over Nyesom Wike which might have angered the latter, Jibril said:
”Governor Wike is a great party man who fought for the party, when the committee is constituted, in which we will also bring other contestants together, we will go and meet with Governor Wike and appeal to him even if it means kneeling down to beg him.”
