VIDEO: Obasanjo, Atiku meet at Abuja charity event

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has reunited with his former principal, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In a post on his X.com on Monday, the former Vice President expressed excitement about reuniting and walking alongside his former boss, describing the meeting with Obasanjo as a profound privilege.

Atiku stated that the occasion that facilitated their meeting on Sunday was the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, founded by his wife, Mrs Titi Abubakar.

He also commended Obasanjo for his commitment and support for the foundation, which addresses human trafficking and child labour in the country.

He wrote: “It’s a profound privilege to stride alongside our esteemed former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, into the vibrant celebration of WOTCLEF Foundation’s 25th Anniversary in Abuja. This moment is a testament to the unwavering support the Foundation has received from President Obasanjo.”

Watch the video here

Meanwhile, Obasanjo has explained how he secured debt forgiveness for the country between 1999, when he assumed power as elected president, and 2007, when he left.

Obasanjo, who lamented a deficit and waning of leadership and corruption in the country, explained that it was not an impossible feat to secure consideration for debt forgiveness from the world financial lenders, but leaders must present a just course.

He disclosed that world lenders must be convinced that those seeking such forgiveness are genuine in their demands and that the deal will be diligently challenged into developmental courses.

Obasanjo, in an interview with News Central TV, mentioned that he was able to successfully secure debt forgiveness for the country by proving his readiness to utilise the money saved for sustainable development.

The former President argued that successive leaders of recent times rarely provide such just courses for consideration for debt forgiveness, citing corruption and lack of plans.

Obasanjo said when he came in as democratic president in 1999, Nigeria was serving debt at a huge sum of $3.5billion dollars, with a total of about $36bn dollar debt burden, while the reserve had a balance of about $3.7bn.

He said that, being able to clear the debts by securing relief, he had left a sum of $45bn in the reserves and $25bn in the excess crude account.

“When I became elected President of Nigeria, one of the things that worried me and that I wanted to do something about was debt relief. The quantum of debt that we were carrying, the burden was too heavy. We were spending $3.5bn to service debt, yet the quantum was not going down, and I believed that we should seek debt relief.

“Many people inside and outside Nigeria thought it was a bad dream, but I was convinced. I went to the World Bank, and I started talking to our creditors,” Obasanjo said.