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Don’t take Nigerians for granted, Obasanjo tells Buhari

By Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta
25 May 2015   |   11:05 am
FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday told the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari that though God may have given Nigerians another opportunity to make the country “Great again” ...
--Obasanjo

Obasanjo

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday told the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari that though God may have given Nigerians another opportunity to make the country “Great again” through his administration, he must not, under any circumstance, take the people for granted.

He also appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with the in-coming administration to make Nigeria great.

Obasanjo, who spoke in beokuta while receiving a delegation of South West Women Leaders under the leadership of the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson at his Hill Top residence, noted that the new opportunity is God – given.

He said the good thing about the next administration is that the man who would head it, Buhari, is neither “a green horn nor a novice” in governance.

According to him, Buhari had been in the saddle before, even if it was under a “different circumstance” and would therefore use his experience to navigate the country in the right direction.

Maintaining that Nigerians are a clever people, Obasanjo advised Buhari to be honest and truthful with them, saying he should not try to “cover up” or try to “play the ostrich” with them, but to be as honest as possible with them in overseeing the affairs of the country.

The former president, who told his visitors that he believed in the political acumen of the President-elect in leading Nigeria, noted that the country had been poorly managed in the last eight years.

He contended that it would take some time for Buhari’s government to correct the anomalies, asking him not to be frightened by the situation.

He said: “When I came in 1999, there was no fuel and power. The situation was like this and I thought we have put that one behind us. The man that is coming on board has a lot of experiences in terms of governance.

“He is not a green horn. We have both worked together in administering, then as a military Head of State and we did it well. Nigerians need to exercise patience because what has been destroyed in eight years cannot be re-built ‎in a day.

“Let’s give him time. Let’s pray for him and let’s cooperate with him. We are all concerned about the present situation of Nigeria. The expectation is very high but at the same time, there is a lot of goodwill internally and externally for the in-coming government.

“Once the in-coming administration realises this and takes every step, particularly in the first three months when people will be watching and counting‎, for me, I think, we will get there.”

Speaking further, Obasanjo said: “God has provided a new opportunity for Nigeria and Nigerians and I believe God does not make mistake.

“‎There are two things I believe the in-coming President appreciates: he knows that the expectations of Nigerians are high and that he should not be frightened by the situation on ground.

“All he has to do is to be honest with Nigerians, and try not to be too clever with them.

“There is a lot of goodwill for the in-coming administration from within and outside the country. What is important is that steps have to be taken that will not lead to the squandering of the goodwill and I believe the in-coming government will be able to take care of that.”

In her response, Lawson said the country was currently experiencing agony in terms of corruption, insecurity, high crime rate, lack of power and fuel.

She noted that Obasanjo took over reins of leadership in 1999 when Nigeria was in a critical situation “like what is being experienced now.”

She urged Obasanjo to continue to play the advisory role towards ensuring the success of this administration.

She said: “We are aware that you also took over the reins of power of this country at a critical time and with the help of the Almighty, you were able to bring us back from the brink. The same goes for now.

“We therefore appeal to you not to leave this incoming government alone. Though we are confident in the time-proven abilities of our incoming President Muhammadu Buhari, we also believe that two heads are better than one and where there is a gathering of wise ones, wisdom will issue forth from there.”

12 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    I don’t how Nigerians could tell this man to shut up. When OBJ/IBB/Buhari junta upstaged and truncated people-elected civilian government in 1983, it was 67 kobo(N.67) to $1(USD). When IBB ceded ‘power’ to another military vagabond, it was 5 Naira to $1. When OBJ was booed out of office after his ego-bloated third term bid, it was 100 Naira to $1. During OBJ’s surrogates, Yar’dua/GEJ, it is tottering about 200 Naira to $1. The last time Nigerians saw advertorials for jobs in a newspaper was during the Shagari administration. What has OBJ and his ilks done differently other than downward spiral of the fortunes of Nigerians and runaway in corruption and impunity. During OBJ’s ‘majestic’ reign the nation experienced the worst in human rights abuses – several students’ deaths during Ali-Must-Go, Odi massacre, political assassinations such as Bola Ige, Marshall and a host other countless Nigerians. So, what’s this yakata mouth is talking about? He’s trying to set Buhari up!

  • Author’s gravatar

    NIGERIANS WILL BE REALISTIC AS NO MORTAL CAN REVERSE THE MONUMENTAL CALAMITY GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION IS LEAVING BEHIND, BUT WE THE PEOPLE HAVE HOPE AND A LOT OF CONFIDENCE THAT BUHAHI WILL GIVE ALL IT TAKES TO RE POSITION NIGERIA AND GIVE US A NEW AND AND VERY HONEST BEGINNING. SHAME ON GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS GOD FORSAKEN ADMINISTRATION. NIGERIANS EXPECTED MUCH FROM GOODLUCK JONATHAN BUT WHAT HE GAVE US WAS AN ABYSMAL AND PAROCHAIL FAILURE. HE GAVE US THE WORST AND THE MOST CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION IN THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA. AT THE END OF THE DAY AND WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN, HE WILL BE CALLED TO ACCOUNT FOR HIS VERY GROSS MISDEEDS AND VERY MASSIVE

    • Author’s gravatar

      You’re simply a bonehead for casting aspersion on the President! Your entire family generations can’t even dream of becoming Governors not to talk of aspiring to the position of President! Go look for a decent job and be more concerned about taking care of your family than worrying and losing sleep over what you can’t control!

    • Author’s gravatar

      Jonathan is a falure, I don’t care weather he is from my region in fact he is a snake.If he won this last selection,
      There would be no fuel scarcity.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Obj is hyper active, self preservation is the name of the game. All former leaders abused power and have commited larceny against the nation to a degree equals felony. I hope and pray that gmb and his co progressives of the APC are able to handle this aspect of war against corruption with caution for maximum benefit to the people.

  • Author’s gravatar

    YET PRESIDENT ELECT BUHARI YOUR FIRST MAJOR TASK IS TO TALK TO BUT NIGERIANS, TO US AND TO THE WORLD EYE BALL TO EYE BALL, AFTER YOU ARE SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT. AFTER YOU HAVE SEEN THE BRIEFS AND THE REAL POSITION OF THINGS. WE WILL WANT TO KNOW THE MONUMENTAL DISASTER AND THE VERY HORRIBLE MESS THAT YOU HAVE INHERITED FROM GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS NOT UP TO THE TASK BUT VERY ROTTEN AND GOD FORSAKEN ADMINISTRATION. THEN TELL US YOUR GAME PLAN AND HOW YOU INTEND TO START CLEARING THE VERY TERRIBLE MESS THAT GOODLUCK JONATHAN LEFT. THERE MUST BE NO HOLE BARRED, YOU AND YOUR INCOMING ADMINISTRATION MUST NOT SPARE ANY WRONG DOER, NO MATTER WHO THE PERSON IS OR THE OFFICE THE PERSON HELD. WE TRUST AND BELIEVE IN YOU AND WITH THE GUIDANCE OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD YOU WILL NOT LET US DOWN. THOSE WHO HAVE POLLUTED AND MESSED UP OUR COUNTRY MUST BE MADE TO CLEAN UP THEIR MESS AFTER DUE AND VERY DILIGENT DUE PROCESSES. IF ANY ONE CAN NOT DO THE TIME, THAT PERSON MUST NOT DO THE CRIME. PRESIDENT ELECT BUHARI YOU MUST LET NIGERIANS KNOW THAT IT WILL NO LONGER BE BUSINESS AS USUAL UNDER YOUR PRESIDENCY AND TELL NIGERIANS THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE THE PEOPLE ARE BEHIND YOU AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST.
    NIGERIANS WILL BE REALISTIC AS NO MORTAL CAN REVERSE THE MONUMENTAL CALAMITY GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION IS LEAVING BEHIND, BUT WE THE PEOPLE HAVE HOPE AND A LOT OF CONFIDENCE THAT BUHAHI WILL GIVE ALL IT TAKES TO RE POSITION NIGERIA AND GIVE US A NEW AND AND VERY HONEST BEGINNING. SHAME ON GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS GOD FORSAKEN ADMINISTRATION. NIGERIANS EXPECTED MUCH FROM GOODLUCK JONATHAN BUT WHAT HE GAVE US WAS AN ABYSMAL AND PAROCHAIL FAILURE. HE GAVE US THE WORST AND THE MOST CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION IN THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA. AT THE END OF THE DAY AND WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN, HE WILL BE CALLED TO ACCOUNT FOR HIS VERY GROSS MISDEEDS AND VERY MASSIVE MALADMINISTRATION

  • Author’s gravatar

    but you took Nigerians for granted in your tragic 8yrs…..yariba monkey, shut your dirty mouth.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Rapist …..Who did u rape lately??..These women shld stay together as a group at all times in his house o…

  • Author’s gravatar

    Freelance adviser…. I wish you took your own advise when you were in power.

  • Author’s gravatar

    caption should have been…..’ don’t take me for granted, Obasanjo tells Buhari’