Two former Nigerian Heads of State, Olusegun Obasanjo and Gen Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) met on Monday amidst suggestions that the meeting was not unconnected with the 2027 election, and who becomes Nigeria’s next President.
According to sources, the two former leaders met at the instance of former President Obasanjo who visited Gen Babangida at his Minna Hill Top home.
This is not the first time the two former Nigerian presidents have consulted over the future of the country, but Monday’s meeting drew attention from not a few Nigerians following reports that Obasanjo is interested in who becomes president in 2027.
Sources close to Obasanjo informed that the former leader is trying to form a formidable team of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwakwanso as presidential and vice presidential candidates to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Both Obi and Kwakwanso, a former governor of Kano state, who also served under Obasanjo as Minister of Defence, have showed interest in the 2027 presidential race.
While Obi, a former governor of Anambra state has officially joined the new coalition party, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to advance his presidential aspiration, Kwakwanso has yet to declare for the party amid speculation that he’s eyeing the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Sources however informed the magazine that former President Obasanjo has been putting pressure on the former minister to dump his current party the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP for the ADC to run with Obi against Tinubu.
Reliable sources also informed the magazine that Obasanjo’s visit to the former military dictator was to get his buy-in over the Obi/ Kwakwanso joint presidential ticket.
During the 2023 presidential election, Obasanjo, the magazine recalls was a major backer of Obi’s presidential bid against Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, his former vice president.
Obasanjo is said to be wary of Abubakar’s presidential bid in 2027, and has told very close political associates and former vice president that he’s not willing to back him for the renewed bid for Nigeria’s number one citizen.
While pressure is being mounted on Abubakar to step down for Obi in the ADC, the former number two citizen in the country insist that he’s going for the sole ticket of the party amidst believe that he has a better chance of defeating other presidential hopeful in the emerging opposition party.
One of his associates, Dele Momodu noted last week that Abubakar was not prepared to step down for any aspirants in ADC. The journalist cum politician stated on Channels Television that none of the ADC Presidential hopeful has the war chest and popularity of the former vice president.
Also, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC National Publicity Secretary said on Monday that all the aspirants will be allowed to vie for the party’s sole ticket, saying if Abubakar gets it, so be it.
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The same GOONS who put us in the present messy quagmire?. Can anything good come from these “TWO MUSKETEERS “?. I laff in Nupe and Egba languga. God save Nigeria, Amen.