The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday visited the residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, in what can be best described as a ‘truce’ meeting, ahead of the coming presidential elections.
Tinubu met with Obasanjo in company of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbaajabiamila, Chief Bisi Akande and Nuhu Ribadu.
Minutes after Tinubu’s arrived the OOPL, and was received by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, former Governors Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo and other top government functionaries, he went with his entourage to the former president’s. Olusegun Obasanjo, residence.
Obasanjo who first received and held a meeting behind closed doors with the former Ogun sate governor, Olusegun Osoba, the Speaker of the House, Gbajabiamila, Akand, Ribadu and others on the entourage later pulled Tinubu by the hand as he led him into a closed door meeting together.
The details of the meeting were not divulged by either party. But the All Progressive Congress, APC, presidential flag bearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who made it abundantly clear that he was not in Ogun state for campaign, but to commend the governor for his good works, ended, his visit to the state having lunch with the former president at the latter’s residence.
It would be recalled that in 2018, Tinubu had allegedly referred to Obasanjo as the greatest election rigger., described Obasabnjo as an ‘expired milk’, fit to be dumped in the dustbin; and allegedly told his supporters to forget him. So, this meeting by the duo is being described in most quarters as ‘mending fences.’
More importantly, as election year draws near. BAT may tacitly be seeking the support of Obasanjo for his presidential ambition. This August visit is seen in political circles as Asiwaju offering the ‘olive branch’ to Obasanjo.