Again, Presidency Clashes With Obasanjo |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

Former  President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday clashed with the Presidency over the state of the Nigerian Nation.

A worried Obasanjo had, after a hard look at the country, declared that it is a divided and failed country.

But in a swift response, a Presidential side asked the former President to speak like a statesman.

Obasanjo’s hard knock came 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari have his administration an all-round pass mark, asking his cabinet members to defend vigorously, the achievements of his government. “We are proud of our achievements, the President boasted.”

It also came at a time there is a public disenchantment over the home in the costs of petrol and electricity.

But Obasanjo had lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that his tenure, as Nigeria’s President has spelt doom for the country.

For the records, Obasanjo had backed Buhari in 2015, against then President Goodluck Jonathan. He worked with the then opposition APC, to install Buhari as President. He has since regretted, as two of them have since fallen apart.

Speaking on Friday Obasanjo  stressed that the country is badly divided, and has continued to experience failure in all aspects of governance – economy and all human endeavours.

Obasanjo frowned at how the Buhari-led government is running the country, saying that Nigeria is slowly becoming a failed State.

Obasanjo stated this while delivering a speech he titled, “Moving Nigeria Away from Tipping Over”, at a consultative dialogue attended by various socio-cultural groups including Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and Pan Niger Delta Forum, in Abuja.

The former President said he had never seen Nigeria more divided as it currently is under the Buhari-led government, expressing  sadness that Nigeria is also now the poverty capital of the world.

“I do appreciate that you all feel sad and embarrassed, as most of us feel as Nigerians, with the situation we find ourselves in. Today, Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state. Economically, our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world. And socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country”.

He continued:

“And these manifestations are the products of recent mismanagement of diversity and socio-economic development of our country. Old fault lines that were disappearing have opened up in greater fissures and with drums of hatred, disintegration and separation and accompanying choruses being heard loud and clear almost everywhere.” he said.

According to the former President, only self-deluded people would claim that all is well in Nigeria.

He, also, knocked some politicians who are already in talks about the 2023 presidential election instead of fixing the problem the nation already has.

“I believe Nigeria is worth saving on the basis of mutuality and reciprocity and I, also, believe it can be done through the process of dialogue, rather than talking at each other or resorting to violence. It will amount to dangerous and destructive self-delusion for anybody to claim that all is well in Nigeria today.

“Some people are obsessed with 2023, I believe that with death, destruction, debt, disease, deceit, disbelief, disenchantment, doubt and suspicion around, we need to see our way through to 2023 and beyond in some form of unity of purpose, reasonable security, shared values, true democratic practice, inclusiveness and shared society. That is why we are here. No constitution is even permanent; it is dynamic with time and experience.” he said

This is not the first time the former President would hit President Buhari hard. Penultimate week, Obasanjo shunned a meeting with Buhari at the Villa, attended by other former Heads of State and Presidents.