Trouble In Aso Rock,As Sambo Denies Joining Obj To Fight GEJ

Vice President Namadi Sambo has denied joining forces with former President Olusegun Obasanjo against President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 election.

There have been reports that Sambo facilitated Obasanjo’s meeting with traditional rulers in Kaduna, where he allegedly sought their support.

Sambo described the reports as “wrong and mischievous”.

The Vice President, who responded yesterday through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) (Media and Publicity), Umar Sani, said Obasanjo’s visit to Kaduna was to commiserate with the people over the death of Governor Patrick Yakowa.

Sambo, who explained how the meeting took place and what transpired at the forum, pointed out that the event was not only held in the open but also covered by journalists.

His words: “The visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was merely to commiserate and console with the Vice President and the good people of Kaduna State. The visit with his entourage was witnessed by journalists.

“After the visit, there was a meeting already scheduled by the Vice President between the new governor and the traditional rulers in the State, which was held within the same vicinity where the former President met with the Vice President for the condolence visit.

“The essence of the meeting put together by the Vice President between the new Governor and the traditional rulers was to mobilise support and cooperation of the traditional rulers for the new governor.

“That particular meeting was not in isolation because it was part of series of meetings being held to mobilise support for the new governor.

“The reason why former President Obasanjo was at the meeting was because it was in the same Gen. Hassan Katsina House and his arrival concided with the time of the meeting.

“More importantly, he was invited by the Emir of Zauzzau, that since his colleagues were there, former President Obasanjo should come over and greet them.

“His presence at the meeting was to greet the traditional rulers and wish them well. Moreover, the meeting was held in the open and everyone that spoke did so in the open and in the presence of others.

“It is also instructive to note that the meeting was covered by journalists. In view of this, we wonder where the story of Obasanjo and the Vice President teaming up came from, that there is a problem brewing in the Presidency.

“There is nothing like that, it is just an insinuation intended to put the Presidency to ridicule in the eyes of the public.“The entire report is wrong and mischievous”.President Jonathan has said he is yet to speak on his political future, which has been hit by controversies. Only last week, Abuja streets were adorned with posters announcing the President’s interest in the 2015 election.

The Presidency disowned the posters, stressing that those pasting them were out to distract Dr. Jonathan.