Opposition Peoples Democratic Party on Monday expressed concern over former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s comment that he made mistake when he picked his Vice President in 1999.
The former President had on Saturday said he made a mistake in the choice of his number two ahead of the 1999 presidential election.
Obasanjo became democratically elected President in 1999 while the current presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, was his Vice President.
The former President, who did not mention Atiku in his statement, said it was a mistake he made in good faith but was saved by God.
He said, “One of the mistakes I made was picking my number two when I wanted to become the President. But because it was a genuine mistake, God saved me.”
But the party in its reaction, published by the Punch, threatened that should Obasanjo fail to clarify the comments credited to him within 48 hours, the party would be forced to expose the former President and “tell Nigerians who he is in reality.”
The PDP’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Walid Jibril, who made the threat at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, said although the party has great respect for the former President, it would be disappointing if the statement credited to him, turned out to be true.
Jibril, a Second Republic Senator, said, “I wish to appeal to former President Obasanjo to come out openly to repeat what he has said. Whether or not he was misquoted or meant what was credited to him.
“Although he has not debunked what was reported, one can assume that what was quoted to have been said by him is correct, but if he fails to openly come out and say which is correct in 48 hours, you will hear the bombardment and I will have no option but to break the egg and tell the whole world and Nigerians who Obasanjo is.
“There is no doubt Obasanjo may still be angry with Atiku even after helping him to succeed but perhaps for truncating his third term agenda. In any case, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku is our presidential candidate and I can tell you for sure that he will be the President in 2023 Insha Allah.”
Jibril while speaking on picking of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate to Atiku Abubakar, also said a high-powered reconciliatory committee would soon be set up to meet Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
On the outcome of the presidential primary and subsequent picking of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate of Atiku which may have angered Governor Wike, the BoT Chairman disclosed that a high-powered reconciliatory committee would soon be constituted to meet Governor Wike and appeal to him.
“Governor Wike is a great party man who fought for the party. When the committee is constituted, we will also bring other contestants together. We will go and meet with Governor Wike and appeal to him even if it means kneeling down to beg him,” he said.
