Sunday 30 March 2014

I’ve forgiven Atiku, others, says Obasanjo

Obasanjo






Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said on Sunday in Abeokuta that he had forgiven his former vicepresident, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, as well as other persons believed to have offended him.
Obasanjo spoke while addressing the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) who paid him a visit after their two-day meeting held in Abeokuta.
The former President said as a leader and father, he bore no grudge against anybody.
It will be recalled that the relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku turned sore in 2006 over what many people believed was Atiku’s role in scuttling the third-term agenda of his boss.
But addressing the NYLF on Sunday, the former President said: “On the request that you made yesterday, I do not have any grudge against anybody. And if there is any, I have forgiven all as a father.”
Obasanjo appreciated the group for coming to Abeokuta to make case for a way forward for the country.
Earlier in his address, NLYF National Chairman, Mr. Elliot Afiyo, said the forum was in Abeokuta to visit Obasanjo “and to identify with his vision for our great country, Nigeria.”
In a paper submitted earlier on Saturday, Afiyo said: “We have come to you as a father indeed, elder statesman for sure, an advanced citizen per excellence, an honest and forthright leader, courageous and bold democrat, a loving and compassionate.”
He stressed that with such attributes, Obasanjo has no option or than “to chastise and later forgive and embrace both the good and bad characters.”
Afiyo said: “In view of this, we humbly request that you forgive your former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of whatever political sin or offence he might have committed against you.”

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