Why Obasanjo, Abdulsalami, Gusau meet IBB in Minna
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) and a former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Aliyu Gusau (Rtd), on Sunday, held a closed-door meeting with a former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (Rtd) at his Hill Top house in Minna, Niger State.
Reports said Obasanjo arrived at the Minna International Airport in a Gulfstream 5 aircraft at 4:30pm and went straight to Babangida’s house.
It was gathered that Babangida’s house was also visited by Abdulsalami and Gusau.
A source said: “General Obasanjo arrived in Minna in company of 10 people and he drove straight to IBB’s residence. He was joined by Generals Abdulsalami Abubakar and Aliyu Gusau. The former president came in a chartered aircraft and landed at the Minna Airport.”
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However, details of the meeting were not made public as the top Nigerian leaders did not brief newsmen.
However, Obasanjo later explained that he visited Babangida to felicitate with him on the occasion of his birthday. IBB clocked 83 years on August 17, 2024.
In a statement, Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, explained that the former president could not pay a visit to IBB last month “because of his busy schedule outside the country.”
He added that Obasanjo earlier on Sunday paid a similar visit to the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, to felicitate with him on his 90th birthday.
The statement reads in part: “After the celebration in Benin, the former president proceeded to Minna in Niger State to visit President Ibrahim Babangida who celebrated his 83rd birthday in August. President Obasanjo noted the contributions of President Babangida and celebrated his good health.” the statement reads in part.
A source familiar with the visit however said the four elder statesmen held a closed door meeting that lasted for about an hour after which Obasanjo left Minna around 6:20pm.
The source said the meeting might not be unconnected with pressing national issues that bordered on the current economic challenges.
“The meeting might not be unconnected with national issues especially the current hardship being faced by Nigerians. But I am not confirming to you what was discussed,” Daily Trust quoted the source to have said.
