jerseyguy:

Atiku Visits Obasanjo In Preparation for Yar’Adua’s “Exit”
Monday, 19 January 2009 16:34 Saharareporters, New York   

A shocking re-alignment of political forces took place today as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar visited former President Obasanjo at home in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Atiku and Obasanjo have been archenemies ever since the former vice president opposed, and helped frustrate, Obasanjo’s bid to run for a third term in office. In reprisal, Obasanjo thwarted Atiku’s dream to run for the presidency on the ticket of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A source familiar with the meeting, which took place at the former president’s hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, said it was part of a rapprochement by the two men who now want to work together to decide what happens in the event of the death or permanent incapacitation of “President” Umaru Yar’Adua. Inside sources within Abuja have revealed that Yar’Adua’s health is worsening. [size=14pt]He has lost a lot of weight and close aides told us that he finds it increasingly difficult to handle the simple tasks of his job. [/size]

Obasanjo and Atiku declined to disclose the details of their meeting to reporters, whose questions they parried. But a source familiar with the discussion told SaharaReporters that Obasanjo stated, “When things are not happening the way they should, we have to sit down as stakeholders to review the situation.”

Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State accompanied the former vice president to Obasanjo's residence.

Saharareporters had earlier reported that Atiku was leaning towards returning to the PDP fold.

Our source added that the Abeokuta meeting signaled the beginning of serious political re-alignments on the heels of growing rumors that Yar'adua's health crises and “acts of betrayal toward Obasanjo” had forced the former president to begin wider consultations to “right the wrongs he committed against Nigerians by imposing Yar'adua on the nation.” The source, who is close to Obasanjo, said the former president was miffed that former Governor James Ibori and his group had supplanted his camp in terms of closeness to Yar’Adua. He also said Obasanjo felt betrayed that Yar’Adua did not put his foot down to stop members of the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives who have unearthed some of the massive acts of corruption during Obasanjo’s eight-year presidency. 

Obasanjo is scheduled to leave Nigeria tomorrow for Kenya to continue his peace mission in the Congo

Meanwhile, two Aso Rock officials independently told SaharaReporters that Yar'Adua plans to leave Nigeria on Monday for an extended medical leave that may take him to the US. Before traveling for medical treatment, Yar’Adua is billed to attend his daughter's wedding to Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State on Saturday January 24 2009 in Katsina. “If the plan [for his medical trip] doesn’t happen, it may be because he is too weak,” said one source. He added that his German doctors had told Yar’Adua there was little they could do for him, but he is determined to seek additional medical help, possibly in the U.S.   

http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=556:atiku-visits-obasanjo-in-preparation-for-yaraduas-exit&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

Sky Blue:

What is the problem with african leaders and relinquishing power? The most sensible thing to do is to hand over to the vice president if he (the president) is indisposed and unable to perform his duties effectively. What is the problem here? When we die we take nothing with us, hence i don't understand what is so important about doing nothing but staying on anyway if the stress might even be affecting your health. Is he not killing himself? As long as nothing fundamental changes, it seems whatever happens we lose. Is the vice president really going to be any different in terms of performance?

strangleyo:

In Africa, since indepence of all the nations, only 4 leaders after elections have stepped down without dispute.

latest development, atiku and obasojo have decided to let go the past and move forward. they both spent most of today together and publicly made it clear that the past is gone. so, my question is: who is the biggest fool around in nigeria today? pumped up, used and then dropped like a used toilet paper.

cre8tivity:

atest development, atiku and obasojo have decided to let go the past and move forward. they both spent most of today together and publicly made it clear that the past is gone. so, my question is: who is the biggest fool around in nigeria today? pumped up, used and then dropped like a used toilet paper.

asha 80:

Come o!If yaradull vacates his sit(due to illness) will the northern cabal allow Goodluck to become President?This might be a dangerous scenario.

mikeansy:

good for both of them but certainly not in the interest of Nigeria.

2011 election will be won by the people's candidate, I hope they all join the race, Atiku, IBB, Yar'adua, Buhari.

This should be a lesson to all nigeria youths and adult who are been used by the politicians as political thug
that NO PERMANENGT ENEMY IN POLITICS BUT PERMANENT INTEREST

Godman_n:

In this age, this very day that in far away United States of America, a formerly unknown young man, rose out of sheer hard work to become the first Black President.

This very day, we stand here discussing about two corrupt, moral bankrupt old men. We called them leaders because they have misused enough of our time and stolen enough of our resources as a nation to fill their pockets. We forget about the denial of our basic right to choose our leaders by these very individuals, both in 2003 and 2007. We forgot the morbid revelations of stolen billions from the power probe; from their correspondences about the Petroleum trust fund. We find it difficult to imagine the generations wasted in pursuit of the 2003 and 2007 election; the several killed, the several wounded; the laws broken; the constitutions manipulated; the opportunities denied.

We find it difficult to appreciate that, eight good years both of our national life and individual life have been wasted by these very individuals. That these very individuals doctored our supreme document the constitution – the electoral act; Obasanjo proposed to call it the printer’s devil, if caught – the biggest desecration of the very essence of our nationhood. The very document upon which the blood of million both on the defunct Biafran Side and the Nigerians was wasted to Protect. Without this Document; I ask what is the basis for our Nationhood? Are we nation made for rogues to be able to thrive? Are we not as human as other people of other races? Can we not as a people, as a race be allowed to organize ourselves? Do we not deserve our own Nationhood; our own country?

If we do and Nigeria choose not to be a nation, let the constitution be shredded; a document that can be tampered in the middle of the night, in the darkest of the corners is worth only an ordinary paper. A nation that calls such document a constitution is worth not to be. So is the gravity of the offence that these two men committed. Which offence can be more than that? Several have been killed in the name of defending this nation. Millions were wasted, I repeat during the war, thousand for coup plotting – the Nzegwos, Dimkas, Maman Vastas, Orkas; yet the crime of these two old men in manipulating the constitution is equal in its threat to our nationhood. I propose they are also as good for the Gallows; but who can pull the trigger? Where are the brave men? Where are the brave judges to pass the sentence?

A land in need of men of courage!