A former Senator representing Kaduna Central district, Shehi Sani has downplayed the impact of courtesy visits paid by 2023 presidential candidates to former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
According to him, the conduct of the elder statesmen during such visits should not be misconstrued for endorsement as they have a knack for keeping their true feelings to themselves.
Sani said this in a tweet on Friday in apparent reaction to a comment by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila about the Wednesday visit of APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to Obasanjo’s home in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, Gbajabiamila, who was on Tinubu’s entourage during the visit, said that with all that he heard at a closed-door meeting held with the former Nigerian leader, the APC candidate was “assured” of victory.
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He said that Obasanjo made encouraging statements about Tinubu’s presidential ambition and even prayed for him.
“When we were going to Obasanjo’s house, we were eight, including Asiwaju Tinubu and me; we didn’t want many people to know about the meeting. So, we were to meet Obasanjo and five others from his side.
“But when we eventually got there, we met something pleasantly shocking: a mammoth crowd of our supporters were already at the former president’s house waiting for us.
“So, Obasanjo told Asiwaju Tinubu to pick three people from his side and that he would pick three from his side to meet behind closed doors.
“So, I, Chief Osoba and Chief Akande and Asiwaju went from our side. My people, what I heard there, what Obasanjo said, the victory of Asiwaju is assured.
“Obasanjo spoke at length and we were all happy. He embraced our candidate like a brother, gave him a pat on the back, and prayed for him copiously,” Gbajabiamila said.
In an apparent reaction, Sani said that any presidential candidate that visits the former Nigerian leaders would get the same treatment.
“Any presidential candidate who visits IBB,Abdulsami or Obj will have the same warm reception and noncommittal assurances; but the old Gurus, experienced in the machinations and intrigues of power, holds their cards on the chests,” he wrote.
Any presidential candidate who visits IBB,Abdulsami or Obj will have the same warm reception and noncommittal assurances;but the old Gurus,experienced in the machinations and intrigues of power,holds their cards on the chests.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) August 19, 2022