•Blames leaders’ wrong choices for nation’s woes
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has blamed the current state of insecurity, poverty, insurgency, banditry, unemployment, hunger, debt, division and disunity in the country on the choices made, advertently or inadvertently, by her leaders.
Similarly, Obasanjo has listed four major factors that Nigerians must watch out for in electing the next President of the country come the 2023 general elections.
The former President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007 stated these in his letter titled, “My Appeal to All Nigerians, Particularly Young Nigerians”, released yesterday.
Obasanjo further frowned at the use of terms such as ‘Emi Lokan’ (My turn) and ‘I have paid my dues’ by two of the presidential candidates contesting the next year’s election, pointing out that both are one and the same thing and are wrong attitude and mentality for the leadership of Nigeria now.
Such phrases, he argued, cannot form the new pedestal to reinvent and to invest in a new Nigeria based on an All-Nigeria Government for the liberation.
The solution, according to him, should be in ‘we’ and ‘us’ and not in ‘me’ and ‘I’.
In the words of Obasanjo, “Let me say straight away that ‘Emi Lokan’ (My turn) and ‘I have paid my dues’ are one and the same thing and are wrong attitude and mentality for the leadership of Nigeria now.
“They cannot form the new pedestal to reinvent and to invest in a new Nigeria based on an All-Nigeria Government for the liberation and restoration of Nigeria. “Such a government must have representation from all sectors of our national life public, private, civil society, professional, labour, employers, and the diaspora.
“The solution should be in ‘we’ and ‘us’ and not in ‘me’ and I’, he maintained.
Continuing, the former President said, “Let me say it again, loud and clear, Nigeria has no business with insecurity, poverty, insurgency, banditry, unemployment, hunger, debt, division and disunity.
“We are in these situations because advertently or inadvertently, our leaders have made the choices.
“They have done the best they could do. Let them take their rest deservedly or not and let them enjoy their retirement as Septuagenarians or older”, he said.
Obasanjo wtote further in his letter, “I will, without prejudice, fear or ill-will, make bold to say that there are four major factors to watch out for in a leader you will consider to hoist on yourself and on the rest of Nigerians in the coming election and they are what I call TVCP:
“Track record of ability and performance; Vision that is authentic, honest and realistic; Character and attributes of a lady and a gentleman who are children of God and obedient to God; and Physical and mental capability with soundness of mind as it is a very taxing and tasking assignment at the best of times and more so it is at the most difficult time that we are”, he said
The former President however declared, pointedly, to the presidential candidates that the instruments used by him in 1999 to 2007 and methodology used will grossly be inadequate “for the perilous situation we now find ourselves”.
He said, “I believe that we need not be confused nor be guilible. Let us be cautious, not to be fooled again”.
Obasanjo warned the nation’s youths that if they miss the opportunity to provide Nigeria with the right leadership, they will have no one to blame but themselves and posterity will not forgive you.
His words, “Get up, get together, get going and get us to where we should be. And you, the youth, it is your time and your turn. ‘Eyin Lokan’ (Your turn).
“The power to change is in your hands. Your future, my future, the future of grandchildren and great grandchildren is in your hands.
“Politics and elections are numbers game. You have the numbers, get up, stand up and make your numbers count”, he advised.
Obasanjo added, “I am constrained to write this letter to all Nigerians especially young Nigerians, friends of Nigeria globally as well as our development partners because of the gravity, responsibility and implications of the collective decision Nigerians, both young and old, will be making within the next two months.
“The last seven and a half years have no doubt been eventful and stressful years for many Nigerians. We have moved from frying pan to fire and from mountain top to the valley.
“Our leaders have done their best, but their best had turned out to be not the best for Nigeria and Nigerians at home and abroad.
“For most Nigerians, it was hell on earth. Those of us who are alive should thank God for His mercies, brace ourselves for the remaining few months of this administration and pray and work very hard for an immediate better future – future of liberation, restoration and great
hope and expectation.
“We have had campaigners going up and down the country feeding us with what they mean and what they do not mean, what they understand and what they do not fully understand, what is possible and what is not possible, what is realistic and what is unrealistic, what is true and what is untrue.
“I believe that we need not be confused nor be guilible. Let us be cautious, not to be fooled again.
“I pray not to be proved right again in the bad sense but rather to be proved right in the positive and glorious sense of Nigeria becoming what God had created it to be – a land of plenty and prosperity united for common purpose of inclusive society, common security, shared prosperity, equity, egalitarianism, justice, and equal stake in the Project Nigeria with leadership role of Nigeria for the black race and fair share of global division of labour.
“One ridiculous point that has been touted to justify unjustifiable appointments and selections is ‘competence’. In truth and in reality, genuine competence
can be found in any region or section of Nigeria through track record and performance if only people will honestly and sincerely look hard for people with such attainment and attribute.
“Most of us in good conscience can testify to competence when we see any anywhere. What is masqueraded as ‘competence’ is self-interest and nepotism.
“We have a unique opportunity to correct ourselves by ourselves for the good
of ourselves.
“Those who are preaching division, segregation, separation, and want to use diversity for their own self and selfish interest are enemies of the nation, no matter what else they may disguisedly profess or proclaim.
“The Challenge Is For Nigerian Youth:
If we fall prey again, we will have ourselves to blame and no one can say how many more knocks Nigeria can take before it tips over.
“To be forewarned is to be fore-armed. Future is not emotion. I challenge the youth to arise. Let nobody pull wool over your eyes to divide you and/or segregate you to make you underlings.
“Nigerian youth, wherever they come from, North or South, East or West need education which is now denied to over 20 million children; Nigerian youth also need skills, empowerment, employment, reasonably good living conditions, welfare and well-being.
“My dear young men and women, you must come together and bring about a truly meaningful change in your lives. If you fail, you have no one else to blame. Your present and future are in your hands to make or to mar.
“The future of Nigeria is in the same manner in your hands and literally so. If for any reason you fail to redeem yourself and your country, you will have lost the opportunity for good and you will have no one to blame but yourselves and posterity will not forgive you”, he advised.
