Buhari President meets Tinubu, Akande, other APC chieftains after Obasanjo criticism

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Osun State governor, Chief Bisi Akande.

The president's Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, revealed on his official Twitter account that the meeting is taking place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He posted, "President Muhammadu Buhari in a closed-door meeting with APC chieftains, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande at the Presidential Villa, Abuja."

Even though there's no indication of the reason for the meeting, it comes just hours after former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, launched a scathing attack on President Buhari's performance since he was sworn in.

Obasanjo's attack on Buhari

The former president made his feelings about Buhari's administration known in a 13-page statement released on Tuesday, January, 23, 2018.

In the statement title, "The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement", Obasanjo pointed out major failings of the Buhari administration, particularly in the area of economic prosperity.

Obasanjo also faulted the president for appearing to show nepotic interest, as well as his administration's knack for not taking responsibility for issues.

He said the president has performed below the expectations of Nigerians and asked him to take a backseat in 2019 and help the nation from the sidelines while someone else takes over.

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No hope in APC or PDP

Obasanjo also expressed his lost hope in the ability of the ruling All Progressives' Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in providing Nigeria with the initiative it needs to progress.

He said "I have had occasion in the past to say that the two main political parties – APC and PDP – were wobbling. I must reiterate that nothing has happened to convince me otherwise. If anything, I am reinforced in my conviction.

"If neither APC nor PDP is a worthy horse to ride to lead Nigeria at this crucial and critical time, what then do we do? Remember Farooq Kperogi, an Associate Professor at the Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, calls it "a cruel Hobson's choice; it's like a choice between six and half a dozen, between evil and evil. Any selection or deflection would be a distinction without a difference."

"We cannot just sit down lamenting and wringing our hands desperately and hopelessly."

Read Obasanjo's full statement HERE.

Buhari's reelection status

While the president has refused to officially declare his intention to seek reelection in 2019, he has flirted around the topic in recent months.

While meeting with the Nigerian community in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire in November 2017, the president explained that he was accompanied to the meeting by two state governors because it will "be another vote for me in the future."

Also, while speaking during a two-day visit to Kano State a week later, the president said he's confident of winning reelection particularly due to the crowd turnout.

"I am overwhelmed by the sea of people I see, and by what I see today, if elections are contested I will no doubt win it," he said.

Hours after media reports indicated that Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi had been reappointed as Buhari's national campaign coordinator on January 3, 2018, the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, told journalists in the State House that the campaign for Buhari's reelection has officially taken off in the southwest region.