Obasanjo warns against military intervention
Image: Wikipedia
FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday warned against any military intervention in the affairs of the country for whatever reason.
Reacting to rumour that this Saturday’s presidential election might result in confusion and consequently lead to military take over, Obasanjo said such an action would undermine the integrity of Nigeria among the comity of nations.
He spoke when the South-West women of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) led by the wife of the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Hajia Aisha Buhari, paid him a courtesy visit at his Abeokuta Hilltop residence.
Obasanjo, who said he was happy that Nigeria had gone beyond the rumour of Interim National Government (ING) and that he hoped the country would also “survive the rumour of handing over to the military”, said the intentional community, especially the African Union (AU), would not accommodate or recognise any government that emerges outside the constitution of the country.
According to him, Nigeria has all it takes to dictate the pace for other countries in Africa, adding that Nigerians should blame themselves for where “it is today.”
He said: “I do hope we will get things more right. A lot of rumours are flying around, I think we have gone away from the rumour of interim government because that is not in our Constitution. I hope we will soon go away from the rumour of handing over to the military because the military is not meant to run affairs of a nation in terms of running government.”
Obasanjo, who also bemoaned hatred campaigns among the political parties, said they should focus more on what unite the country against what divide the country.
According to him, for anyone who is interested in the future of this country, issues of insecurity, economy, employment, among others, should form the focus of the campaigns of political parties.
He, however, called on women to play active role in a better Nigeria, saying: “I am happy to hear directly from you Mrs. Buhari that the campaign so far, from the assessment has gone very well. May be I should say one or two things about campaign. I do hope that whatever happens at the elections, the one coming this week and the one coming couple of weeks after that, that we would have learnt the right lessons from what has taken place this time around.
“Unfortunately, issues that should have been the main item of our campaign, they did not. We have serious issues of security, we have serious issue of our economy, we have issue of unemployment, particularly youths’ unemployment, we have serious issues of infrastructure, these are issues that campaign of those who are interested in the present and future of this country should be directed at.
Speaking earlier, Mrs. Buhari thanked Obasanjo for being a true nationalist, adding that he (Obasanjo) acted beyond party level while solving issues affecting the country.
She said: “Baba exercises his prowess as a father. As a former head of state of Nigeria twice, very few Nigerians have the opportunity to rule the country twice. We are here today to show our appreciation for the way you handled things as a statesman and also a nationalist.
“We thank you so much for acting beyond party in getting things right. Thank you for that, may you live long to continue solving out problems.”
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11 Comments
Can somebody please honestly gjve me a list of 10 things that really unite Nigeria? What infrastructure or ecomomic sector did Obassanjo build (to international standard)during his 8 years of demcrati rule? Was it: roads? communication? aviatIon? health? education? power? banking? energy? financial? .. what Nigeria is now suffering from a series of bad leaderships that started from independence. Nigeria will disintegrate if it is not restructured; it doea not matter who wins the elections next week.
What makes Obasanjo a Nationalist. Can any one tell me. Both Obasanjo and Buhari are blood suckers.
God please Please shut Obasanjo up forever with or at least until after the elections.
when obasanjo was in power,for eight year what good things he did for Nigeria,an is talking about infrastructure unemployment,people use to say if a good father show a good example for his son the son will follow the example,but if a bad father show bad example the son will also follow the bad example, na people is blaming president Jonathan,i listing to buhari statement he said is Jonathan is the cause of corruption in Nigeria but him forgot that when him was head of state president Jonathan was doing is P H D , at dat time,what good things dose he do at dat time,obasanjo and buhari is the cause of nigeria problem because when their two was head of state.nigeria was bad at that time
Anytime Obasanjo attempts to make a fool of himself (he succeeds sometimes), I always remember Prof..Wole Soyinka’s characterisation of this Baba Ole( PAPA THIEF) ‘COMPULSIVE and CAREER LIAR’.ie OBJ LIVES by LYING. Honestly, OBJ needs some pschotherapeutical treatment which might help his EMOTIONALand MENTAL status. This may help to mitigate his compulsive and troublesome behaviour. Unfortunately,he might not be aware of all these things. I DEY KAMPE might be his response, if confronted with this obvious psychosis and near madness. IT’S A PITY, though
I am amazed at the way Nigerian of certain extraction attacks personalities without making tangible intellectual input to issue based debates. This is not healthy for the unity of this country. We expressed views freely because of the existence of the space called Nigeria
OBJ has reduced (or perhaps , elevated) himself to a RUMOUR MONGER. Cant you see that something is wrong with this man.? A former president, that’s madness. Sorry dear, I have to be blunt. !!!
It is this old man sowing the seed of discord. He is speaking his mind. He thinks he owns Nigeria. He has lost every respect. Look at how people now talk about him. I wish he can read the comments of people about him.
TELL GOODLUCK JONATHAN THAT A GENERAL IN THE NIGERIAN ARMY, IS FAR MORE QUALIFIED THAN A WEST AFRICA SCHOOL CERTIFICATE HOLDER. TELL GOODLUCK JONATHAN THAT HE IS BRINGING, THE VERY GOOD NANE OF OUR HIGHLY RESPECTED MILITARY INTO RIDICULE AND ODIUM. TELL GOODLUCK JONATHAN THAT HE IS INSULTING OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN, WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO PROTECT US AND MAKE SU VERY SAFE. TELL GOODLUCK JONATHAN THAT HE IS RUBBISHING OUR GREAT MILITARY INSTITUTION , WHOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HE GOODLUCK JONATHAN IS PUTTING IN HARMS WAY ON A DAILY BASIS. TELL GOODLUCK JONATHAN THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND THIS MUST STOP NOW. . VOTE VERY MASSIVELY FOR BUHARI AS THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA COME END OF MAY 2015. VOTE FOR BUHARI AND END THE MASSIVE LOOTING OF GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS GOOD FOR NOTHING AND GOD FORSAKEN ADMINISTRATION. VOTE BUHARI AND END VERY RECKLESS IMPUNITY, GROSS DISREGARD OF RULE OF THE RULE OF LAW, BEING IN OFFICE AND NOT IN POWER, BEING A VENTRILOQUIST DUMMY AND A PUDDLE, ETC ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PLACEBO AND PRETEND ADMINISTRATION OF GOODLUCK JONATHAN. VOTE BUHARI AND RESTORE OUR PRIDE AND GLORY
Nigeria military is a part of the country institution. It can also serve as a corrective measure to clean up the system as it happened in Ghana.
Sir you have so much belittled yourself that personally I cannot believe you. This is your insinuation. Out of the abundant of the heart the mouth speaks. This is what you would want happen instead of seen Jonathan come back as the president. Nigeria belongs to all of us but you want to run it as your show but it will not work. Man proposes but God disposes. It is only the will of God that will come to pass for Nigeria not the will of man.
We will review and take appropriate action.