Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said most of the politicians aspiring to be Nigeria’s president in 2023 should be in jail had the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) performed their jobs efficiently and effectively, and supported by the judiciary.
Obasanjo stated this during an international symposium to mark his 85th birthday held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The former president, who stopped short of calling for power rotation in the country, disclosed that it was the power rotation policy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that made it inadvisable for a southern candidate to succeed him after his eight years in office as president in 2007.
Obasanjo also argued that for the purpose of equity and integrity, no region or zone should claim to have monopoly of Nigerians that can lead the country along the path of nation-building.
.
Obasanjo’s international symposium, with the theme: ‘Leadership and Africa Narrative in Development and Progress of Africa,’ was attended by eminent personalities, including former President of the Republic of Benin, Mr. Nicephore Soglo; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheik Shakbook bin Nahyan; President of the Republic of Rwanda, President Paul Kaigama, who delivered the keynote address and the Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who also delivered a speech.
Speaking during the event, Obasanjo also declared that he had not endorsed any presidential aspirant for 2023.
He also debunked reports that he was sponsoring three people from the South for the presidency in 2023.
“Since 1999, we have changed from one political party or another we have maneuvered and manipulated to the point that election results are no longer reflections of the will of the people and we seemed to be progressively going back rather than going forward politically, economically, and socially.
“We have activities without requiring actions and personnel to move us forward. If we continue in the same pattern of recycling, sweet-word campaigning, maneuvering without the substance of integrity, honesty, patriotism, commitment, outreach, courage, understanding of what makes a nation and what makes for development, we will soon have to say goodbye to Nigeria as a nation.
“I cast a cursory look at some of the people running around and those for whom people are running around. If EFCC and ICPC will have done their jobs properly and been supported adequately by the judiciary, most of them would be in jail. Any person who has no integrity in small things cannot have integrity in big things.
“As the quadrennial madness builds a head of steam and the runners and riders crisscross the nation in the quest for nomination as the party flag bearer to the highest office in the land, I read and hear about endorsement and statements in support of candidates that I frankly have not made and forming next political parties that I can never get involved in. I was told that social media credited to me the names of three people from the south that I am sponsoring for the presidency in 2023.
“My friend, Professor Ango Abdullah, who brought this to my knowledge, remarked that he did not believe that I made such a statement because it was out of my character. I have neither named names nor stated my position. In a situation like the one we are in, I will not rush into naming names without necessary consultations and well-defined principles and criteria. We need to be clear about what Nigeria needs today and why Nigeria needs it. Only then can we answer the question of how that will inform us of the criteria and characteristics for determining who,”Obasanjo added.
The former president also restated the need for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.
He argued that fixing Nigeria must begin on the principles of nation-building, not necessarily on emotion, ethnicity, or religion.
Obasanjo disclosed that it was the power rotation policy of the PDP that made it inadvisable for a southern candidate to succeed him after his eight years in office as President in 2007.
“I have always maintained that if we look hard widely and fairly and we bring objectivity, national interest and patriotism to bear and which must be spiced with equity, integrity, performance, then no region or zone should claim to have monopoly of Nigerians that can lead us along the path of nation-building on the basis of justice, fast economic development, inclusive growth, shared value and our rightful place in the global division of labour and decision making process. If we are going fault finding, zonally or regionally, no region or zone can claim absolute innocence. And federal character is a very important and perfect instrument of nation-building in our Constitution,” he explained.
He suggested that all presidential aspirants must be “properly x-rayed and profiled from birth and Nigerians must be educated to be able to make a choice that will be in the national interest and propel Nigeria forward”.
“Such a person will have to lead what remains of the nation to courageously continue on the path of nation-building as a national team leader, no matter on what platform he or she assumes leadership. No one can do it alone. We must, however, stop sacrificing character, track records, and performance on the altar of ethnic, regional, or religious jingoism. As the watchman counts on daybreak, so too do I count on Nigerians and Nigeria to bring forth that person,” Obasanjo explained.
