President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo met and embraced each other met at the opening session of the 30th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Sunday.
It was the first time public meeting of the two since Obasanjo released a damning letter asking Buhari not to re-contest in 2019.
In pictures released by the Presidency, Buhari and Obasanjo are seen with former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, and others in the Nigerian delegation to the Summit.
With former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, today. #30thAUSummit pic.twitter.com/ZiqqeRByuG
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) January 28, 2018
Obasanjo first went round to exchange pleasantries with other African leaders attending the summit before looking out for Buhari among the crowd to also have a word with him.
“Their brief pleasantries became a sensation inside the Nelson Mandela Hall as photojournalists made frantic efforts to capture the moment,” a reporter covering the event told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The public display of affection between Buhari and Obasanjo caught the attention of many Nigerian Twitter commentators.
Obasanjo: Did you read where I suggested Coalition for Nigeria?
Buhari: That’s smart, Baba. Now they’re not even talking about PDP as an alternative.
Obasanjo: Sorry, you said I hit you hard, it had to look real.
Abdulsalami: Guys, we’re in public. Let’s do this in the hotel. pic.twitter.com/sDjplvrWZ1
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) January 28, 2018
Continue making enemies over politicians.
See Obasanjo laughing with the same man he wrote a scathing letter to a few days ago. pic.twitter.com/S2KDNzCSBs
— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) January 28, 2018
#BBNaija
PMB: Ahaa! Naijerians will soon porget your letter😂😂
Dr. Obasanjo: Na God and Payport save you.
Abdusalam: shhh, you two come and see this Efu of a girl, she too pine.😂😂 pic.twitter.com/J6Hd1AUdWO— Scion (@promise_umez) January 28, 2018
Buhari: Dr Obasanjo don’t worry #BBNaija will let Nigerians to forget the letter you wrote.
Obasanjo: 😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/eEbhVWcuRr
— Olufemi Joseph (@Iamfemijoseph) January 28, 2018
