- Former President Olusegun Obasanjo denies threatening to work for the disintegration of Nigeria if 2019 election is rigged in Buhari's favour
- Obasanjo recalls how he fought as a military man for the unity of the country and maintains that he remains an advocate of oneness
- The former president urges Nigerians not to despair but continue to strive to maintain democracy and good governance
A former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, January 31, denied ever threatening to ensure that Nigeria is divided if President Muhammadu Buhari rigs the 2019 presidential election scheduled to hold on February 16, 2019.
Premium Times reports that Obasanjo said this in a statement made by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, arguing that as a Nigerian who fought for the unity of the country, he remains a believer in the country’s oneness.
“I am a strong believer in non-divisibility of Nigeria.
“I read a couple of days ago in the social media a statement ascribed to me that if Buhari rigs the election, I will fight to divide Nigeria. Those who know me will know that such a statement will never come from me,” the former president said in the statement which quoted him as saying this at the presentation of the book: Politics As Dashed Hopes in Nigeria, written by Auwalu Anwar at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
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The statement added that Obasanjo noted that he understood the frustration and feeling of despondency by Nigerians “who watch seemingly, helplessly as Nigeria is being destructively and divisively administered.
“Melancholic despondency is no option for us at any time. I believe Nigerians will fight back not to divide the country but rather to unite it in democracy and good governance and God, the Creator of Nigeria, will be on the side of such valiant Nigerians to get us out as He has got us out in the past.
“I fought for the unity of Nigeria and I spit part of my blood in the war front. I am a strong believer in non-divisibility of Nigeria, as Nigeria divided diminishes each of us who proudly call ourselves Nigerians."
According to him, he is optimistic and full of hope for a continued democratic Nigeria which will surely be attended with good governance leading to a great, happy, equitable, united, prosperous, secure and wholesome nation.
Concerning the book and its title, Obasanjo said: “Only last November, at the launching of Africa Progress Group (APG) which I have the honour of chairing, I raised five pillars of Africa’s development, growth and progress as politics, population, protection, prosperity and partnerships. And politics, which essentially is governance, has overarching implications for other four Ps.
“But I am not in despair and I will ask Dr Anwar and the rest of us not to be in despair. Our hope lies in democracy with good governance as one of the hallmarks of which is free, fair, transparent and credible election.
“Between now and next year, there are four significant countries where elections are taking place in West Africa – Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. The incumbent in the three cases were in opposition and took over from ruling parties. It was good for democracy.
“The world is looking at these four countries with the incoming elections to see what will be their contribution to cumulatively strengthen, deepen and stabilise democracy in each of these countries.
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“If we cherish democracy, we will all guard and protect our fledgling democracy. As for me, I will do everything humanly possible to safeguard democracy with good governance for Nigeria and all Nigerians.
“I am particularly happy in this respect that most Nigerians themselves are rising up to their duties, obligations and responsibilities as guardians of our democracy. I commend all those that are standing to be counted.
“Remember that if you stand aloof when evil is being perpetrated, you become an accomplice in the perpetration of evil. Nigerians must be the architects of their own fortune and future progress.”
Legit.ng earlier reported that Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly said he is sure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s presidential candidate and his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, will be elected as president in the coming election.
The elder statesman, who recently took a swipe at the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, described the president's integrity and morality as fake and unbankable.
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