Eight years after driving Buhari to Obasanjo, Tinubu meets the ex-president for his own ambition

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All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with former president Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta yesterday regarding his bid for the presidency.

While Tinubu's opponent, Peter Obi of the Labor Party, has been a frequent guest of Obasanjo, the frosty relationship between the former Lagos State governor and Obasanjo has thawed as he approached of the 2015 general elections.

Soon after Obasanjo openly tore up his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership card, Tinubu joined other APC leaders in presenting him with the party's candidate, Muhammadu Buhari , asking that the former president become the navigator of the party.

The duo had not been seen together since then, despite being at the former president's 78th birthday party held in Abeokuta in March 2015. They have since kept their distance as Obasanjo withdrew its support for President Buhari and the APC.< /p>

Soon after, the honeymoon between Obasanjo and the APC-led administration ended when the former president became a fierce critic of President Buhari, with open letters to the president published at intervals regular reports on the state of the country.

Eight years after Tinubu last visited Obasanjo's penthouse residence inside the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the APC candidate made another visit, this time on his behalf. He arrived at the residence around 1:10 p.m. when the helicopter landed and immediately entered a closed meeting with the former president, which lasted over an hour.

The APC standard bearer, however, was unable to address reporters after the meeting due to the large crowd. He then went to the MKO Abiola International Stadium to address the party leaders.

After saying blessings to the APC members at the stadium, Tinubu told them that it was not yet time to campaign. The presidential candidate said he was in Ogun to greet them and the people of the state.

Tinubu also acknowledged the "good works" of the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the support that people in the state had continued to give him.

Tinubu traveled to Obasanjo accompanied by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Former APC Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

He was received by Governor Abiodun, former Governors Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel, Speaker of the House of Assembly Olakunle Oluomo and other senior officials.

An inside source told the Guardian that Tinubu, Abiodun, Gbajabiamila, Osoba, Akande, Ribadu and others first held a meeting with the Balogun Owu behind closed doors.

After about an hour, the former president fired Tinubu and they both went to a private room for another meeting. It is understood that the duo had a private discussion unknown to those who entered with the APC national leader.

It was learned that Tinubu later had lunch at Obasanjo's before leaving after about two hours. When approached by reporters downstairs, the presidential candidate refused to grant an interview as he 'jumped' onto the waiting bus which took him to MKO Abiola Stadium. p>

Dozens of APC stalwarts stormed the former president's residence, singing, drumming and dancing. REACTING to the visit, former PDP National (South) Vice President, Chief Bode George yesterday expressed his confidence that Obasanjo would not mince his words when telling Tinubu the truth about the 2023 elections. however stated that it was Tinubu's right to seek advice and words of wisdom from Obasanjo.

Speaking on Channel's Television Politics Today, George said: "Whatever Bola (Tinubu) is looking for in Baba's house, I have no idea, but I can say that when the truth is to be told, Baba will not chew not his words to tell him.

"As a leader and icon, he must allow all kinds of characters to visit him, listen to his words of wisdom and his sense of reasoning. I have no qualms about that, I wish him (to Tinubu) good luck on his trip.For his part, former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK) said Tinubu had consulted Obasanjo to shore up Southwest's votes to win the election presidential election. He asked the former president to return the favor by supporting him (Tinubu). "He consults and he went to meet the man who many of us considered to be the father of the nation. He went to meet an old Yoruba, he left to consolidate his base. He left to explain his mission to her...