Obasanjo meets Jonathan, wife in Otuoke

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Saturday, visited former President Goodluck Jonathan in his country home in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.


Obasanjo, in company with Governor Seriake Dickson; his wife, Rachel, and the Senator Representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Ben Murray-Bruce, was received by Jonathan and his wife, Patience.



After exchanging greetings, the two former presidents spent about 30 minutes together. Obasanjo told journalists after the meeting that he had a special dinner with Jonathan.

Obasanjo commended the Otuoke-born politician for the dinner and appreciated Dickson for facilitating the meeting.

The former president described the visit as a meeting of brothers.

A media aide to Jonathan, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, told our correspondent that Obasanjo was in his principal’s house on a courtesy visit.

Eze said, “Obasanjo came on a private visit to former President Jonathan. After that, he (Obasanjo) had a private dinner with the Jonathans.” Earlier, Obasanjo commended President Muhammadu Buhari for awarding modular refinery operational licences to 22 firms, including Azikel Petroleum.

He gave the commendation on Saturday while performing the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Azikel Refinery, the first private modular refinery in the oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region.

The refinery, run by Azikel Petroleum, a subsidiary of Azikel Group of Companies with Dr. Azibapu Eruani, an indigene of Bayelsa, as its Group President, is located at the Obunagha community in Gbarain Kingdom of the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

Obasanjo noted that out of the 22 licenced operators, Azikel Petroleum was the only company that had actualised its dream of establishing a modular refinery.

Obasanjo said, “I have been told that President Buhari and his government gave 22 licences and Azikel Petroleum is the only one out of the 22 that has really actualised.

“Before then, we gave 18 and not one was actualised and that is why on an occasion like this, we should pay special tribute to people like Eruani. I join you all in thanking President Buhari for giving four licences more than we gave.”