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Combined reactions have continued to encompass Sunday’s endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labour Get together within the 2023 common elections, Peter Obi, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, DIRISU YAKUBU stories
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is understood for talking his thoughts, notably on problems with nationwide concern. Having performed a key function in shaping the political historical past of Nigeria, the Nigeria-Biafra civil struggle commander has had trigger to intervene in issues regarding the well being of the nation up to now few years.
In his memoir, “My Watch,” the retired army common chronicled his life trajectory spanning his childhood, army profession and political management, unmasking the character traits of some outstanding Nigerians from his information of them.
After acknowledging the experience of Wole Soyinka within the artwork, he went on to mock each his political activism and his well-known looking endeavour.
“For Wole, nobody may be good, nor can something be spot-on politically besides that which emanates from him or is ordained by him. His mates and family members will at all times be proper and proper it doesn’t matter what they do or fail to do. He’s a misfit as political analyst, commentator or critic,” he mentioned, including that the Nobel Laureate is “certainly a greater wine connoisseur and a extra profitable aparo (guinea fowl) hunter than a political critic, to not discuss of what he may in order a politician.”
The person known as Baba by many even had harsher phrases for Atiku Abubakar who was the Vice President for eight years within the Obasanjo-led authorities.
He mentioned, “From the day I nominated Atiku to be my vice, he set his thoughts not for any good, profit or service of the nation, however on furiously planning to upstage, supplant or take away me in any respect value and to take my place. That was what I introduced him for, however he was impatient and over-ambitious. He was not able to be taught and to attend. His marabout, who predicted that regardless of being elected as governor, he wouldn’t be sworn in as a governor, which occurred, additionally assured him that he would take over from me in a matter of months fairly than years.
He added, “All his plans, appointments of individuals and his actions have been in the direction of the actualisation of his marabout’s prediction. As soon as I realised his intention and programme, I watched him like a hawk with out giving any indication of what I knew and letting down my guard. I couldn’t succumb to the distraction, diversion and malevolence of an formidable however unwise deputy.”
Up to now few years, the retired army common had via public letters, picked holes within the governments of President Goodluck Jonathan and Main Basic Muhammadu Buhari (retd), accusing each of failing to attract energy within the diversities the nation gives for nationwide cohesion.
This follow earned him the unofficial title of “The letter author,” whilst targets of his extremely important epistles usually discover a approach to dismiss points raised in these interventions.
In what’s quick changing into a part of the nation’s political tradition, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi, the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Get together, All Progressives Congress and the Labour Get together, respectively, had course to go to Obasanjo to share their concepts of how they intend to show across the fortunes of the nation if elected.
Atiku was notably optimistic of Baba’s blessing having endorsed him in 2019.
In a New 12 months (2023) message to Nigerians entitled, “My Attraction to All Nigerians Notably Younger Nigerians,” the previous President superior a legion of causes to dump Tinubu and Atiku whereas pledging his help for Obi, a former governor of Anambra State.
Within the letter, the Owu chief wrote, “The final seven and a half years have little doubt been eventful and annoying years for a lot of Nigerians. We’ve moved from frying pan to fireplace and from the mountain high to the valley. Our leaders have performed their finest, however their finest had turned out to be not the perfect for Nigeria and Nigerians at dwelling and overseas. For many Nigerians, it was hell on earth.
“These of us who’re alive ought to thank God for his mercies, brace ourselves for the remaining few months of this administration and pray and work very arduous for an instantaneous higher future – a way forward for liberation, restoration and nice hope and expectation.
“We’ve had campaigners going up and down the nation feeding us with what they imply and what they don’t imply, what they perceive and what they don’t absolutely perceive, what is feasible and what’s not potential, what’s reasonable and what’s unrealistic, what’s true and what’s unfaithful. I consider that we want not be confused nor be gullible. Allow us to be cautious, to not be fooled once more.
With painful jibes at Tinubu and Atiku, the previous President famous that “’Emi Lokan’ (My flip) and “I’ve paid my dues’’ are one and the identical factor and are incorrect perspective and mentality for the management of Nigeria now.
“They can not kind the brand new pedestal to reinvent and to put money into a brand new Nigeria primarily based on an All-Nigeria Authorities for the liberation and restoration of Nigeria. Such a authorities should have illustration from all sectors of our nationwide life – public, personal, civil society, skilled, labour, employers, and the diaspora. The answer must be in ‘we’ and ‘us’ and never in ‘me’ and ‘I’.”
He then went on to state that “not one of the contestants is a saint however when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, information, self-discipline and vitality that they’ll convey to bear and the good efforts required to remain centered on the job notably the place the nation is in the present day and with the expertise on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge.
To nail the coffin for Tinubu and Atiku, Obasanjo argued that the job of presiding over the affairs of the nation is one that’s too tasking for septuagenarians, a comment that bought the camps of each candidates fuming and uncomfortable.
Talking completely to The PUNCH, human rights activists and political commentator, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, faulted the criticisms leveled towards Obasanjo, arguing that if he had endorsed Tinubu or Atiku, each males would have been in unstrained pleasure in the present day.
He mentioned, “I don’t suppose Obasanjo must be criticised and crucified for his private views primarily based on his private notion of points and polity. I’ll see such lampooning as myopic, insincere and duplicitous. It is because the identical PDP and APC had additionally approached the identical Obasanjo for his endorsement. If he had endorsed them, would they’ve criticised him? Would they not have lapped all of it up? Take it or depart it, though Obasanjo is barely entitled to 1 vote like each and another Nigerian, nobody can deny that he has turn out to be an ethical compass for happenings in Nigeria and Africa. I learn his letter very fastidiously. It’s wealthy, compelling, logical, well-researched, even when judgmental and puritanical.”
A chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Discussion board, Anthony Sani, is nevertheless not impressed with Obasanjo’s current endorsement of Obi, telling The Punch that the person is now famed for his “inconsistency.”
Sani mentioned, “Former President Obasanjo has been utilizing letter writing for sitting Presidents and Nigerians as technique of his politics via which he has arrogated to himself the standing of conscience of the nation. However since he tore his PDP membership card as a approach of retiring from partisan politics solely to hitch the African Democratic Congress, and later endorsed former Atiku for the 2019 elections, issues haven’t been the identical for him once more.
“Consequently, most Nigerians now consider the one factor constant about former President Obasanjo is inconsistency. Moreover, the defeat of Abubakar Atiku by the President, Main Basic Muhammadu Buhari (retd), in 2019 regardless of Obasanjo’s letter and endorsement has tended to demystify his declare to being the conscience of the nation. I
For a political pundit and human rights lawyer, Abdul Mahmud, these criticising Obasanjo are blind to the place of endorsement in most democracies of the world.
He mentioned, “Political endorsement is part of modern politics, a lot in order that it has turn out to be a topic of latest scholarship, with students like Calvert and Mckinsey main the sphere. And new fashions of examination comparable to recreation and spatial fashions are actually getting used to clarify political endorsement. We’ve additionally seen the significance of political endorsement and its results in different political climes. Within the run-up to the 2020 United States primaries, Black Congressman, Jim Clyburn’s endorsement of Joe Biden forward of the primaries in South Carolina set Biden on the surge. We are able to additionally recall Oprah’s endorsement of Obama in 2008, which drew huge black votes to Obama.”
Persevering with, Mahmud argued that “endorsement isn’t new to Nigerians. We noticed the numerous political endorsements, together with Obasanjo’s in 2015, which just about took the wind out of Jonathan’s intrepid sail. I’m stunned that those that criticised Obasanjo rapidly forgot that partisan help is what makes democracy tick and endorsement, which varieties a part of the deliberative and consultant cores of democracy, is without doubt one of the comforting ticks of the democratic field, if not the primary tick. Think about how an thrilling endorser of a politician attracts enthusiasm and pleasure to the democratic course of. That is what’s misplaced to Obasanjo’s critics, for my part.”
Activist and Chief Government Officer of Linked Improvement, Hamza Lawal, mentioned, “It’s at all times inspiring to see our elder statesmen lend their help and knowledge to a political marketing campaign. Their years of expertise and dedication to public service make them precious voices within the political dialog. Their endorsement of a selected candidate is a testomony to that candidate’s {qualifications} and imaginative and prescient for the long run.
“It’s clear that the elder statesman believes this candidate is your best option for the job, and this endorsement, below pure political circumstances, carries a whole lot of weight and credibility. We must always all hearken to the important side of the assertion that emphasizes the necessity for us all to solid our poll. A very powerful factor is all of us should come out to vote no matter who we select however sitting at house is now not an possibility. Residents should take part in elections and be ready to have interaction and maintain their leaders accountable,” he mentioned.
Obasanjo has an simple proper as a Nigerian to endorse his most well-liked candidate. He’s equally entitled to the appropriate of rejecting different candidates however calling him a spent drive in consequence is an insult taken too far.
