By Dansu Peter
The newly inaugurated Coalition of Nigeria Movement formed by the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has attacked Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the Ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, over the controversial open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group challenged Tinubu to emulate Obasanjo by publicly saying ugly things he often said against Buhari behind him (Buhari)
Tinubu has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of playing politics with the “special statement” he wrote about the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari which has generated controversies.
But in a swift response, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), a brainchild of Chief Obasanjo, simply challenged Senator Tinubu to emulate the former President by saying publicly, things “he (Tinubu) says about Buhari and his government in private.”
According to Nigerian Tribune, the Group also asked Senator Tinubu to speak out on the killings going on across the country, saying that the former president would not reply his accusation.
Senator Tinubu had made the accusation on Friday in an interview with journalists during his visit to the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, in the company with the pioneer National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, at the Government House, Owerri.
He said if the former president had meant well, he would have met with President Buhari to talk about the issues he raised in the statement since he is Buhari’s senior virtually in every way; in the army, as heads of state and as president.
Tinubu said there were several ways available to the former president to meet with the president and discuss issues rather than the issuance of a public statement.
“They both had the same background. So, I believe that would have been the conversation of military heads of state (retired). They have unfettered access to each other either through the Council of State or any other means. He could see the current president privately. He [Obasanjo] was also his senior in the army. I think Obasanjo was playing politics with the public letter. That is all I see. They also met at the African Union meeting. He has a way of discussing with the president any time he wants,” the APC leader said.
On the introduction of the coalition movement, Tinubu stated that “the appropriate time is not now for a response to the coalition movement but we are in a democracy in a country that is signatory to the charter of the United Nations which advocates free movement, free association, free speech. It is very good.”
On what brought him to Owerri, Senator Tinubu said, “I am here to see a very good friend of mine, the governor, Owelle Okorocha who happens to be the governor of an APC state and then pay respect to the gentleman, nationalist, great leader of our generation.”
Although Obasanjo’s spokesman, Mr Kehinde Akinyemi, could not be reached for his comments on Tinubu’s accusation against his principal but an official of the CNM in Ogun State told Saturday Tribune on the condition of anonymity that the former president won’t join issues with Tinubu over the matter.
“Baba Obasanjo won’t reply Senator Tinubu. The Coalition will just advise him to emulate the former President by saying in the open what he says about Buhari and his government in private. He should also speak out on the unfortunate killings going on across the country. Has he said anything on the killings in Benue? If Benue is too far flung to him, why hasn’t he said something about the ones happening daily at his backyard in Yorubaland? We believe these are issues that should occupy the minds of every politician with claims to progressive politics.
“A few years ago when Obasanjo had cause to write an open letter to former President [Goodluck] Jonathan, did Tinubu not describe him as the “compass” that time? What has changed between that case and this one? We remember he (Tinubu) also once issued a statement against his party chairman, Oyegun, did he not have access to him? We understand the politics he is playing,” the CNM official said.
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