Contrary to rumours and ‘third party reports’, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Ali’s biography has revealed that late President Musa Yar’Adua picked Goodluck Jonathan as his running mate and not Olusegun Obasanjo as widely speculated.
According to Ali, a retired colonel three-time Senator, Jonathan had preferred being the Governor of Bayelsa State, to being Vice-President of Nigeria.
“Amongst all the PDP governors who wanted to contest for President, he (Yar’Adua) was the only one on whom the EFCC could not find any evidence of corruption or misappropriation of funds. He left over N6 billion for his successor in the state coffers while other Governors left virtually nothing. He was reluctant to contest for President.”
Ali also stated that himself, Obasanjo and Tony Anenih had initially selected the then Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, to be Yar’Adua’s running mate, but Yar’Adua was unsatisfied.
Ali had instructed Yar’Adua to write his acceptance speech, including stating his decision of Odili as running mate after consideration and consultations with the party, but Obasanjo intervened by asking that the late President be given time to decide.
“Amadu, don’t be too harsh on the young man. Let’s give him twenty four hours…”
“Twenty four hours! But…” Ali was going to argue.
“I know what you mean, but let us give him twenty four hours,” Obasanjo cut in.
Excerpts from the soon to be launch biography further reveal that PDP Governors were holding a secret meeting on their own to influence the choice of Vice-Presidential candidate, as they were not satisfied with Odili being imposed by the party.
Ali said he was summoned by Obasanjo to ask Yar’Adua about his decision.
“We must act quickly or the Governors will hijack this thing. Anenih is on his way and I have already summoned Yar’Adua. If he hasn’t thought of a running mate, then we must impose one on him.”
Yar’Adua was then asked about his choice of running mate, and he chose Goodluck Jonathan.
Interestingly, The narrative presented by Ali is different from what has revealed in the past.
According to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Obasanjo chose Jonathan because he did not want his former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, contesting for President.
“Olusegun Obasanjo told me that since Atiku and I wanted to take his job, that it would be over his dead body, and that unless he died, Atiku cannot be President of Nigeria. Obasanjo said since Atiku had picked me as his running mate, he would make sure that he dealt with and disgraced us. He said he was going to use my deputy to rubbish me before everybody.”
In contrast, a book, written by former Yar’Adua’s spokesman, Mr Segun Adeniyi, ‘Against The Run Of Play’, quotes Obasanjo as saying
“Of course, Jonathan was not my first choice as running mate to Yar’Adua; it was Dr. Peter Odili. But whether by fate or some conspiracy, Odili had hurdles that made it impossible for him to take that position. That was how I settled for Jonathan.”
This was also different from the explanation given by former Minister of Police Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Jelili Adesayan, who said that Obasanjo picked Jonathan in order to control him which later backfired.
“He picked a President that was sick and while we were campaigning for the President, he (Yar’Adua) was always in Germany receiving treatment. While many were lobbying for the VP slot, Obasanjo picked a gentleman, Goodluck Jonathan, who had no strong political base so that he could control him.
“Unfortunately for Obasanjo, God had a better plan and Jonathan refused to be used.”
