What Obasanjo Told Me Before Endorsement ― Atiku

The presidential flag bearer of the Peoples
Democratic Party and former Vice President,
Atiku Abubakar, has revealed what former
President Olusegun Obasanjo told him before
endorsing him as the country’s next president.
Speaking at a meeting with the Board of
Trustees of the party in Abuja on Thursday night,
he said before the public pronouncement,
Obasanjo took him into a room and asked him to
vet his prepared speech.
Abubakar disclosed that the former president told
him that if there was anything he did not like in
the speech he was about to deliver, he would
delete it.
The PDP presidential hopeful noted that he read
the text and affirmed to Obasanjo that he was
comfortable with everything in it.
Abubakar, who was speaking about the “fantastic
meeting” with his former boss in Abeokuta, Ogun
State, disclosed that Obasanjo told him that the
speech was meant to launch his presidential
campaign.
He praised the former president for staying true
to his character.
Abubakar noted: “We had the most successful
outing with my former boss.
“It’s all over the news that we had a fantastic
meeting, we had a fantastic press conference,
after which we had a sumptuous lunch.
“I will not say whether he’s a member of PDP or
not but I can confirm to you he is with us in
body and spirit because before he delivered his
statement, two of us went into the room.
“He said: ‘VP, sit down, read this my statement.
If there is anything you don’t want in that
statement, I will remove it.’
“I read it and said: ‘Mr. President, I’m totally in
agreement with all what you have said.’
“He said: ‘With this statement, I’m going to
launch your campaign to the presidency.’
“That is vintage Olusegun Obasanjo for you.”
The PDP presidential hopeful told the board
members that the outcome of the national
convention which produced him as the flag
bearer was only the first phase of the journey to
the presidency.
While calling on the “Conscience of the party” to
gird its loins for the task ahead, Abubakar said
he was well prepared for the battle and called for
unity among party members.
He affirmed that he had already incorporated his
former co-contestants for the party’s ticket into
his campaign structure as all of them were
involved in everything he did.
Abubakar vowed to reward members of the BoT
if he becomes the president.
He added: “We have passed the first phase.
“We are now going into the second phase, a
phase that is extremely important, a phase that
we should not underrate our opponents, a phase
that we need total dedication and a phase that
will, ultimately, bring us the success that we
desire.
“I, therefore, implore all of you, those qualities
that I have mentioned, which you definitely
possess, it is time for you to unleash them and
make sure we record a phenomenal success
during the elections.
“I can assure you that I am prepared to work
with all of you and I am prepared to reward
every one of you if we unite, we work together
and achieve success.
“Here again, let me commend the sense of
responsibility and the patriotism displayed by my
fellow contestants.
“From the very day, last Sunday, when I
addressed the convention and delivered my
acceptance speech, we have been working
together.