Jonathan advises Atiku to go and beg Obasanjo
- Goodluck Jonathan advised Atiku to reach out to Obasanjo
- Jonathan said this would help Atiku get the PDP presidential ticket
- The former vice president has not formally announced the party he is returning to yet
Former president, Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly sent a message to Atiku Abubakar to go and beg Chief Olusegun Obasanjo if he wants to get the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket.
Although the former vice president has not publicly indicated the party he would be defecting to after he resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), there is speculation that he might want to run on the platform of the PDP.
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The Nation reports that Jonathan reportedly advised Atiku to reach out to Obasanjo in spite of the fact that the latter has quit partisan politics as “he is still a strong factor in shaping the future of the nation in 2019 because he is a force among the revered kingmakers.”
It was reported that Jonathan had lobbied founding members of the PDP to join the Atiku train and that most PDP governors had also bought into it.
A source privy to the development said: “The unfolding script on Atiku’s return to PDP has the blessing of some founding fathers of PDP who are out to salvage the party. A major component is a likely waiver for the ex-VP to contest the party’s presidential primaries.
“So far, Atiku is complying with the secret accord for his return to PDP. A formal declaration in Yola is being expected either on Wednesday or December 6 as indicated in a tentative timetable.
“But in one of the negotiation shuttles with Atiku, ex-President Jonathan added a caveat that the former Vice President can comfortably secure PDP ticket and win the 2019 poll if he begs ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“We were all shocked by this condition because Obasanjo is no longer in partisan politics. But Jonathan said Obasanjo is an institution whose action or inaction could make or mar the electoral fortunes of Atiku.
“The former President also believes that Obasanjo may persuade any of the presidential aspirants to withdraw for Atiku after weighing all the indices. He said if Obasanjo could reconcile with him, he can also forgive Atiku.
“As a matter of fact, Jonathan cited cases of chairmanship aspirants in PDP travelling to Abeokuta to seek his blessing.
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“We are expecting Atiku to comply with this proviso because we want to begin the media war (based on facts and figures) in earnest.
“Jonathan’s position on Obasanjo has been endorsed by some founding fathers of PDP, especially the military class which contrived the existence of the party.”
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the PDP stated that it would not give an automatic ticket to Atiku to contest for the 2019 presidential election, Punch reports.
The opposition party’s spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, made the comments while reacting to the news of the former VP’s defection from the APC
2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to President Buhari - on Legit.ng TV:
Source: Legit.ng
