• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

      EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences…

      PRNigeria logo fearured image

      EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict, Other for Naira Abuse in Lagos

      EFCC Arrests 37 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ilorin

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • Customs Diplomacy: Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Ink Mutual Assistance Deal

      Comptroller General Nigerian Customs Bashir Adewale

      Nigeria, Belarus Forge Alliance to Combat Smuggling, Facilitate Trade

      President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and CG Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

      Tinubu Hails Customs Boss Wale Adeniyi on Historic Election as WCO…

      WTO Lauds Nigeria Customs for Embracing Global Trade Standards

      Nigeria, Rwanda Sign Landmark Tax Treaty to Boost Cross-Border Investment

  • National
    • A Different Kind of War on Drugs By As-Sayyidul Arafat Abdulrazaq

      HAJJ Pilgrims pilgrimage NAHCON

      NAHCON Completes 2025 Hajj Return Operations 

      MNJTF troops

      LAKE CHAD: Major Victory as 210 Boko Haram Terrorists, Families Surrender…

      For Aminu Dantata to Sleep Well… By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

      Nigerian Dignitaries, Business Leaders Attend Aminu Dantata’s Burial in Madinah Saudi…

    • Government
      • G7 Countries

        Iran Must Never Possess Nuclear Weapons – G7 Declare

        Nigerian Dignitaries, Business Leaders Attend Aminu Dantata’s Burial in Madinah Saudi…

        Dantata laid to rest at Medina Cemetery

        Legendary Business Mogul Aminu Dantata Laid to Rest in Madinah Cemetery

        Tinubu Seeks Visa Waivers, Scholarships as Nigeria Establishes Diplomatic Ties with…

        Malam Yusuf Abubakar Dingyadi

        Dingyadi, PDP Chair’s Vocal Spokesperson, Resigns

  • Security
    • Military Troops during operations

      Military Eliminate Bandit in Plateau, Rescue Abducted Victim

      Military Troops in Action

      Troops Ambush Bandits in Plateau, Neutralise One, Rescue Kidnap Victim

      Vice Marshal (AVM) Abubakar Adamu, Chairman Military Pension Board

      New MPB Chairman AVM Abubakar Adamu Pledges to Prioritise Retirees’ Welfare

      General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, CDS

      DHQ, NIS Team Up to Revive Nigerian Sports

      A Different Kind of War on Drugs By As-Sayyidul Arafat Abdulrazaq

  • Features
    • A Different Kind of War on Drugs By As-Sayyidul Arafat Abdulrazaq

      For Aminu Dantata to Sleep Well… By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

      Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

      Bashir Adeniyi: A Roadmap to Global Customs Leadership By Tahir Ahmad

      IGP Kayode Egbetokun Police Boss

      IGP Egbetokun: Leading the Charge for a Safer Nigeria By Danjuma…

      NDLEA Logo

      Drug Culture in Nigerian Music: When Art Imitates Harm By Arafat…

  • State
    • Military Troops during operations

      Military Eliminate Bandit in Plateau, Rescue Abducted Victim

      A Different Kind of War on Drugs By As-Sayyidul Arafat Abdulrazaq

      MNJTF troops

      LAKE CHAD: Major Victory as 210 Boko Haram Terrorists, Families Surrender…

      Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA

      In Plateau, Security Forces Dislodge Militias, Reclaim Villages in Bokkos

      Military Troops during operations

      Gallant Troops Nab 25 Suspected Bandits, Kidnappers in Benue

  • Event
    • NELFUND

      NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Application Portal

      EFCC Witness: Yahaya Bello Had No Property Dealings With EFAB

      Hon. Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu (RMS), with PRNigeria Ladies in PR I'm Abuja

      Rukayat Shittu Set to Publish Inspirational Book “Cracking the Glass Ceiling”,…

      Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo

      Former Kwara Governor, Chief Adebayo, Dies at 84

      Managing Editor of Image Merchants, Mr Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, PR Expert, Celestine Achi and the Editor-in-chief, Yushau Shuaib presenting the book to PRNigeria center

      PRNigeria Commends New Book on Artificial Intelligence in Public Relations

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home National 40 ‘Punches’ from Obasanjo to Buhari over 2019 Election
  • National

40 ‘Punches’ from Obasanjo to Buhari over 2019 Election

By
Prnigeria
-
January 23, 2018
Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari
Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari

40 ‘Punches’ from Obasanjo to Buhari over 2019 Election
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a Special Press Release title: “The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement” against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PRNigeria provides forty strong points from the Release, touching on various socio-political and economic issues in Nigeria. The excerpts are quoted from the official statement of former President Obasanjo
———————————————————————————————-
1. I am constrained to issue this special statement at this time considering the situation of the country. Some of you may be asking, “What has brought about this special occasion of Obasanjo issuing a Special Statement?”

2. There is a Yoruba saying that ‘when lice abound in your clothes, your fingernails will never be dried of blood’. To ensure you do not have blood on your fingernails, you have to ensure that lice are not harboured anywhere within your vicinity.

3. The lice of poor performance in government – poverty, insecurity, poor economic management, nepotism, gross dereliction of duty, condonation of misdeed – if not outright encouragement of it, lack of progress and hope for the future, lack of national cohesion and poor management of internal political dynamics and widening inequality – are very much with us today.

4. With such lice of general and specific poor performance and crying poverty with us, our fingers will not be dry of ‘blood’.

5. Four years ago when my PDP card was torn, I made it abundantly clear that I quit partisan politics for aye but my concern and interest in Nigeria, Africa and indeed in humanity would not wane. Ever since, I have adhered strictly to that position.

6. Even the horse rider then (GEJ), with whom I maintain very cordial, happy and social relationship today has come to realise his mistakes and regretted it publicly and I admire his courage and forthrightness in this regard. He has a role to play on the side line for the good of Nigeria, Africa and humanity and I will see him as a partner in playing such a role nationally and internationally, but not as a horse rider in Nigeria again.

7. The situation that made Nigerians to vote massively to get my brother Jonathan off the horse is playing itself out again. First, I thought I knew the point where President Buhari is weak and I spoke and wrote about it even before Nigerians voted for him and I also did vote for him because at that time it was a matter of “any option but Jonathan” (aobj).

8. But my letter to President Jonathan titled: “Before It Is Too Late” was meant for him to act before it was too late. He ignored it and it was too late for him and those who goaded him into ignoring the voice of caution.

9. I know that praise-singers and hired attackers may be raised up against me for verbal or even physical attack but if I can withstand undeserved imprisonment and was ready to shed my blood by standing for Nigeria, I will consider no sacrifice too great to make for the good of Nigeria at any time. No human leader is expected to be personally strong or self-sufficient in all aspects of governance.

10. I knew President Buhari before he became President and said that he is weak in the knowledge and understanding of the economy but I thought that he could make use of good Nigerians in that area that could help.

11. Although, I know that you cannot give what you don’t have and that economy does not obey military order. You have to give it what it takes in the short-, medium- and long-term. Then, it would move. I know his weakness in understanding and playing in the foreign affairs sector and again, there are many Nigerians that could be used in that area as well. They have knowledge and experience that could be deployed for the good of Nigeria.

12. There were serious allegations of round-tripping against some inner caucus of the Presidency which would seem to have been condoned. I wonder if such actions do not amount to corruption and financial crime, then what is it? Culture of condonation and turning blind eye will cover up rather than clean up. And going to justice must be with clean hands.

13. I thought President Buhari would fight corruption and insurgency and he must be given some credit for his achievement so far in these two areas although it is not yet uhuru!

14. The herdsmen/crop farmers issue is being wittingly or unwittingly allowed to turn sour and messy. It is no credit to the Federal Government that the herdsmen rampage continues with careless abandon and without finding an effective solution to it.

15. And it is a sad symptom of insensitivity and callousness that some Governors, a day after 73 victims were being buried in a mass grave in Benue State without condolence, were jubilantly endorsing President Buhari for a second term! The timing was most unfortunate.

16. The issue of herdsmen/crop farmers dichotomy should not be left on the political platform of blame game; the Federal Government must take the lead in bringing about solution that protects life and properties of herdsmen and crop farmers alike and for them to live amicably in the same community.

17. But there are three other areas where President Buhari has come out more glaringly than most of us thought we knew about him. One is nepotic deployment bordering on clannishness and inability to bring discipline to bear on errant members of his nepotic court. This has grave consequences on performance of his government to the detriment of the nation. It would appear that national interest was being sacrificed on the altar of nepotic interest.

18. What does one make of a case like that of Maina: collusion, condonation, ineptitude, incompetence, dereliction of responsibility or kinship and friendship on the part of those who should have taken visible and deterrent disciplinary action? How many similar cases are buried, ignored or covered up and not yet in the glare of the media and the public?

19. The second is his poor understanding of the dynamics of internal politics. This has led to wittingly or unwittingly making the nation more divided and inequality has widened and become more pronounced. It also has effect on general national security.

20. The third is passing the buck. For instance, blaming the Governor of the Central Bank for devaluation of the naira by 70% or so and blaming past governments for it, is to say the least, not accepting one’s own responsibility.

21. Let nobody deceive us, economy feeds on politics and because our politics is depressing, our economy is even more depressing today. If things were good, President Buhari would not need to come in. He was voted to fix things that were bad and not engage in the blame game.

Read Also:

  • Military Eliminate Bandit in Plateau, Rescue Abducted Victim
  • Troops Ambush Bandits in Plateau, Neutralise One, Rescue Kidnap Victim
  • New MPB Chairman AVM Abubakar Adamu Pledges to Prioritise Retirees’ Welfare

22. Our Constitution is very clear, one of the cardinal responsibilities of the President is the management of the economy of which the value of the naira forms an integral part. Kinship and friendship that place responsibility for governance in the hands of the unelected can only be deleterious to good government and to the nation.

23. But whatever may be the state of President Buhari’s health today, he should neither over-push his luck nor over-tax the patience and tolerance of Nigerians for him, no matter what his self-serving, so-called advisers, who would claim that they love him more than God loves him and that without him, there would be no Nigeria say.

24. President Buhari needs a dignified and honourable dismount from the horse. He needs to have time to reflect, refurbish physically and recoup and after appropriate rest, once again, join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the side line for the good of the country. His place in history is already assured. Without impaired health and strain of age, running the affairs of Nigeria is a 25/7 affair, not 24/7.

25. I only appeal to brother Buhari to consider a deserved rest at this point in time and at this age. I continue to wish him robust health to enjoy his retirement from active public service. President Buhari does not necessarily need to heed my advice. But whether or not he heeds it, Nigeria needs to move on and move forward.

26. If neither APC nor PDP is a worthy horse to ride to lead Nigeria at this crucial and critical time, what then do we do? Remember Farooq Kperogi, an Associate Professor at the Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, calls it “a cruel Hobson’s choice; it’s like a choice between six and half a dozen, between evil and evil. Any selection or deflection would be a distinction without a difference.” We cannot just sit down lamenting and wringing our hands desperately and hopelessly.

27. I believe the situation we are in today is akin to what and where we were in at the beginning of this democratic dispensation in 1999… The price of oil at that time was nine dollars per barrel and we had a debt overhang of about $35 billion… One of the factors that saved the situation was a near government of national unity that was put in place to navigate us through the dark cloud. We had almost all hands on deck. We used people at home and from the diaspora and we navigated through the dark cloud of those days.

28. Wherever I go, I hear Nigerians complaining, murmuring in anguish and anger. But our anger should not be like the anger of the cripple. We can collectively save ourselves from the position we find ourselves. It will not come through self-pity, fruitless complaint or protest but through constructive and positive engagement and collective action for the good of our nation and ourselves and our children and their children.

29. We need moral re-armament and engaging togetherness of people of like-mind and goodwill to come solidly together to lift Nigeria up. This is no time for trading blames or embarking on futile argument and neither should we accept untenable excuses for non-performance. Nigeria deserves and urgently needs better than what they have given or what we know they are capable of giving. To ask them to give more will be unrealistic and will only sentence Nigeria to a prison term of four years if not destroy it beyond the possibility of an early recovery and substantial growth.

30. Einstein made it clear to us that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the height of folly. Already, Nigerians are committing suicide for the unbearable socio-economic situation they find themselves in. And yet Nigerians love life. We must not continue to reinforce failure and hope that all will be well. It is self-deceit and self-defeat and another aspect of folly.

31. Democracy is sustained and measured not by leaders doing extra-ordinary things, (invariably, leaders fail to do ordinary things very well), but by citizens rising up to do ordinary things extra-ordinarily well. Our democracy, development and progress at this juncture require ordinary citizens of Nigeria to do the extra-ordinary things of changing the course and direction of our lackluster performance and development.

32. If leadership fails, citizens must not fail and there lies the beauty and importance of democracy. We are challenged by the current situation; we must neither adopt spirit of cowardice nor timidity let alone impotence but must be sustained by courage, determination and commitment to say and do and to persist until we achieve upliftment for Nigeria.

33. All hands of men and women of goodwill must be on deck. We need all hands to move our country forward. We need a Coalition for Nigeria, CN. Such a Movement at this juncture needs not be a political party but one to which all well-meaning Nigerians can belong. That Movement must be a coalition for democracy, good governance, social and economic well-being and progress. Coalition to salvage and redeem our country. You can count me with such a Movement.

34. This Coalition for Nigeria will be a Movement that will drive Nigeria up and forward. It must have a pride of place for all Nigerians, particularly for our youth and our women. It is a coalition of hope for all Nigerians for speedy, quality and equal development, security, unity, prosperity and progress. It is a coalition to banish poverty, insecurity and despair.

35. Our country must not be oblivious to concomitant danger around, outside and ahead. Coalition for Nigeria must be a Movement to break new ground in building a united country, a socially-cohesive and moderately prosperous society with equity, equality of opportunity, justice and a dynamic and progressive economy that is self-reliant and takes active part in global division of labour and international decision-making.

36. The Movement must work out the path of development and the trajectory of development in speed, quality and equality in the short- medium- and long-term for Nigeria on the basis of sustainability, stability, predictability, credibility, security, cooperation and prosperity with diminishing inequality.

37. What is called for is love, commitment and interest in our country, not in self, friends and kinship alone but particularly love, compassion and interest in the poor, underprivileged and downtrodden. It is our human duty and responsibility so to do. Failure to do this will amount to a sin against God and a crime against humanity.

38. Some may ask, what does Obasanjo want again? Obasanjo has wanted nothing other than the best for Nigeria and Nigerians and he will continue to want nothing less. And if we have the best, we will be contented whether where we live is described as palaces or huts by others and we will always give thanks to God.

39. I, therefore, will gladly join such a Movement when one is established as Coalition for Nigeria, CN, taking Nigeria to the height God has created it to be. From now on, the Nigeria eagle must continue to soar and fly high. CN, as a Movement, will be new, green, transparent and must remain clean and always active, selflessly so.

40. Members must be ready to make sacrifice for the nation and pay the price of being pioneers and good Nigerians for our country to play the God-assigned role for itself, for its neighbours, for its sub-region of West Africa, for its continent and for humanity in general.

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • 2019 Election
  • Muhammadu Buhari
  • Nigeria
  • Olusegun Obasanjo
Previous articleNIM salutes Obasanjo for endorsing Third Force Movement for Nigeria
Next articleGeneral Yusuf Resumes as GOC 6 Division
Prnigeria
Prnigeria
https://prnigeria.com
PRNigeria is the pioneer Press Release Distribution agency in Nigeria. A member of image Merchant Promotions limited, PRNigeria encourages individuals and organisations to be more transparent in their information management. with dedicated Editorial staffs, the PRNigeria ensures that information provided on its platforms are timely, factual and authoritative Read more at: //prnigeria.com/about/
Facebook Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, CDS

DHQ, NIS Team Up to Revive Nigerian Sports

A Different Kind of War on Drugs By As-Sayyidul Arafat Abdulrazaq

HAJJ Pilgrims pilgrimage NAHCON

NAHCON Completes 2025 Hajj Return Operations 

MNJTF troops

LAKE CHAD: Major Victory as 210 Boko Haram Terrorists, Families Surrender to MNJTF

For Aminu Dantata to Sleep Well… By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

Nigerian Dignitaries, Business Leaders Attend Aminu Dantata’s Burial in Madinah Saudi Arabia

IGP Kayode Egbetokun Police Boss

Police Rescue Trafficked Ghanaian Youth in Abuja

Nigerian Military Troops

Nigerian Troops Eliminate Scores of Terrorists in Fierce Battle in Borno and Cameroon Border

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

Bashir Adeniyi: A Roadmap to Global Customs Leadership By Tahir Ahmad

Arewa Discussion Group

Arewa Discussion Group Launched to Tackle Northern Challenges

NELFUND

NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Application Portal

FACT-CHECK: Did Borno Governor Zulum’s Wife Lift Primary School Mate Out of Poverty in Viral Video?

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • Military Eliminate Bandit in Plateau, Rescue Abducted Victim
  • Troops Ambush Bandits in Plateau, Neutralise One, Rescue Kidnap Victim
  • New MPB Chairman AVM Abubakar Adamu Pledges to Prioritise Retirees’ Welfare
  • DHQ, NIS Team Up to Revive Nigerian Sports
  • A Different Kind of War on Drugs By As-Sayyidul Arafat Abdulrazaq
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Military Eliminate Bandit in Plateau, Rescue Abducted VictimTroops Ambush Bandits in Plateau, Neutralise One, Rescue Kidnap VictimNew MPB Chairman AVM Abubakar Adamu Pledges to Prioritise Retirees’ WelfareDHQ, NIS Team Up to Revive Nigerian SportsA Different Kind of War on Drugs By As-Sayyidul Arafat AbdulrazaqMNJTF Receives 5 Swamp Buggies to Boost Security, Economic Recovery in Lake Chad RegionNAHCON Completes 2025 Hajj Return Operations LAKE CHAD: Major Victory as 210 Boko Haram Terrorists, Families Surrender to MNJTFIn Plateau, Security Forces Dislodge Militias, Reclaim Villages in BokkosGallant Troops Nab 25 Suspected Bandits, Kidnappers in BenueIran Must Never Possess Nuclear Weapons - G7 DeclarePolice to Destroy Unexploded Explosive Devices in YobeMilitary Receives 84 CNG-powered Vehicles to Enhance OperationsFCT Police Urges Influencers to Spotlight Heroism, Not Just Negativity on SecurityFor Aminu Dantata to Sleep Well… By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice
X whatsapp