Obasanjo’s letter to Buhari is pure politics, says Tinubu

National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has described the open letter former president Olusegun Obasanjo, wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari, as gimmick and his (Obasanjo’s) political antics.

Fielding questions at Government House, Owerri, Imo State yesterday, during a meeting with Governor Rochas Okorocha, Tinubu, who was accompanied by the pioneer chairman of the APC, Bisi Akande, wondered why Obasanjo wrote an open letter to the President.

He advised Buhari not to re-contest when he had unrestrained access as both a senior military officer above Buhari and first to occupy the number one position to discuss with the President in Aso Rock Villa privately, noting that Nigerians should regard the letter as a political strategy.

Tinubu argued that Obasanjo had several ways through which he should have spoken with the President rather than writing open letter that suggested purely playing politics.

His words: “They both had the same background. So, I believe that would have been the conversation of retired former military heads of state. They have unfettered access to each other either through the Council of States or any other means.

“He could see President Buhari privately. He, Obasanjo was also his senior in the army and so I think Obasanjo is playing politics with the public letter. That is all I see. They also met at the African Union (AU) meeting too. He has a way of discussing with the President any time he wants.”

On the Obasanjo’s coalition, the APC chieftain said in as much as time for more discussion would come, he said the country was a signatory to the United Nations (UN) charter for free association and free speech in a democracy.

“This is not the appropriate time for a response to the coalition government, but we are in a democracy in a country that is signatory to the UN charter, which advocates free movement, free association, free speech. It is very good,” he added.

He disclosed that his mission to Imo State was to see his ‘very good friend’ Okorocha, to discuss issues.