2019: OBASANJO DEBUNKS REPORT OF HIS NEUTRALITY IN POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION

‘While Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is in Cairo to attend the maiden edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), of which he is Chairman of the Advisory Council, his attention has been drawn to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) with the headline “Atiku: Obasanjo Shifts Political Gear to Neutral.” 

He added, ’It is disingenuous, if not malicious, for anyone to suggest that Chief Obasanjo was being neutral when he chose not to use the Owu Convention as a platform for political campaign but instead adopt a communal and familial approach in talking to members of his Owu family’. 

For the records, and as accurately reported by some media organisations, what the former President said at the Convention in Iwo was that while he would not impress any candidates on them, Nigerians should vote for credible candidates who will drive growth and development and make their lives better than it is now’. 

He explained that, his  statement did not suggest his neutrality, but he  believes that, ‘only a fool will sit on the fence or be neutral when his or her country is being destroyed with incompetence, corruption, lack of focus, insecurity, nepotism, brazen impunity and denial of the obvious. Chief Obasanjo is no such fool nor is he so unwise’. 

The former President reassures Nigerians that he will not sit on the fence when he needs to be out and active for people to know where he stands in the best interest of Nigeria.

He reaffirms  that he is on the side of what is best for Nigeria, noting that  what we have currently and as the affairs of Nigeria are being run is not the best for Nigeria, so nobody should fool himself or deceive others about his( Obasanjo’s) position. 

The former President further urges Nigerians who are victims of what we have for now to stop just complaining and go out to get beneficial change, stating that, ‘they must know that such change will not come if they remain inactive just complaining and complacent and they allow themselves to be deceived by sycophants and enemies of Nigeria’.

‘ If they do not become active and get much needed change of the current administration to a government that will improve the economy, regain the confidence of investors and generally drive growth, development and economic progress with security, what is coming will be much worse than what Nigerians currently suffer’.  

He further declared that,on his part, he will remain consistent in speaking out whenever and wherever he sees evil as he is known to do no matter whose ox is gored,stressing that nobody should manipulate his  position, particularly on the 2019 Presidential election.