Ministerial List: Buhari, Obasanjo Hold Crucial Meeting At UN Plaza

As preparations for the submission of the ministerial list by President Muhammadu Buhari heats up, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Buhari met on Friday at the United Nations (UN) Plaza in downtown Manhattan, New York City, United States.

The meeting which took place at the 37th floor of the plaza was behind closed doors.

The former president first came in waiting for the president, when President Buhari came, they both moved in with Dr. Kayode Fayemi and other top dignitaries who accompanied the President to the 70th UN General Assembly.

When journalists ambushed the two leaders, they were shielded by their security aides who said it would amount to 'security breach' to get to them.

The meeting came on the heels of speculations that the ministerial nominees would be out any time soon.

Speculations at the UN General Assembly meeting were also rife that the discussion centered on several national issues, critical among them is the appointment of ministers in the Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

A source familiar with the meeting informed THISDAY that "the leaders decided to hold the meeting to discuss key national issues, crucial also is the ministerial list," the source said.

The meeting by the leaders came amid perceived infighting and differences between Obasanjo and APC national leader and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Obasanjo who surreptitiously ditched his former party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and protégée, former President Goodluck Jonathan is bent on gaining some foothold in the Buhari’s government. A move, Tinubu is completely against.

At the UN meeting, there were several other lobbyists wanting to court President Buhari’s attention ahead of the ministerial appointments. 

It was also speculated that Hon Abike Dabiri who came with Obasanjo was being tipped to replace Joy Ogwu at the UN as her tenure ends soon.

The president who had a busy day made a presentation at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) parley after the plenary session where the Catholic Pontiff, His Holiness, Pope Francis 1 gave his inaugural speech.

Meanwhile, Obasanjo is also expected to speak as a guest at the Clinton Global Initiative, where he is to highlight key components of development particularly centred on the developing world.