The ruling All Progressive Party, APC, was rattled at the weekend following a high-powered meeting hosted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo with key opposition figures in the country.
The meeting, which was held at a popular hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, was held ahead of the former president’s 88th birthday.
The presence of some opposition figures, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, reportedly got APC leaders jittery.
Attendees were those working to dislodge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, while the host is a long-time adversary of the president.
Former Sierra-Leonean President, Mr Ernest Bae Koromo, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Toyin, Bukola Saraki’s wife.
Confirming the meeting, Atiku revealed that the meeting was held at Delborough Hotel, on Victoria Island, Lagos.
“I joined others at the dinner hosted by my former boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, at The Delborough Hotel, Victoria Island, in Lagos.”
Atiku, vice president to Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, during which they had a running battle, which culminated in Obasanjo once referencing his No. 2 as one of the most corrupt politicians.
The former president not only worked against the presidential ambition of his former vice president but placed many hurdles in his path to the nation’s most exalted political seat.
The frosty relationship between the two has thawed over the years as they first united against the second tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, and against Tinubu in 2023.
Bayelsa-born Jonathan is being touted as one of the possible figures to lead a coalition to unseat Tinubu in 2027.
His choice is seen as more favourable to the Northern power brokers who are inching for a return to power, while not upsetting the power rotation against because he is constitutionally allowed one term after his first stint from 2011 – 2015.
Speaking on the meeting, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, wrote on his X page: “Toyin and I have just arrived at The Delborough in Lagos for a dinner celebrating His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, our dear former President and Founder of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation.”
Numerous APC chieftains who spoke to our reporter said the party was unbothered by the gathering.
One source said, “It does not matter what they do. In the last election, they all gathered but the President still came out victorious,” one source said.
