Atiku Reveals What He Discussed With President Jonathan

More than 72 hours after it was reported that Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, had a closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, the APC chieftain has revealed what he discussed with Mr President.

In an interview with Sahara Reporters, the one time governor of Adamawa state said that he had retired to bed when he was woken up and told that President Jonathan had come to see him.
According to Atiku, Mr President was already waiting in his living room when he was informed of his presence.


While disclosing what transpired during the meeting, Atiku opined that President Jonathan tried to prevail on him to rejoin the PDP which he rejected.

He said the president also discussed the ongoing war against Boko Haram, seeking his support for Nigerian troops.

 

Atiku said they also discussed the possibility of displaced Nigerians returning to the areas that have been recaptured from Boko Haram.

 

On whether President Jonathan was interested in allowing elections to hold on March 28, the former vice president hesitated before stating that he would not wish to speculate, but he said the president’s body language did not reveal that he was interested in the polls, which are less than two weeks to hold.

President Jonathan speaks to Al-Jazeera reporter

The former vice president stated that he advised President Jonathan to ensure that the elections were free and fair and devoid of the bloodshed that trailed the 2011 general elections.
Atiku said he had always been opposed to an interim government adding that he did so when the former military President Ibrahim Babangida set up an interim national government in 1993.
He said he was offered a position in the government through the late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua, which he rejected. The position, he said was given to Lagos politician Dapo Sarumi.

This development comes after about 120 groups loyal to Atiku were reported to have decamped to the PDP.
According to reports, the decampees were received by Uche Secondius, the deputy national chairman of the PDP.
It was disclosed that a reception to welcome them to the camp of President Goodluck Jonathan was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Rumours emerged last week that Atiku, who had previously dumped the PDP for the APC, was under pressure to return to the ruling party. He denied the rumours and reinstated his commitment to the opposition party.