JONATHAN AND OBASANJO IN PEACE MEETING

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday hosted President Goodluck Jonathan   at his Hilltop   residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State. It was gathered that the   meeting which started around 7pm and ended at about 9.15pm   centered on Jonathan’s re-election bid and the need to resolve the disagreement between the two. Sources in the former President’s residence said the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and the founder, Living Faith Ministry(Winners chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, were also at the meeting. Our correspondent however

could not confirm the presence of the clerics as journalists were not allowed into the Hilltop premises. As of 10.19pm, there was no official comment on the outcome of the meeting. Earlier, the   social media had been   awash with reports that Obasanjo, who stayed away from the Peoples Democratic Party presidential campaign at the MKO International Stadium in Abeokuta , shunned Jonathan. Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party leaders were in the Ogun State capital to seek     support for the President’s re-election bid. The former President had made a surprise appearance at the wedding of Jonathan daughter on Saturday, thus raising hopes that their sour relationship was over. Obasanjo, our correspondent gathered,, had left Hilltop at 2.59pm and did not return till Jonathan and his entourage retreated to the Presidential Lodge in the city around 5.30pm, after their campaign. The President arrived at the stadium at exactly 3. 50pm and had headed straight for the state box from where he later moved out to acknowledge cheers from the crowd .

Operatives of the Department of State Security, who had earlier besieged the Hilltop as early as 6am in anticipation of Jonathan’s arrival left the place at exactly 3.36pm. Their departure fuelled   the reports   that Obasanjo was not willing to receive the President. Before then, Vice- President Namadi Sambo, who was also in Abeokuta   visited the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in his palace at Ake,   without going to the former President’s home.

While addressing party supporters at the stadium, Jonathan said his administration would create eight million jobs if re-elected. Giving the breakdown of how he would this, he said that at least two million jobs would be created each year in collaboration with the private sector. He said, “We are out to create jobs. Our target is to create at least two million jobs every year. We are working with the private sector, including Tony Elumelu. When you hear   Elumelu, you know we are talking about a serious investor.” Jonathan, who   noted that Ogun State had produced great Nigerian leaders like the late Obafemi Awolowo, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and MKO Abiola, said through his government’s vibrant industrial policy, about 56 industries had been attracted to Ogun State. He also stated that   his administration would embark on the construction of silos and other produce storage facilities across the country, including Ogun state, to enhance storage and preservation of agric produce. The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina,   had said that the PDP had   been able to reduce annual expenses on food imports from N1.1tn   to N697bn through a vibrant agricultural programme.