It is no longer news that there has been no
love lost between President Goodluck
Jonathan, former president Olusegun
Obasanjo and the Rivers State Governor,
Chibuike Amaechi.
However, the last Council of State meeting
hosted by President Jonathan yesterday,
offered an opportunity for the three men to
reconcile even if it was for the camera.
Before the commencement of the Council
meeting, the governors across party divide
were seen joking, back slapping one
another and discussing in groups.
President Jonathan was also seen
laughing, shaking and holding hands
with Obasanjo.But the one that caught
everyone’s attention was when the
President, while waiting for the
valedictory photo-session at the fore
court of the Presidential Villa, had a
handshake with the governors around
him, and on sighting Amaechi, playfully
hit him severally, with his fist on the
shoulder and the Rivers State
governor bowed, laughing and holding
the President’s hand all the while,
saying “Your Excellency.”
Obasanjo has been a constant critic of
Jonathan’s administration, the latest being in
February, when the elections were
postponed.
The former president, had at his Hilltop
Mansion residence in Abeokuta, likened the
politics played by Jonathan to “the do-or-
die” politics played by the former President
of Cote d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo.
Also, Obasanjo, while reacting to the
postponement of the general elections, said
it was a grand plan by Jonathan to
perpetuate himself in office till the situation
became clear that the presidential election
would favour him.
President Jonathan had in a swift reaction,
fired back, saying the allegations were
baseless and absurd.
Obasanjo had also in an 18-page letter a
year ago, accused the President of deceit,
deception, dishonesty, incompetence,
having a killer squad and clannishness
among others.
The Rivers State governor on his part, had
always pointed fingers at the president and
his wife, Patience on any crisis in his state.
Moved by the camaraderie seen inside and
outside the Council chambers, a journalist
later asked Governor Babangida Aliyu of
Niger State how that could be translated to
the common man on the street, and he
replied: “I told you that one of the former
heads of state moved for all these to be
recorded, so that we make it as part of the
tradition. Politics is not war.
Yes, there is a price, but the moment there
is a decision and someone gets the price,
everyone should come back and wait for
another chance.
“So, the camaraderie that you noticed, is
how it should be and we should send it
down to our communities, to our people;
so that even in one house, you can afford
to vote for different parties but the moment
results are announced, you will remain
brothers and not enemies.”