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Tag: Olusegun Obasanjo

Gbajabiamila greets Obasanjo at 85
The Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has congratulated former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on his 85th birthday.
Gbajabiamila, who described Obasanjo as an elder statesman and a nationalist, said the former president has paid his dues to the Nigerian project.
He said at 85, Obasanjo exhibits a high sense of patriotism, working to see that Nigeria and Nigerians remain united.
The speaker eulogised Obasanjo as one Nigerian whose services to his fatherland are laudable.
Gbajabiamila wished the former president continuous good health and God’s protection.
March 5, 2022
What Boko Haram Members Told Me When I Met Them – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has narrated the encounter he had with Boko Haram members in 2011.
The former president had met with members of the sect and some family members of Mohammed Yusuf, founder of the group.
Upon his arrival at the Maiduguri airport, Obasanjo was received by the then deputy governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha.
The 2011 meeting
The meeting, which held at Yusuf’s family members at Railway Quarters, the demolished headquarters of the sect, lasted about 90 minutes.
Speaking at the meeting, Obasanjo had said, “This is a personal initiative. I urge you to forgive and forget the past. I plead with you, give me the chance to mediate between the family and government.”
In response, Babakura Fugu, Yusuf’s brother-in-law, whose father was executed in 2009, had said, “Since 2009, this is the first time any high profile figure would be commiserating with the family.
“We are happy with this visit. About 30 to 40 per cent of our members are scattered in neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun.”
Sadly, Fugu was gunned down 24 hours after Obasanjo’s visit.
Murtala Muhammed Foundation Lecture
Speaking at the 2022 annual lecture of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), which held on Monday, Obasanjo said his fear about Boko Haram insurgency had materialised with their links with international terrorist organisations.
He said the group did not have external connection at the time he met with them but the poor handling on the part of the government made the crisis to go out of hand.
He also blamed insecurity in the country on the access to weapons after the Nigerian civil war.
The programme had as its theme, “Beyond Boko Haram: Addressing Insurgency, Banditry and Kidnapping across Nigeria”.
Obasanjo said, “We are not going anywhere until we take national building seriously. Justice and equity. We must build a society where everyone feels it has a stake. The insecurity in the country was caused as a result of the ease to access weapons and since then we have been unable to address the issue; it keeps getting worse.
“In 2011 when Boko Haram was just rearing its ugly head, I went to Maiduguri to try and find out a little bit more about Boko Haram and to also find out what their objective was apart from being interested in Sharia, they also complained that their followers had no job and, in their effort, to getting something legitimate efforts to help their members.
“In the process the government started chasing them and gunning them down. What I feared at that time seem to have been happening at that time, Boko Haram had not much external connections then, the ones they had would be Nigerians who had resources abroad, who were helping them.”
February 21, 2022
Fire Guts Obasanjo’s Orchard Farm in Benue State
By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
The Orchard Farm belong to the former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo located at Howe, few kilometers from Aliede, headquarters of Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State has been gutted by fire.
According to the Manager of the farm, Zubello Muhamed the incident occurred when he traveled out of the area for an official assignment during the weekend, explaining that he was informed at about 2pm that the farm was on fire.
The Manager contended that all efforts to quench the fire was unsuccessful, stressing that the parameters of the farm has been carefully fire traced to avoid such incident.
Muhammed who maintained that though the cause of the incident was yet to be unraveled, however alleged that it was not unconnected to the mischief makers who are demanding for compensation of the portion of the land where the farm is located.
The Manager lamented that he had prevented several attempts to set the farm ablaze during this dry season, pointing out that despite numerous benefits members of the host community stand to benefit from the farm, they have insisted that compensation should be given to them.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Gwer Local Government Area, Mr Emmanuel Ortserga who visited the scene of the fire incident, expressed suck. He directed security agents to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of the dasterdly act.
January 31, 2022
Politics Will Never Retire From Your Blood’ — PDP Chairman replies Obasanjo
Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says politics will always be part of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Addressing the former president on Saturday when he led PDP leaders to visit him at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Ayu said “partisan politics will never retire from your blood”.
The PDP chairman made the comment in response to Obasanjo who had earlier said nothing can make him return to politics.
“Though you retired from partisan politics, partisan politics will never retire from your blood,” Ayu said.
“You always want the right thing done and since you want the right thing done, for life, you will remain the emeritus member of the PDP.
“You cannot build a house and leave it to collapse.
“We will continue to contribute our own quotas to the growth of the party and the nation and we will continue to come to you.
“So, I want to plead with you, please don’t be tired of us as we come knocking, asking for your advice and wisdom because the words of elders are the words of wisdom.”
Ayu said it was appropriate to visit Obasanjo with the party chieftains to learn from his wealth of experience.
The PDP chairman said Obasanjo’s tenure as Nigeria’s president was a golden era.
He said: “During that period, not only did you grow Nigeria’s economy to be the biggest in Africa, you were able to take the country away from slavery by negotiating and cancelling so much of its foreign debts.
“The direct foreign investment (FDI) in the country was on the increase on daily basis with attendant respect for Nigeria from the international community.
“Most of the institutions and agencies set up during your tenure, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), are still useful in the country.
“You are very passionate about this country and you did a lot. So, we thought we should come and thank you for what you have done, not just for Nigerians, but also for our party and the African continent.
“I think today, in all modesty, after the departure of late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, there remains only one person of such stature on the African continent.
“We are proud that the person is a Nigerian in the person of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.”
January 23, 2022
Obasanjo Turns Down PDP’s request, Say He Would Never Return To Politics
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo told leaders of opposition Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday that he won’t return to the party.
Obasanjo, made this known when a PDP delegation led by the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, four former governors, and members of the party’s National Working Committee visited him at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
In the team include the PDP Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Peter Obi; former Governors, Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Donald Duke (Cross River).
The Deputy National Chairman of PDP (South), Taofeek Arapaja, and other party officials were part of the entourage.
Addressing the PDP delegation, Obasanjo said, “I’m no longer in partisan politics and there is nothing that can bring back. Anybody who wants my advice, I will always be there in the best interest of Nigeria.
“Whatever I do in my own life…because I became president on the platform of PDP, PDP will continue to be part of my life. Since the day I tore my PDP card, that was the day I ceased to be a member of PDP. That day I vowed not to be a member of any political party.
Obasanjo told Ayu that he has the problems of PDP and Nigeria on his shoulders, and prayed God to give him the wisdom to carry it.
Responding, Ayu told Obasanjo that “if you leave PDP, the blood of PDP will never leave you.”
He said the party would always require his fatherly advice towards governance in Nigeria.
Obasanjo was first Head of State from 1976 to 1979. After his prison ordeal, Obasanjo was later elected Nigeria’s President from 1999 to 2007 on the platform of the PDP.
He, however, publicly tore his PDP membership card in February 2015 after a feud with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
January 22, 2022
You Ought To Be A Statesman Not Tribesman, Obasanjo Replies Clark
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday, replied the leader of Niger Delta, Edwin Clark, over allegations of his hatred against the region.
Obasanjo said Nigeria and Niger Delta demand in Clark, a statesman and not tribesman, just as he warned leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ijaw National Congress, against deploying “offensive and uncouth languages” to describe his personality.
Clark, had on Wednesday hit Obasanjo over what he termed “a disappointing display of hatred against the people of the oil-producing states in Nigeria.”
He was reacting to a recent outburst by the former President in Abuja, where he attacked the National Secretary of the INC, Ebipamowei Wodu, at a peace and security parley convened by the Global Peace Foundation and Vision Africa.
In an open letter to Obasanjo titled, ‘My disappointment over your unprovoked outburst against the people of the Niger Delta region’, Clark accused the former President of double standards over resource control in the country.
But reacting to Clark, Obasanjo said he bears no grudge against the Niger Delta.
Obasanjo’s response was contained in a letter dated December 28, 2021, titled, “My response to the open letter by Clark.”
The former President noted that Some of the languages deployed by Clark to describe him “are offensive and uncouth”, to which he “totally and completely rejected them.”
He said “I have never shown any anger, distraught with Niger Delta region nor any part of Nigeria. Some of the languages you have deployed to describe me in your letter are offensive, uncouth and I totally and completely rejected them, I am not inconsistent, hypocritical, unstatesman, and nor am I anybody’s lackey.
“You use your own yardstick to judge others. I fear God and I respect those who respect themselves and I hope it is about time you change from a tribesman to a statesman of character.
“That’s what Nigeria and indeed the Region you process to love demand of you at this stage.
“I believe one lesson that we all must appreciate that we have all learned in the last sixty – one years of our independence is that we all need to be civil to ourselves and occasionally put ourselves in position of others.
“Bad language does not show prudence, wisdom and maturity. I hope you will think and adjust.”
December 28, 2021
Save Nigeria Movement accuses Obasanjo of raising tension, heating the polity in Nigeria
The Save Nigeria Movement has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of inflaming passion and raising tension in the country through his recent statements.
The group made the accusation at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, December 2021, urging the former president not to jeopardize the security of the country.
Addressing journalists at the briefing, Rev Solomon Semaka, Convener of the Save Nigeria Movement, alleged that Obasanjo has decided ”to embark on another round of divisive consultations conversant with his character.”
He continued:
”Media reports further indicate Obasanjo plans to co-opt past heads of state, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and some respected elder statesmen among which is a former federal commission, Pa Edwin Clark into the massive drive to divide the country.
”All these antics are in a bid to discredit President Buhari’s administration efforts having surpassed former president Obasanjo’s two terms in office both as military and civilian head of state.
”Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s antecedents are scary if allowed to fester. The Save Nigeria Movement is deeply concerned that Obasanjo would choose to inflame passions and raise tensions at this critical point in time when the federal government is consolidating on security.
”Former President Olusegun is urged to reconsider his personal agenda as it can only jeopardize national security. To this end, the Movement is suspicious of the former president and calls all Nigerians to speak in one voice against him.
”The Save Nigeria Movement is inclined to caution the former president to have a rethink if his personal intentions will not promote peace and unity in the country.
”This appeal is also a word of caution that should Obasanjo be bent on heating the polity and raising tensions, Nigerians will know who to hold responsible and demand for the law to take its full course.”
Rev Semaka said the group expects nothing but selfless service to the nation and moral support from people like former Obasanjo and not fanning the embers of disunity.
He added that Obasanjo has no moral right to be dissatisfied with the modest achievements of the Buhari administration, ”especially when he could not do better when Nigerians gave him the opportunity twice as military and civilian head of state.”
He further stated that
”Nigerians are proud of what President Buhari is doing to rescue the nation from the grip of people like Obasanjo who designated the country as a free zone for corruption for more than a decade.
”Nigerians from all walks of life are proud of the modest achievements recorded under the Buhari administration. From road infrastructure to massive social welfare packages and a historic recapture of territories hitherto held by insurgents and bandits.
”At least President Buhari has not mobilized soldiers to demolish communities and kill scores of innocent Nigerians like Obasanjo did in Odi, Bayelsa, and Zaki Biam, in Benue states respectively.
”President Buhari administration in all sincerity has admitted to challenges and taken steps to secure the nation, all the government needs now is wise counsel and moral support as opposed to acts that could jeopardize existing efforts in peace and security of the country.
”The whole world is watching and will join us in solidarity to hold anyone who would be responsible for acts that breach national security.”
December 16, 2021
Saying Buhari has nothing more to offer is untrue, dirty politicking — Lai Mohammed to Obasanjo
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, reacted to a remark by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that President Muhammadu Buhari has nothing more to offer in tackling banditry, kidnapping, and general insecurity in the country.
Mohammed said the remark that Buhari can’t tackle insecurity in Nigeria is fallacious and untrue.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the minister stressed that Buhari is doing a lot to keep Nigerians safe.
He pointed out that the president is equipping the military to effectively tackle insecurity in the country.
“Gentlemen, President Buhari has done so much, under very difficult economic and social conditions, to tackle insecurity in our country. Not only has he done so much. President Buhari continues to do much more to keep Nigerians safe. To say he has nothing more to offer is untrue, fallacious and smacks of dirty politicking.
“By boosting the number and capacity of our fighting forces, Mr President is putting them in good stead to tackle insecurity not just during the life of his Administration but long after he would have left office. President Buhari is leaving a legacy of security, infrastructural development, economic prosperity and social cohesion for Nigeria. This may not seem obvious today, amidst daunting challenges, but posterity will be kind to this President.
“Yes, banditry and kidnapping have added to the state of insecurity, President Buhari has also continued to provide quality leadership in order to ensure that our security agencies decisively tackle the cankerworm of insecurity of any hue,” Lai Mohammed said.
“No administration in Nigeria’s recent history has provided the security agencies with the hardware needed to tackle insecurity as that of President Buhari, in addition to raising the morale of our security men and women. Only last week, Mr President commissioned an armada of naval boats and ships in the latest effort to enhance our nation’s maritime security. The army, the air force and the police, among others, have also been receiving modern hardware to strengthen their arsenal.”
December 15, 2021
My faith in Nigeria remains unshakable -Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday, declared that his faith in a better Nigeria remains unshakable.
Obasanjo insisted that, the country would not be destroyed by the myriads of challenges confronting it.
Obasanjo disclosed this during the opening of Abeokuta Window on America held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
The Abeokuta Window on America is a type of American Space located in over 150 countries worldwide set up to engage Nigerian youths in learning about American culture and politics.
The Space is set up in the youth centre of the OOPL in partnership with US consulate in Nigeria.
Delivering his keynote address at the event, Obasanjo expressed optimism that no matter what the country is currently going through, evil would not triumph over good.
The former President who was represented by the Deputy Coordinator of OOPL, Mr. Ayodele Aderinwale said, “Whatever maybe the problem or challenges currently confronting Nigeria today, I assure you that they are not problems on the attack they are actually problems on the retreat.
“My faith in Nigeria remains unshakable. My optimism about the future is resounding. Some may wonder how is the future will be rescued?

“I see hope in the determination, resilience and the indomitable spirit of Nigerians. I see hope, in their resistance when they are pushed to the wall.
“I see hope, in the zeal, commitment and courage in the face of adversity. I see hope, in the boundless and incurable optimism of young Nigerians.
“I see hope, in the willingness of Nigerian young and who are resistance with all their might the evil that are being perpetrated.
“I see hope, in the unwavering conduct and uncompromising drive of Nigerians in demanding a democratic process. I see hope, in the ingenuity and infinite creativity of the Nigerians. I see hope, in the youth and young, for our tomorrow lies in them.
“I see hope in the great potentials of the Nigerian, empowered, motivated and well led. I see hope, in the blending of experience, energy and dynamism of the old and the new.
“I see hope, in the dynamism, vibrancy and richness of our culture. And I see hope, in the commonality of humanity.”
Speaking on the importance of the Abeokuta Window on America, the U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Stephen Ibelli disclosed that, the space would offer a calendar of programmes on topics of interest designed to bring Americans and Nigerians closer together.
He noted that the space would further deepen the US – Nigerian relationship, saying no fewer than 100 youths would be engaged on weekly basis in learning about the culture, history and politics of America through books and over 300 online publications.
October 8, 2021
Borrowing to accumulate debt for next generations is criminal – Obasanjo tells Buhari Govt
Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the move by the Federal Government to take fresh loans amid outcries by Nigerians over incessant borrowing by the current administration.
Obasanjo, while speaking to Channels Television in South Africa, described as criminal, the alleged move to accumulate debt for the next generation to pay.
Obasanjo expressed worries that if the existing debt remains unserviced or unpaid by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, it might become a huge problem for successive governments.
Recall that the president, a few days ago, requested the approval of the National Assembly to borrow the fresh sums of $4,054,476,863 and €710 million.
Reacting, the former president who believes that borrowing is not a problem, however, stated that the challenge would be the utilization of the borrowed fund and the plan or capacity to pay back.
He said, “But if you are borrowing and accumulating debts for the next generation and the next generation after them, it is criminal. What are you borrowing for?
“If we are borrowing for recurrent expenditure, it is the height of folly. If we are borrowing for development that can pay for itself, that is understandable. Then the payment, how long will it take to pay itself?”
September 20, 2021