Differing reports as Obasanjo meets Babangida, Aliyu Gusau in Minna.

Obasanjo meets Babangida, Aliyu Gusau in Minna

 Former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his visit to Ibrahim Babangida, ex-head of state, in Minna, Niger state.

   

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in Minna, Niger’s capital, on a visit to Ibrahim Babangida, the ex-head of state.

Obasanjo arrived in Minna yesterday Sunday evening after felicitating Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, in Edo State, over his 90th birthday.

The meeting with Babangida also had Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state, and Aliyu Gusau, an ex-national security adviser (NSA), in attendance.

While our correspondent in Minna gathered that Obasanjo arrived Minna International Airport in Golf Steam 5 Aircraft at about 4:30pm and drove straight to General Babangida’s residence where he joined Abdulsalami and Gusau.

A source familiar with the visit said the four elder statesmen held a closed door meeting that lasted for about an hour after which Obasanjo left Minna around 6:20pm.

Kehinde Akinyemi, media aide to Obasanjo, confirmed the meeting in a statement that the meeting was to felicitate with Babangida on his birthday recently celebrated. 

It was not immediately clear what issues were discussed by the former Nigerian leaders, but multiple reports said the meeting was connected with pressing national issues that border on the current economic challenges.

However, Akinyemi said Obasanjo visited the former head of state to also celebrate his birthday who turned 83 in August.

Akinyemi said Obasanjo was unable to be present during Babangida’s birthday due to his busy schedule.

“The opportunity came yesterday, hence the visits to both Benin and Minna,” he said.

Akinyemi said Obasanjo noted Babangida’s contributions to Nigeria and celebrated his good health.