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| Ex President Olusegun Obasanjo |
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday, in a 13-page statement, blasted President Muhammadu Buhari and advised him not to seek re-election in 2019.
In the special press statement titled, “The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement” Obasanjo said Buhari has performed far below expectation and should honourably join the league of the country’s former leaders.
He said Buhari should not toy with the patience of Nigerians but should in a dignified way dismount from the horse (seat of power).
“We all thanked God for President Buhari for coming back reasonably hale and hearty and progressing well in his recovery. 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.
“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 sideline 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.
Explaining why he thinks President Buhari needs time to reflect and refurbish physically, the former President said the Buhari he knew is weak in the knowledge and understanding of the economy and it is evident in his administration as the economy does not obey a military order.
“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. Although, I know that you cannot give what you don’t have and that economy does not obey the 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.
“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? The culture of condonation and turning the blind eye will cover up rather than clean up. And going to justice must be with clean hands.”
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