On Thursday, former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar joined the list of A- list guests visited the Presidential Villa. It will be recalled that prior to the Presidential elections, the former Head of state headed a peace committee whose mandate was to ensure a smooth elections and forestall election violence.The committee oversaw the signing of the peace accord between Buhari and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan ahead of the March 28 presidential election. That former President Jonathan conceding defeat easily to President Buhari is believed to be the outcome of behind-the-scene work of the committee.Suffice to say that when President Buhari assumed office and his fight against corruption took full swing, the Peace Committee led by Abdulsalami visited Buhari at the Villa. The committee said it was concerned about the process of the anti-corruption war of President Buharis administration.Addressing State House journalists after the meeting, a member of the committee, Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Hassan Kukah said the position of the committee was that Nigeria was no longer in a military regime. According to him, the committee believed in the provision of the existing laws that everybody is innocent until proven guilty.He said Buharis anti-graft war) is not heating up the polity. In our conversation with former President Jonathan and members of the parties, I dont think any Nigerian is in favour of corruption or is against the presidents commitment to ensuring that we turn over a new leaf.I think what we are concerned about is process. It is no longer a military regime, and under our existing laws, everybody is innocent until proven guilty.Again, our own commitment is not to intimidate or fight anybody. The former presidents commitment and what he did still remains spectacular, and I think that President Buhari himself appreciates that. So, our effort really is to make sure that the right thing is done.However since then Gen Abubakar has been silent on national issues unlike Chief Obasanjo who always has an opinion on national issues.At exactly 12:32 on Thursday, the former Head of State entered the Villa in a black Mercedes-Benz and was immediately ushered in the President s office and as usual journalist laid seige at the Presidents courtyard waiting for the meeting to end.An hour later, Gen Abubakar came out and was obviously surprised when he saw Journalists waiting for him. The former head of state tactically evaded all questions and was brief in his answers.Speaking with State House corespondents after the meeting which lasted almost an hour, Abubakar said the peace committee which was formed prior to the 2015 general elections was working quietly to ensure that there was peace in the country.He stressed the need for the Buhari administration with the assistance of all Nigerians to resolve the various crises in the country.On why he came to the Villa, he said, I came to discuss issues of national interest and international affairs with the President. Both of them are interwoven. I have discussed with the person I came to see and I dont think I need to discuss it in the news media.The former head of state also said he was in the villa to discuss some undisclosed issues with the president. He stressed the need for political parties to work together.He said: We are still working, although quietly. We are working to make sure that there is peace in the country and all the political parties work amicably because each one has got a role to play.So, I hope the current administration through the assistance of all Nigerians will give a helping hand to make that these crises that are unnecessary and uncalled for, we overcome them.
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