Obasanjo and President Jonathan differences revolve around seven
issues.
Although the duo, against all expectations, shared breakfast in Nairobi,
Kenya, on Thursday, it was gathered that President Jonathan may
henceforth keep Obasanjo at bay on account of his “toxic”
letter. Presidency sources said the anger generated by the letter is
yet to subside.
Below are the seven issues that led to their current fight:
•Rejection of some ministerial nominees and chief executives of
departments and agencies from the South-West from Obasanjo;
•Alleged refusal of Jonathan to consult Obasanjo on key policies and
decisions of the government;
•Disagreement over the leadership of PDP at national level and in the
South-West, especially the sack of Obasanjo’s loyalists like ex-
Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ex-Governor Segun Oni and Bode
Mustapha;
•The rise of G-7 and ultimate defection;
•Obasanjo’s allegation of Jonathan’s administration of lack of direction,
especially on anti-graft war;
•Use of international fora to write off the administration of
Jonathan; and
•Second (or third) term aspiration of Jonathan.
Investigation by The Nation revealed that Jonathan and Obasanjo had
been patching their relationship over the last two years. Some months
ago, Jonathan was said to have confronted Obasanjo and accused the
ex-president of undermining him.
Jonathan, sources said, accused Obasanjo of supporting the PDP G-7
governors. It was learnt that Obasanjo denied the allegation and assured
Jonathan of support.
The source added: “Obasanjo’s disagreement with Jonathan started
from the ministerial nomination. The ex-President sought input into
nominations from the South-West, but Jonathan restricted him to
Ogun State. He said Obasanjo could not single handed nominate
ministers from the South-West when there is a PDP structure in
place.
“The ex-President was also not happy that the Jonathan
administration does not consult him on all policy issues, decisions of the
government and strategic appointments. The ex-President felt the
President had been hijacked by those he did not want in
government,”the source said.
One of those who allegedly “offended Obasanjo” in the past was
Secretary to Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius
Anyim. His appointment was said to have been made without
consultation with Obasanjo.
When the matter was brought to Anyim’s attention, he personally
went to meet Obasanjo to plead forgiveness for whatever offence
he might have committed. Obasanjo reportedly told Anyim there was
no quarrel.
The emergence of Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman of PDP and
the attendant crisis in the party appeared to have deepened the crack
in the relationship between the two leaders, while the alleged hijack of
the South-West PDP structure from Obasanjo, and given to alleged
criminals, remains a big issues.
“But with anti-second term campaign for Jonathan, it was
strategically important for the PDP to restrict Obasanjo to his only
vote at the PDP National Convention for presidential primaries than to
allow him control the party structure and wreak havoc,” one source
said.
Several ex Generals are said to be angry with Jonathan but they are
allowing Obasanjo to speak because they are of the believe that his
words carry weight. Sources say more heat is coming....
Obasanjo and President Jonathan differences revolve around seven
issues.
Although the duo, against all expectations, shared breakfast in Nairobi,
Kenya, on Thursday, it was gathered that President Jonathan may
henceforth keep Obasanjo at bay on account of his “toxic”
letter. Presidency sources said the anger generated by the letter is
yet to subside.
Below are the seven issues that led to their current fight:
•Rejection of some ministerial nominees and chief executives of
departments and agencies from the South-West from Obasanjo;
•Alleged refusal of Jonathan to consult Obasanjo on key policies and
decisions of the government;
•Disagreement over the leadership of PDP at national level and in the
South-West, especially the sack of Obasanjo’s loyalists like ex-
Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ex-Governor Segun Oni and Bode
Mustapha;
•The rise of G-7 and ultimate defection;
•Obasanjo’s allegation of Jonathan’s administration of lack of direction,
especially on anti-graft war;
•Use of international fora to write off the administration of
Jonathan; and
•Second (or third) term aspiration of Jonathan.
Investigation by The Nation revealed that Jonathan and Obasanjo had
been patching their relationship over the last two years. Some months
ago, Jonathan was said to have confronted Obasanjo and accused the
ex-president of undermining him.
Jonathan, sources said, accused Obasanjo of supporting the PDP G-7
governors. It was learnt that Obasanjo denied the allegation and assured
Jonathan of support.
The source added: “Obasanjo’s disagreement with Jonathan started
from the ministerial nomination. The ex-President sought input into
nominations from the South-West, but Jonathan restricted him to
Ogun State. He said Obasanjo could not single handed nominate
ministers from the South-West when there is a PDP structure in
place.
“The ex-President was also not happy that the Jonathan
administration does not consult him on all policy issues, decisions of the
government and strategic appointments. The ex-President felt the
President had been hijacked by those he did not want in
government,”the source said.
One of those who allegedly “offended Obasanjo” in the past was
Secretary to Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius
Anyim. His appointment was said to have been made without
consultation with Obasanjo.
When the matter was brought to Anyim’s attention, he personally
went to meet Obasanjo to plead forgiveness for whatever offence
he might have committed. Obasanjo reportedly told Anyim there was
no quarrel.
The emergence of Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman of PDP and
the attendant crisis in the party appeared to have deepened the crack
in the relationship between the two leaders, while the alleged hijack of
the South-West PDP structure from Obasanjo, and given to alleged
criminals, remains a big issues.
“But with anti-second term campaign for Jonathan, it was
strategically important for the PDP to restrict Obasanjo to his only
vote at the PDP National Convention for presidential primaries than to
allow him control the party structure and wreak havoc,” one source
said.
Several ex Generals are said to be angry with Jonathan but they are
allowing Obasanjo to speak because they are of the believe that his
words carry weight. Sources say more heat is coming....
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