Jonathan, Obasanjo Discuss Over Breakfast In Kenya

jonathan and OBJ 2

President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday met over breakfast in Kenya, a day after Obasanjo’s open letter to the president dated December 2 was made public.

The former president had in the letter, which had since its release generated different kinds of reactions, leveled weighty allegations against the incumbent.

Although details of what transpired between the duo during the meeting in Kenya, which lasted about 30 minutes, were not disclosed, sources say Obasanjo’s appearance at the Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi for the meeting with the president came as a surprise, as the presidency in its response had described the letter as self-serving, provocative and mischievous.

Obasanjo, however, visited Jonathan at his hotel in Nairobi where they had breakfast together.

Jonathan and Obasanjo were among dignitaries in Nairobi for the 50th independence anniversary celebration of Kenya, which held yesterday at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani, Nairobi.

Speaking at the event, Jonathan called on Kenyans to unite, urging them to make unity their focal point.

He said the destiny of Kenya lay with its people and as such, the people must strive hard to take their country to greater heights.

Jonathan said he was happy that the leader of the opposition, Raila Odinga, was present at the event and was working with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Nobody can love you more than Kenyans, so you all have to jointly develop your country. All Kenyans should come together to form an inclusive society.

“Since 2007, many African countries like Kenya have been celebrating 50 years of independence and freedom, our founding fathers talked of political freedom to be followed by economic freedom.

“The present generation of African leaders must work hard on science and technology as well as industrialisation, so that there could be economic development and freedom,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana had in reaction to Obasanjo’s letter, queried the moral authority of the former president to level such weighty accusations against the president, saying that he was also guilty of some of the allegations during his eight-year tenure in office.

Obasanjo, who was said to be lobbying for a third term in office while he was president, had in the letter queried Jonathan’s second term quest. He also accused him of being tepid towards the anti-graft war, fomenting the crises in PDP and for promoting divisive tendencies in the polity, among others.

Falana however said that instead of dismissing the contents of the letter, the presidency should respond to the allegations raised therein, especially given the allegation that the federal government was setting up a Presidential Strike Force to carry out terrorist attacks on political opponents.

He added: “Finally, instead of celebrating the hypocrisy of frustrated power mongers, the Nigerian people should take advantage of the intra-class war going on in the ruling party to get organised and take their political destiny in their own hands.

“The time has come to put an end to the opportunism of discredited rulers who are in the habit of exploiting the frustrations and disenchantment of the people to become emergency heroes.”