The grudge between President Goodluck Jonathan, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi seem to have have been subdued on Tuesday, in the last Council of State meeting hosted by President Jonathan, the convergence compelled an irresistible situation for the three men to reconcile in front of camera crew, despite speculations of it being a gambit. Before the commencement of the Council meeting, the governors across party divide were seen jesting, back slapping one another and discussing in groups. Obasanjo has been a constant critic of Jonathan’s administration, the latest being in February, when the elections were postponed. The former president, had at his Hilltop Mansion residence in Abeokuta, likened the politics played by Jonathan to “the do-or-die” politics played by the former President of Cote d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo. President Jonathan had in a swift reaction, fired back, stating the allegations as baseless and preposterous. Obasanjo had also in an 18-page letter a year ago, accused the President of deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, having a killer squad and clannishness among others.
The Rivers State governor on his part, had always pointed fingers at the president and his wife, Patience on any crisis in his state. President Jonathan was all smiles, shaking and holding hands with Obasanjo but the cameo of the event was when the President, while waiting for the valedictory photo-session at the fore court of the Presidential Villa, shook hands with governors around him, and on sighting Amaechi, playfully hit him in a friendly manner, with his fist on the shoulder and the Rivers State governor bowed, laughing and holding the President’s hand all the while, saying “Your Excellency.” Moved by the solidarity seen inside and outside the Council chambers, a reporter asked Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State how that could be translated to the common man on the street, and he replied: “I told you that one of the former heads of state moved for all these to be recorded, so that we make it as part of the tradition. Politics is not war. Yes, there is a price, but the moment there is a decision and someone gets the price, everyone should come back and wait for another chance. “So, the camaraderie that you noticed, is how it should be and we should send it down to our communities, to our people; so that even in one house, you can afford to vote for different parties but the moment results are announced, you will remain brothers and not enemies,” he said
