Minna — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed his apprehension about what becomes of Nigeria if the antics of those championing the cause for regional, religious and tribal politics which is capable of causing disintegration of the country were not checked.
Obasanjo, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke during the flag-off of the second term campaign rally of the Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu which took place at the Minna Trade Fair complex on Saturday.
He expressed regrets that, those who benefited from the country are championing the cause for its disintegration, using religion, ethnicity and regional sentiments to cause acrimony amongst Nigerian citizenry.
"This country, Nigeria has been created to be great by God," Obasanjo pointed out, positing that all that is required is for Nigerians to vote for credible leaders who will pilot the affairs of the country towards achieving what God has destined for her citizenry.
"I have been a bit apprehensive of late over some happenings in Nigeria, the people who have enjoyed the best of what Nigeria could offer in terms of education, better training, employment are the ones championing the cause for its destruction and we must not allow that to happen."
Nigeria, according to him, is destined to be great by God, adding that, Nigerians could not have been better off under any regional inclinations.
"The issue of unity should be of paramount concern of every Nigerian.
"I would have been better off in a country like Nigeria than a country like Oduduwa country or any other regional powers.
"It is regrettable that those of us who have enjoyed the best of what Nigeria has to offer in terms of education, employment opportunities and best training failed to plough back what we have enjoyed over the years. We have become priests and barons of division along religion, tribal and regional basis," Obasanjo said.
He explained that God did not make mistakes in bringing people with different tongues and regions together to form what today is Nigeria.
Obasanjo said he believes that the problems of Nigeria are that of leadership and followers and not on the country itself.
On the second term bid of Governor Aliyu, the former president who said he made no mistakes supporting his emergence as Governor when he (Aliyu) was a serving Permanent Secretary, Federal Establishment described him as a "winning horse that cannot be changed because of his administrative performances as governor in the last four years."
"Governor Aliyu has lived up to expectations, his track records have shown that he successfully piloted the affairs of the state in the past four years and deserved a fresh mandate," Obasanjo said, adding that, "he has served well and successfully."
"You don't change a winning horse, he has done it before and he will do it again," Obasanjo insisted.
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Everyone knows that in Nigeria the people of the south,east and west are more tolerant in terms of religion and there has never been incidents of targeting people based on their tribe or religion in these areas so why must the north keep on persecuting the christians and non moslems living in their midst?Nigeria is a country with diverse people and when it comes to ratio there are equal amounts of christains to the moslems.The division of South Sudan from North Sudan is not so farfetched when it comes to Nigeria as a solution and the country is facing similar problems,the difference is that the Nigerian populace is so much more educated and more well travelled so why does this happen time and time again and where are the law enforcements in a region that is known for continous religious attack?its either the head of enforcement there is either grossly incompetent or nonchalant/partial to the muslims.if the murderous incidents had happened once or twice,they can give excuses but when it happens almost every other day there can be no excuse and the head of security should be held accountable.the problem with Nigeria is that people in high places are not held accountable for their utterance,action and deeds that is why Northern politicians like IBB,Gustau,Atiku etc can say incitive things to cause divisions and get away with it meanwhile they create chaos and mayhem through their supporters who are blinded by religion.Its high time people are held accountable and solutions should be made for lasting peace.careless talk should be a prison sentence no matter who is the perpetrator.Enough is Enough! Already most of these politicians have looted and embazzled so much from this country and obviously the plight of the common man is not their objective.
Mr. Former President I hate to tell you this: The people who call themselves Nigerians( a British-given name) lack any ties that bind.
Well said Mr. former President ,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.One does not think that any of those imported Lord Lugard's immigrants from Chad,Morrocco,Niger Republic, such fellows like Atiku,Babangida,Buhari,Ciroma,Aliyu and others so-called Hausa/Fulanis are taking note.The years of the North in Nigeria has expired.This group can incite any kind of violent as one of their ways of being in a leadership position,they can not have the support of theNigerian people on their sides again.They can apply their brother's Bin laden tactics it will never work .Thats the point of view.