Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday said some
persons aspiring to be Nigeria’s President in 2023 should be in jail had the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission performed its job efficiently.
Obasanjo stated this during an international symposium to
mark his 85th birthday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Speaking during the well-attended event with the theme,
‘Africa Narrative with Nigeria Situation’, the ex-President and strongman of
Hilltop Towers also said though many presidential hopefuls have visited him to
solicit support for their tall ambition, he has not endorsed any aspirant for
the much-exalted seat in Aso Rock.
‘I’m not sponsoring any southern candidate’
He said, “As the quadrennial madness builds a head of steam
and the runners and riders crisscross the nation in the quest for nomination as
the party flag bearer to the highest office in the land, I read and hear about
endorsement and statements in support of candidates that I frankly have not
made and forming next political parties that I can never get involved in. I was
told that social media credited to me the names of three people from the south
that I am sponsoring for Presidency in 2023.
“My friend, Professor Ango Abdullah, who brought this to my
knowledge remarked that he did not believe that I made such a statement because
it was out of my character. I have neither named names nor stated my position.
In a situation like the one we are in, I will not rush into naming names
without necessary consultations and well-defined principles and criteria. We
need to be clear about what Nigeria needs today and why Nigeria needs it. Only
then can we answer the question of how that will inform us of the criteria and
characteristics for determining who.”
Continuing, the celebrant said some 2023 presidential
aspirants should be in jail had the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices
and Other Related Offences Commission done their jobs effectively.
Obasanjo said, “Since 1999, we have changed from one
political party or another we have manoeuvred and manipulated to the point that
election results are no longer reflections of the will of the people and we
seemed to be progressively going back rather than going forward politically,
economically and socially.
“We have activities without requite actions and personnel to
move us forward. If we continue in the same pattern of recycling, sweet-word
campaigning, manoeuvring without the substance of integrity, honesty,
patriotism, commitment, outreach, courage, understanding of what makes a nation
and what make for development, we will soon have to say goodbye to Nigeria as a
nation.
“I cast a cursory look at some of the people running around
and those for whom people are running around. If EFCC and ICPC will have done
their jobs properly and supported adequately by the judiciary, most of them
would be in jail. Any person who has no integrity in small things cannot have
integrity in big things.”
Obasanjo, unarguably one of the prestigious global citizens
from Africa, was Nigeria’s democratically elected President between 1999 and
2007.
The former Nigerian military head of state between February
1976 and October 1979 had sat on many peace committees including those of the
United Nations, African Union and Economic Community of West African States and
had been instrumental to the restoration of peace in many parts of Africa
including Liberia, Sudan, Ethiopia, amongst others.
On the occasion of his 85th birthday, the former military
head of state restated the need for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.
According to him, fixing Nigeria must begin on the
principles of nation-building, not necessarily on emotion, ethnicity or
religion. “The issues of security, stability, development, economy and our
relationship within Africa and with the rest of the world can only be taken
care of if we get the issue of the nation-building right,” he emphasised.
X-ray presidential
aspirants, Obasanjo tells Nigerians
On the way forward, Obasanjo said all presidential aspirants
must be “properly x-rayed and profiled from birth and Nigerians must be
educated to be able to make a choice that will be in the national interest and
propel Nigeria forward”.
“Such a person will have to lead what remains of the nation
to courageously continue on the path of nation-building as a national team
leader, no matter on what platform he or she assumes leadership. No one can do
it alone. We must, however, stop sacrificing character, track records and
performance on the altar of ethnic, regional or religious jingoism. As the
watchman counts on daybreak, so too do I count on Nigerians and Nigeria to
bring forth that person,” the elder statesman concluded.
Northern politicians who have shown interest in getting the
party’s 2023 presidential ticket include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar;
former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal;
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; and ex-governor of Kano State, Rabiu
Kwankwaso.
Aside from northern politicians, some southern stalwarts
including former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Pius Anyim; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose;
ex-governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; media personality, Dele Momodu,
amongst others have also expressed interest in clinching the party’s 2023 presidential
ticket in the primary which is expected to hold later this year.
Other presidential hopefuls include All Progressives
Congress leader, Bola Tinubu; Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; ex-Governor
of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; former Governor of Abia State and Majority Whip
of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu; former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, among others.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has also been rumoured to nurse
an ambition to succeed his boss through the 2023 election but the professor of
law has not officially made his intention known.
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