Date Published: 01/25/10

Obasanjo's comments split PDP, clouds Jonathan's fate

...Yar'Adua may return Friday, and rule from sick bed in the villa

Olusegun Obasanjo

The recent comments by ex president, Olusegun Obasanjo, have split the PDP in half, and consequently throwing spanner in the works for those clamoring for the emergence of VP Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.

The comments which has pitched the north against the south in the PDP, is viewed by the former as a ploy by Obasanjo and some southern interest to seize power from the north through the back door.

Obasanjo had taken a gut shot at sick President Umaru Yar’Adua, and his loyalists, and the PDP top guns when he said ‘ if you take up an assignment, job, elected, appointed, whatever it is, and then your health starts to fail, there is a part of honor and morality…and if you don’t do that , then you don’t know anything”. This came on the heels of nationwide agitation for the sick President who has been away for over two months.

Few hours later the PDP shot back through its spokesman, Rufai Alkali. The PDP which described Obasanjo’s comments as being in bad taste, and ill timed said ‘ it is regrettable and indeed sad that for the second time, in less than a year, our chairman of the Boad of Trustees, has chosen abandon channels of communication to comment on very sensitive matters, which are capable of causing disharmony and disaffection in the country.”

Pointblanknews learnt that shortly after the terse remarks by Obasanjo, the northern bloc hurriedly reordered its priorities with a renewed vigor . While tagging the call for President Umaru Yar’Adua to step aside, as a betrayal, they resolved to consistently block all attempts to make the VP acting President. Even those northern PDP members who were part of the call for Yar’Adua to handover to Jonathan have backed off after Obasanjo’s comments.

The recent comments by ex president, Olusegun Obasanjo, have split the PDP in half, and consequently throwing spanner in the works for those clamoring for the emergence of VP Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.

The comments which has pitched the north against the south in the PDP, is viewed by the former as a ploy by Obasanjo and some southern interest to seize power from the north through the back door.

Obasanjo had taken a gut shot at sick President Umaru Yar’Adua, and his loyalists, and the PDP top guns when he said ‘ if you take up an assignment, job, elected, appointed, whatever it is, and then your health starts to fail, there is a part of honor and morality…and if you don’t do that , then you don’t know anything”. This came on the heels of nationwide agitation for the sick President who has been away for over two months.

Few hours later the PDP shot back through its spokesman, Rufai Alkali. The PDP which described Obasanjo’s comments as being in bad taste, and ill timed said ‘it is regrettable and indeed sad that for the second time, in less than a year, our chairman of the Board of Trustees, has chosen abandon channels of communication to comment on very sensitive matters, which are capable of causing disharmony and disaffection in the country.”

Pointblanknews.com learnt that shortly after the terse remarks by Obasanjo, the northern bloc hurriedly reordered its priorities with a renewed vigor. While tagging the call for President Umaru Yar’Adua to step aside, as a betrayal, they resolved to consistently block all attempts to make the VP acting President. Even those northern PDP members who were part of the call for Yar’Adua to handover to Jonathan have backed off after Obasanjo’s comments.

The argument of the northern bloc is, Obasanjo knew all along that Yar’Adua would not be able to last four years as President. So he planted Jonathan to take over when his boss is eventually knocked off by his cocktail of terminal illnesses.

A very reliable source told pointblanknews.com “the comment has pitched the north against Jonathan who is seen as Obasanjo’s boy . They feel that Obasanjo had all thought out even before the convention, when he blocked all other aspirants from making any speeches at Eagle Square. They feel he knew Yar’Adua would definitely fall sick”

Another member of the PDP, Rochas Okorocha had also blasted the former President. He had said “Obasanjo opposed him on PDP and Nigerians. His comments may create uprising, and even destabilize the polity. He forced all aspirants to step down…I recalled vividly at the convention where all the aspirants, including General Gusau, Prof Jerry Gana, General Buba Marwa among others insisted on addressing the convention and former President Obasanjo vehemently refused, just to make way for President Yar’Adua’s emergence”

It was gathered on Monday that the next stage of the plot is to ferry back Yar’Adua and make him receive top flight medical attention at the Presidential Villa. Pointblanknews.com also learnt that the move by Yar’Adua to send a letter to the National Assembly to activate section 145 may have been shelved.

There is also the option of bringing forward the National Convention to ensure a northerner takes over even if Yar’Adua dies.

The move, it was gathered, has the backing of the northern Governors, northern legislators, and ministers.

However, President Yar’Adua is expected to arrive on Friday after spending more than two months at a Saudi Arabian Hospital.

Already, life support machines have been installed at the Presidential Villa; Abuja to take care of the ailing President who doctors have warned cannot survive without the machines.