The boiling political cold war between the apex leadership of the governing All Progressive Congress (APC) and the new Senate leadership led by Senator Bukola Saraki (APC Kwara South) over his controversial emergence last week as Senate President, took a different turn at the weekend, with the involvement of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in the matter.

The former president, Olusegun Obasanjo and Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Friday, held a closed door meeting, ostensibly on the matter, for over two hours at the former President's hilltop mansion, in Abeokuta, Ogun state. The meeting was strongly believed to be in connection with the battle by the All Progressive Congress (APC) to install Saraki's major opponent, Senator Ahmed Lawan, in place of Saraki, who emerged on June 9 as Senate President when the National Assembly was inaugurated.

The Senate entourage that arrived Abeokuta for the meeting included former Osun state governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former chairman of defunct New PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Senators Ahmed Yerima, Andy Uba, Tayo Alasoadura and Danjuma Goje. The visitors arrived at 9:11am and went straight into the closed door meeting and did not emerge until around 11:15.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting however, Saraki said he and his colleagues were in Abeokuta to "consult the former leader and tap from his experience. We are here with colleagues to see the former President, as one of our fathers and former President, to pay our homage to him and to get his advice, his blessing and also to consult. We all know President Obasanjo's value to this country, and we are here to tap from that wisdom and that knowledge and experience," Saraki said.

The senate president further stated that things are moving smoothly within the All Progressives Congress ( APC), assuring that all is well. "I think as you can see, things are moving smoothly. Definitely, you should be rest assured that all that would be put behind us shortly. We are very confident about that."

On the suggestion for a downward review of the controversial salaries and allowances of the members of the National Assembly, Saraki said the process of that reduction is already in progress.

"I think that is already in progress. If you remember the last time, it was about 150 billion and it is coming down to 120 billion. The situation in the country deserves every public servant do that. We all must make sacrifices and whatever sacrifices that is necessary, we would do it and that is being done at this given time."

"Be rest assured that definitely, we are sensitive; we are aware of the situation in the country and if we are going to lead, we must lead by example and we will do that."

However, sources say that the meeting may not be unconnected with realignment going on in the ruling All Progressives Congress, especially since the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly where members of People Democratic Party, PDP, played a significant role in the emergence of Saraki as Senate President and Yakubu Dogara as Speaker, House of Representatives.