NaijaWire

PDP convention dinner: Security men humiliate OBJ at Aso Rock

Abuja - Things are indeed no longer rosy for former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo , as he was humiliated by security personnel attached to the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja, last Sunday.

Ironically,the effort by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to save Obasanjo from further embarrassment at the hands of the stern-looking security-men was professionally rebuffed.

The setting was the dinner hall in Aso Rock where President Yar’Adua hosted the outgone executive committee members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Dr. Ahmadu Ali and the new one headed by Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, to a post-convention dinner.

After the usual speeches by stakeholders toasting to the successful conduct of the consensus convention, it was time for dinner and the wife of Dr. Ali, Mary, a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of PDP, was called to lead dignitaries on a queue to serve the buffet.

After Mrs. Ali got up, her husband followed in tow and then, probably miscalculating, former president Obasanjo made to join the queue after Dr. Ali.

It was at this juncture that stern-looking security-men headed towards him (Obasanjo) and effectively prevented him from joining the queue, reminding him of the need to observe and obey protocol.

Not ready to put his former boss and godfather to public opprobrium, President Yar’Adua waded into the matter and ordered the security-men to allow Obasanjo join the queue after Dr. Ali and before him (Yar’Adua).

By this time, an angry Obasanjo had made for his seat leaving Yar’Adua to sort things out with his security-men.

After some pep talk with the security personnel, President Yar’Adua joined the queue behind Dr. Ali while the Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Oladimeji Bankole queued behind the President.

Probably thinking that the protocol issue had been settled, OBJ again attempted to join the queue just behind the Speaker but was again effectively prevented from doing so by the security-men who obviously knew, by training, that the “protocol list” had not been exhausted.

President Yar’Adua, who had already joined the queue and was far away in front could not witness the second part of the drama and so could not rescue the former president.

News Source: Nigerian Tribune