By Chris Udochukwu
ABUJA FCT – Finally, the undercurrent issues that played out that made it possible for Olusugun Obasanjo to defeat Dr. Alex Ekwueme to emerge as the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 has been revealed.
There is NO WAY Obasanjo would have defeated Alex Ekwueme and emerged as PDP presidential candidate in 1999 if not for Atiku Abubakar.
Demola Olarewaju who made the revelation on Tuesday when he took to his X account said:
“Ekwueme was the Leader of G34 and oversaw the process by which G34 became PDP. G34 had 36 original members, one drawn from each state (but Sule Lamido and Abubakar Rimi were jailed by Abacha ahead of the inaugural meeting in Lagos, so only 34 members signed their original press release).
“In becoming PDP, G34 dissolved into political groups and met in the home of Prof. Jerry Gana on Mambilla Street in Abuja. Five political associations, each with 7 representatives. They were:
“All Nigerian Congress with Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Alhaji (Dr.) Bamanga Tukur, Alhaji Aminu Wali, Chief Alani Bankole, Alhaji Bello Kirfi and Alhaji Iro Dan-Musa.
“Social Progressives Party with Chief Solomon D. Lar, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Rimi, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Prof. Jerry Gana, Baba Sule Lamido, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
“Peoples Consultative Forum with Uncle Bola Ige, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Lanihun Ajayi, Senator Francis Okpozo, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Chief Ayo Opadokun.
“Peoples National Forum with Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Senator Onyeabo Obi, Dr. Sylvester U. Ugoh, Senator Francis Ellah,
Senator Emeka Echeruo, Chief Sonny Odogwu and Prof. ABC Nwosu.
“Peoples Democratic Movement with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Sunday Afolabi, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, Professor Ango Abdullahi and Chief (Mrs.) Titi Ajanaku.
“These 5 groups with 7 representatives each met semi-formally on Tuesday the 18th of August, 1998 at Jerry Gana’s home to discuss the ideology and tactics of the new party to be formed. They discussed all night and then met formally the following day at Sheraton Hotel in Abuja with a larger audience.
“Politically, everyone agreed that power should shift to the South but there were two conflicting political ideals in those meetings.
“The majority group felt that the transition programme should continue from the Second Republic where Alex Ekwueme had been Vice-President to Shehu Shagari – power to the SE. Ekwueme carried the room.
“The minority group felt that the transition programme should continue from the Third Republic where MKO Abiola was elected President – power to the SW.
“As the Chairman of G34 and protem Chairman of the newly proposed PDP, Ekwueme had the upper hand and as this became clear to the SW delegation under the political group Peoples Consultative Forum, they pulled out of PDP and began discussions with those trying to form All Peoples Party (APP).
“Despite the big names of these leaders, most of them were not grassroots solid or active. Because all these leaders had last played politics in the Third Republic (1992/93) days of SDP/NRC. Abacha had formed five political parties (CNC, UNCP, NCPN, DPN and GDM) which by now held sway at the grassroots in the late 90s. From a practical politick perspective, most of these leaders decided to accommodate strong and young politician who had participated in the Abacha transition under five parties.
“This was then the public reason for the pull out of PCF from PDP: their refusal to work with anyone who had participated in the Abacha transition via the five parties while Abiola was in jail (although they later pragmatically embraced them in AD).
“PDM on its part actively embraced those politicians at the ward and LGA and immediately became the strongest of all those groups.
“Obasanjo had only just been released from prison in June 1998, his Otta Farm and other businesses had taken a major hit and only survived by the efforts of his friend, Otunba Reuben Oyewole Fasawe, whose story I shall also come to shortly.
“Obasanjo did not feature in the formation of PDP or in the initial conversations of who was to be President from 1999.
“Baba was simply just grateful to be out from prison while Atiku was politically active in organising PDM within the PDP.
