Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has clarified that he is not
neutral in the coming 2019 general elections, as he came across in his
statement to his sub-Yoruba Owu group.
neutral in the coming 2019 general elections, as he came across in his
statement to his sub-Yoruba Owu group.
He made the clarification in a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi.
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| Chief Olusegun Obasanjo |
In an address at the 27th annual Owu National Convention held in
Iwo, Osun state, Obasanjo urged Nigerians to vote for credible
candidates who will drive growth and development.
Iwo, Osun state, Obasanjo urged Nigerians to vote for credible
candidates who will drive growth and development.
He was also quoted to have said he would not campaign for any particular candidate and instead urged Nigerians to vote wisely.
But in a twist of interpretation, his media aide said Obasanjo’s statement did not connote ‘neutrality’.
However, the spokesman corroborated the NAN report that Obasanjo said
“he would not impress any candidates on the people, Nigerians should
vote for credible candidates who would make their lives better”.
“he would not impress any candidates on the people, Nigerians should
vote for credible candidates who would make their lives better”.
“It is disingenuous, if not malicious, for anyone to suggest that
Chief Obasanjo was being neutral when he chose not to use the Owu
Convention as a platform for political campaign but instead adopt a
communal and familial approach in talking to members of his Owu family,”
Akinyemi said.
Chief Obasanjo was being neutral when he chose not to use the Owu
Convention as a platform for political campaign but instead adopt a
communal and familial approach in talking to members of his Owu family,”
Akinyemi said.
Akinyemi insisted Obasanjo’s statement did not suggest his neutrality.
He said Obasanjo will not sit on the fence when he needs to be active
for people to know where he stands in the nation’s interest.
for people to know where he stands in the nation’s interest.
“In fact, the former President believes that only a fool will sit on
the fence or be neutral when his or her country is being destroyed with
incompetence, corruption, lack of focus, insecurity, nepotism, brazen
impunity and denial of the obvious. Chief Obasanjo is no such fool nor
is he so unwise,” Akinyemi said.
the fence or be neutral when his or her country is being destroyed with
incompetence, corruption, lack of focus, insecurity, nepotism, brazen
impunity and denial of the obvious. Chief Obasanjo is no such fool nor
is he so unwise,” Akinyemi said.
He noted that Obasanjo has reaffirmed that he was on the side of what was best for the country.
The former President asked Nigerians to ‘stop complaining and go out
to get beneficial change’, stressing that such change would not come if
they remain complacent and inactive.
to get beneficial change’, stressing that such change would not come if
they remain complacent and inactive.
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