The ongoing war of word between former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan is giving the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) serious worries.
The increasing resentment between the two big wigs of the party according to a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) is making its members uncomfortable.
The ex president was until April 2012 the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party before he voluntarily resigned.
Obasanjo recently condemned Jonathan over the poor handling of security challenges and corruption in the country. During the media chat, Jonathan used the occasion to fire back at Obasanjo, saying the invasion of Odi during Obasanjo’s Presidency did not solve the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta.
However, a member of the National Working Committee of the party told newsmen in Abuja on condition of anonymity, said it would be wrong for the President to talk back at Obasanjo.
He noted that although Obasanjo might have his faults, but that Jonathan must tread softly because of the personality of the two time-President, who was also a former Head of State and a top player in the party.
The PDP NWC member said, “We are concerned about this feud between the President and former President Obasanjo. “The President must watch it. It is dangerous for him to take on this man, who is very close to the northern oligarchy. “Jonathan should rather speak with him as a father because of his second term ambition. This is not the time to start fighting people like Obasanjo. “The President is not popular in majority of the states in the North and South-West.” The insider further disclosed that Jonathan must not easily forget that it was Obasanjo who appealed to the members of the party, especially from the Northern region, when Jonathan picked the party’s presidential ticket at the Eagles Square.
However, both the National Secretary of the PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh had denied any rift between the duo.
Oyinlola said, “The issue of Odi killings will not cause hostility between the two leaders of our party,” while Metuh said both leaders were “working together towards deepening democracy in Nigeria”.
Comments