Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is believed to be currently drumming support for the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, to enter the 2023 presidential race.
Obasanjo, by his perceived support for Adesina, may have sidelined a former Governor of Lagos State and National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for the top job.
Tinubu, despite the barrage of corruption cases on his neck, is working hard through proxies and political godsons to ensure that he gets nationwide support.
Sources revealed that Obasanjo’s silent moves for Adesina was coming just as he (Obasanjo) reportedly failed to convince Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State to work together to advance a common interest of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next presidential election.
READ ALSO: https://www.thexpressng.com/2021/04/29/nigerias-3rd-worst-governed-country-in-the-world-report/
It was learnt that both Governor Tambuwal and Kwankwaso were planning the possibility of running for the Presidency under the PDP come 2023, but Obasanjo had tried albeit unsuccessfully to reconcile both PDP stalwats ahead of the next political dispensation.
A source close to the former president said that it was the reconciliation of the two men that took the former leader to Sokoto, last week, while he was in the state to commission some projects completed by the state government.
The source had said, “Last week, Baba was in Sokoto under the guise of flagging off some projects completed by Tambuwal but the real intention was to reconcile Governor Aminu Tambuwal with Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of 2023 because two of them, who are his political sons, are keen on the Presidency.
“But it is also clear that Baba is trying hard to put up structures for another political son of his, that is the current African Development Bank President, Adesina, under the Peoples Democratic Party since it is clear to him that the North would not support his candidates for the posts.
READ ALSO: https://www.thexpressng.com/2021/05/02/police-intercept-753-live-ammunition-in-ebonyi-official/
“It is obvious to him that the reconciliation that the former leader is pushing is not in the interest of the North and he might jettison his current party and push for the formation of a hybrid party that will weaken both the PDP and the APC and strengthen the new one to win the Presidency in two years.
“Baba’s backing for the AfDB President is predicated on his sound educational, economic and leadership pedigree that he believes can guaranty him easy victory over other recycled politicians with some baggage,” the top politician said.
But Obasanjo’s push for Adesina might not fly as intended as two former heads of state, who he sold the idea to, are reported to have kicked against the move.
They believe it would scupper the political arrangement, which favours Igbo Presidency and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu project.