Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has erupted over thedecision taken by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan in the appointment of General Aliyu Gusau as the National Security Adviser (NSA) in a post-ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua era. It was gathered that Obasanjo met Jonathan demanding to know what he was doing with Gusau as NSA.
The former President, who was said to have shouted on top of his voice, is believed to be peeved over the appointment of Gusau, who incidentally served him in the same position until the latter resigned to contest the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primaries which he lost to Yar’Adua.
The appointment of Gusau is believed to have been based on the recommendation of General Theophilus Danjuma as a way to spite the former President, checkmate his influence and ensure that he does not have a foothold on the Acting President’s political corridor.
The appointment of Gusau may have also come in handy in nipping in the bud the security lapses believed to have been engineered by some loyalists of Yar’Adua in order to discredit the administration of Jonathan as one unable to manage security issues.
Gusau, according to Sunday Sun findings, is believed to have accepted to serve for a few months just to assist in stabilizing the polity after which he would have to leave to attend to some other pursuits. It was however gathered General Gusau is actually leaving possibly at the end of three months to pursue his Presidential ambition which was truncated in 2006 by former President Obasanjo.
Accordingly, the NSA, who is known to be a very close ally of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Danjuma, has commenced subtle consultations with other stakeholders in the North as well as other parts of the country with a view to actualizing his ambition.
Sunday Sun gathered that the former President is also not comfortable with the choice of Danjuma as head of the Presidential Advisory Committee and Gusau, who are both believed to have severed their relationship Obasanjo, owing to what the duo considered as betrayal by the Otta famer when he held sway at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
Not even the appointment of the former Director-General of the State Security Services (SSS) under Obasanjo, Col. Kayode Are, as Director of Operations/Chief of Staff in the Office of the National Security Adviser has calmed the frayed nerves of the former President.
Sunday Sun gathered that Obasanjo, who is still interested in who becomes President in 2011, is not comfortable with Gusau as NSA, particularly against the backdrop of the latter’s presidential ambition in 2011.
The appointment of Are as Chief of Staff in the NSA’s office, according to Sunday Sun sources, is preparatory to his taking over from Gusau, who is expected to resign his appointment in another six months to enable him pursue his presidential ambition. Obasanjo’s fear is said to be hinged on the fact that if Gusau clinches the Presidency in 2011, the political terrain may become tough for him.
But despite Obasanjo’s vituperation, there appears to be little Jonathan can do for now as he seems comfortable with the present arrangement, which is believed to have the support of former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida.
Jonathan is reportedly not thinking of how to assuage, Obasanjo who is believed to be his political godfather. The Acting President is said to be more concerned about having the support of the northern leaders, who he strongly believes are in a position to help him steer and stabilize the ship of state.
Jonathan is also said to have the support of the Senate President, David Mark, who has so far demonstrated that he is in control of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
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