2015: Jonathan in crucial talks with ex-President Obasanjo

Still forging ahead to woo stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2015 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
During the week, Governor Godswil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, who doubles as the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, also met with Obasanjo in Abuja, in what was seen as a renewed effort to woo him back to the Jonathan’s side.
The meeting between the President and his predecessor, which lasted for an hour, was held at Obasanjo’s Owu residence.
President Jonathan had left Abuja on Friday for Lagos where he commissioned a police housing project and held private meetings with some people.
From Lagos, he headed to Lome, Togo before flying to Abeokuta to pay condolence visit on his Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who concluded the burial ceremony of his mother on Friday.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the residence of Dr. Abati, President Jonathan confirmed the visit to former President Obasanjo’s residence, but hastened to add that it was necessary for him to pay homage since the former President was in town.
Jonathan said: “It is true we saw President Obasanjo in his house because we came here to Abeokuta to commiserate with Abati who buried his mother yesterday.
“And knowing that Abati’s house is at the backyard of Obasanjo’s house, it will not be good if we come and not visit him.
“Even the man himself will not be happy if we don’t visit him.
“I am like a son to Obasanjo.”
The President also said he had to shelve his plan to attend the church service in honour of Mrs. Abati because he had to urgently fly out to Togo to meet the President of Côte d’Ivoire, Allasane Quattara, to discuss some developments in the sub-region.
He condoled with the family of Abati, whom he observed was a member of his family, and advised the members to take solace in the fact that their mother lived to a ripe old age beyond the biblical three score and ten.
Abati expressed surprise that the President could still make it, saying the family was no longer expecting him having earlier sent a delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe.
He thanked the President for finding time out of his busy schedule to visit him and the family, adding that the visit would remain evergreen in their memories.