President Goodluck Jonathan has directed his aides to stop the media war against former President Olusegun Obasanjo with a warning that any aide that errs will lose his job.
The presidential directive came on the heels of intervention by some unnamed chieftains of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. The party elders were said to have asked the President to caution his aides.
A Presidency source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Punch that some members of the party felt that the exchange of words between the President, his aides and the former President was not good for the image of the party.
The source said: “The party informed the President that the members of the opposition could capitalise on the disagreement to cause a major friction between the two leaders of the party.
“The President has directed his aides not to speak either directly or indirectly on anything that is injurious to the former President on any issue. This is because some leaders of the PDP have advised him not to take on the former President in a fight.
“Apart from the political implication of such, we also believe that it could heat up the polity and cause tension in both the party and the polity.
“Moreover, the party has seen that the opposition is already trying to make gains from the fight and that will not be a good thing either for the two leaders or our party.
“The President respects Obasanjo. He will not do anything that will widen the gap between them. I am sure that the disagreement will be settled.
“Besides, there are no plans by the President to witch-hunt Obasanjo with any probe.”
Recall that both men’s relationship has been cold since President Jonathan condemned the invasion of Odi, a village in his state, Bayelsa, by the government of former President Obasanjo on National Television.
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