President Buhari hosts Jonathan in Aso Rock

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari met with former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, Top Naija report.

Jonathan who arrived at the Villa about 03:00 pm was received by the President into a closed-door meeting.

Although the details of the meeting remain undisclosed, it is likely connected to his work as Special Envoy of the Economic Community of West African States where he is leading mediation talks even as Mali remains under military rule following the August 2020 coup that ousted President Ibrahim Keita.

On Monday, December 27, Mali’s military-dominated government launched a four-day national forum on returning the country to civilian rule.

The forum, according to Mali’s transitional president, Colonel Assimi Goita, “will make an unflinching assessment of the state of the nation and draw the best lessons from it”.

Jonathan, who is also part of the West African Elders Forum, was in The Gambia three weeks ago to curtail election-related crises, as Gambians voted in the country’s December 4, 2021, presidential election.

A top source had confirmed in September 2021 that Buhari had started courting Jonathan to bring him into the APC to run for the presidency and succeed him.

According to the source, the Presidency cabal wants to make Jonathan the next president as they believe he would not investigate the atrocities committed by Buhari’s regime.

Jonathan is also purportedly nursing a presidential ambition to complete two terms in office, an opportunity denied him by the APC in the 2015 presidential election.

He has reportedly agreed to play the game, especially considering the slim chances he has in the PDP for 2023 with the wealth and connection of former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku was the PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 election.

Although Atiku has yet to declare interest in the race, he appears to be testing the waters, as some groups showing support for his 2023 ambition have already emerged.

The source further said Jonathan is also wary of the threat posed by the ambitions of the Governors of Sokoto and Rivers states, Aminu Tambuwal and Nyesom Wike respectively, said to be considering a joint ticket.

However, Jonathan was said to have been given certain conditions by Buhari’s cabal which have yet to be fully fulfilled hence the delay in joining the ruling party.