Obasanjo meets Buhari behind closed door

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was back at the Presidential Villa,Abuja on Friday for a fresh round of discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the nation.

It was their second meeting in a month,the first coming during the Ramadan when Obasanjo went to break fast with Buhari.

The Friday meeting took place behind closed door.

Sources said Obasanjo’s presence was to enable him “offer advice “ to the new administration especially in relation to the observations made by the Abdulsalami Abubakar Committee on the management of the last elections.

Details were not immediately available last night.

Our sources merely said: “The meeting with the president was held behind the curtains. Obasanjo actually came to offer advice to the new administration. The fact is that Buhari broke fast with Obasanjo towards the tail end of the last Ramadan. Obasanjo caught everyone unawares when he insisted on returning to Lagos that same night. He had to return at 9pm.

“As a former President, he met with Buhari to compare notes on a few things and what the government should do. The advisory is not binding but it can be helpful.

“This is the summary of what transpired between the two leaders.”

There was little to discuss during the first meeting last month, hence the second meeting, sources said.

They could not compare notes on that occasion as Obasanjo decided to leave for Lagos at about 9pm on that day, foreclosing any “serious talks.”

Findings however confirmed that Friday’s session provided an opportunity for them to rub minds on the state of the nation.

It was gathered that to protect the sanctity of the session, the schedule issued to Buhari’s aides indicated that Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal would be visiting the President on Friday night.

But instead of Tambuwal , it was Obasanjo that turned up at the appointed time, taking some of them by surprise.

Another respected source said that the Abdulsalami 2015 Elections Peace Committee had been trying to get across to Buhari on “some issues emerging from the outcome of the management of the 2015 poll.”

The source added: “I am aware that Abdulsalami’s Committee had complained of not being able to get in touch with Buhari on some matters arising from post-election issues.

“Do not forget that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan recently ran to Abdulsalami on some issues.

“As father of all, Obasanjo is usually the clearing house in respect of these issues.”

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed the meeting by the two leaders but he said he had no details at press time because he was out of the Federal Capital Territory.