Tinubu meets with Goodluck in Abuja as he steps up politicking ahead of next year's elections

FORMER Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu held a closed door meeting with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday evening in Abuja as part of his ongoing politicking ahead of next year's presidential elections.

In June, Asiwaju Tinubu  emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate after coasting home in a landslide victory following the party's convention in Abuja. Following his victory, however, he laboured to select a suitable running mate after publicly declaring that he will pick a Christian from the northeast geo-political zone as his deputy.

Eventually, after weeks of prevarication, Asiwaju Tinubu ended up selecting a fellow Muslim in the form of former Borno State governor Senator Shettima as his running mate. His choice has polarised the country as the Christian faithful feel highly marginalised, especially in the northeast and north central geo-political zones.

Since then, Asiwaju Tinubu has had to mount a charm offensive to assuage some of the anger and this has involved meeting with senior Christian political leaders across the country. Yesterday, Asiwaju Tinubu paid a scheduled visit to former president Dr Jonathan in his Abuja residence.

He was accompanied by Senator Shettima and five APC governors. His entourage included Simon Lalong of Plateau State,  Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State,  Bello Matawale of Zamfara State, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State and, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State.

One source in the Tinubu camp said: “His visit to Jonathan shouldn’t come to anyone as a surprise. Tinubu holds no grudges with any political leader whether within the party or in the opposition.”

He noted that the former president was elated to see them and open to consultation on the APC presidential candidate’s ambition. Asiwaju Tinubu’s closed-door meeting with Dr Jonathan comes on the heels of his earlier visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta where scores of APC supporters besieged the residence to catch glimpse of both leaders.