EX President Olusegun Obasanjo, representatives of the Pan Yoruba socio cultural and political group, Afenifere, and some prominent leaders from the South West including former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, and Pastor Tunde Bakare among others, who hitherto were some of his major critics, met in Lagos, on Saturday, to kick-start a reconciliation process and forge a common front to address burning national issues including the forthcoming 2019 general elections, and the worrisome security challenges among others.
Venue of the meeting was the Lekki Phase One residence of an Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
The former President had earlier been at the Ikoyi residence of George to commiserate with the PDP chieftain over the recent death of his son, Dipo. He was welcomed to the residence of George by party stalwarts and family members including Seun Philipps; Chief Dapo Sarumi; Chief Okanlawon Shoboyede; Chief Mrs. Kofoworola Bucknor, Dr. Remi Akitoye, Chief Mrs Onikepo Oshodi, Captain Tunji Shelle; Mr. Debo Dallas; Mr. Biodun Ejemai; Mr Tola Animashaun and Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu.
Obasanjo, accompanied by Chief Abraham Akanle; Mr. Joju Fadairo; Dr. Femi Majekodunmi; Dr. Gbolade Oshinowo; Kenny Martins, and Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, later headed for the Lekki Phase One residence of Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, where he met behind a closed-door with former Nigerian envoy to The Netherlands, Dr. (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu; Pastor Tunde Bakare; Dr. Amos Akingba; Mr. Supo Shonibare; Senator Femi Okunrounmu; Prof Akin Mabogunje, Prof Banji Akintoye; Afenifere spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, former Ogun State Governor and Director-General of Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; ex Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, and others to thrash out critical national issues and those particularly affecting the South West Region.
The former President did not disclose the purpose of his visit, but his host, Adebanjo, said it was about the nation and that it aimed at forging a common front among stakeholders in the region, to ensure unity of purpose on how to rescue the country from degenerating further.
The Afenifere chieftain who said the country must move forward, stressed that all attempts to establish dictatorship must be opposed, and there must be unity to destroy mediocrity and dictatorship.
It was gathered that restructuring of the country into a true and balanced federation, where all the composite ethnic groups will be treated fairly equally, while co-existing in peace, harmony and brotherhood, an issue that has for years been in the frunt burner of Afenifere in its crusading for a better Nigeria, was part of the issues discussed. But Adebanjo did not disclose whether Afenifere tried to convince` Obasanjo to change his anti restructuring posture, which had been the major point of difference of the group and others with the former President
Besides, it was also learnt that the 2019 general elections; the spate of killings across the country and the rate at which young Nigerians are desperately running away from the country in search of greener pastures abroad were some of the other crucial issues discussed at the meeting.
On whether the Yoruba would agree on a common presidential candidate and the political platform to adopt in the forthcoming 2019 general elections, Adebanjo said that it is important for the Yoruba to have a common goal, saying: \”We don’t have a candidate yet, not yet. We must agree first, any difference among us must be settled. If you are not united you can’t fight the battle.\” According to him: \”The Yoruba man must put on his thinking cap.”
On his part, the General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Bakare, said that he agreed to meet with Obasanjo, whom he has severely criticised over the years, saying: “Being a critic is not being an enemy of the state, or the nation.
\”The thinker is the enemy of the mob. If you say I have been a critic of Chief Obasanjo, look at him now being a critic of President Buhari too, yet he facilitated his coming in. Critique is not the same thing as criticism, it is to let us reason together. Things are not going the right way. That is all.”
He said the hope and prayer of the concerned leaders is that the meeting would eventually put Nigeria on the right path.
On his part, Prof. Mabogunje hoped that the meeting would yield something positive, particularly in the dire situation that the country is in presently, noting: “All the stakeholders in Nigeria have come to the realisation that there is danger, and that must be tackled collectively, not just ahead, but with us.”
