Photo: Vanguard Lagos — Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, broke his silence on the feud between him and his estranged political son, President Goodluck Jonathan, saying he would not stop commenting on national issues.
He, however, said that despite the public perception on the disagreement between the duo, Jonathan remained his president.
Obasanjo stated this when he hosted the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, in his Hilltop country home, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
According to him, "the country, the party and government would remain my primary concern, because, if there is no Nigeria, there will not be a party, and if there is no party, there will be nothing to govern on the platform of the party".
The former president added: "If there is anything that requires my own comment, position or views. I will say it. It is only when you kill me that I will stop doing so. It is my passion, patriotism and love that will continue to make me say my own. If it is the party that I see that something is inimical to the growth, I will talk."
The feud between Obasanjo and Jonathan blew into the open when Obasanjo said the Federal Government was not doing enough in tackling Boko Haram, saying the government was not decisive on the insurgency. The former president cited what his government did to quell the militancy in the Niger Delta, precisely Odi town in Bayelsa, when some militants killed five soldiers.
Jonathan,a week or so later, replied him during a presidential chat on television, that his government would not take such a decisive action against the Boko Haram because the Odi invasion did not achieve the desired result. According to the president, he was the Bayelsa deputy governor at that time and that, shortly after the place was leveled, all he could see were bodies, women and children.
While describing the PDP national chairman as a respected leader, Obasanjo said, yesterday, that Tukur was a delight to have always.
He said, "It is always a delight to have our ogas (boss) to visit us to see what we are doing or what we are not doing.
"To know our anxiety, aspirations and concerns. And also to disabuse the minds of rumour mongers. The president is my president.
"Without Nigeria, there will be no party. Even when I was in prison, I was not quiet. Those who want me and the chair to quarrel; this visit will keep them quiet. But my mouth will not be quiet."
Obasanjo, who also used the occasion of the visit by Tukur, to dispel his death rumour, wondered why people would continue to spread such rumour, remarking, "I am still alive anyway."
In his remarks, Tukur, the PDP National Chairman, explained that he was in Abeokuta to thank the former PDP Board of Trustees Chairman for his consistent role not only for the party.but also the country and the international community. "Your support has never been relenting and I have come to say thank you, sir."
Tukur however affirmed the leadership of the Dipo Odujirin-led executive in the state, declaring that the party only recognized the elected executives.
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Nobody has problems with criticisms as long as they are constructive. We have problems when they border on blackmail, threats, intimidation and driven by self-serving vengeful motives. It would be better for all those who have served and made a mess of governance to refrain from disruptive conduct and intrigues capable of distracting the incumbent from his obligations to the citizenry. OBJ should retire gracefully, having had 16-year long privilege to demonstrate his famed 'rulership' skills. Rabble-rousing does not accord dignity to retirees from the highest office in the land. It should not the pleasurable alternative hobby either. OBJ may need to follow from ex-President Shehu Shagari's noble example of dignifying candor.
As woeful as Abacha was said to have been , he had certain ideas about some potential troubling person in Nigeria we did not factor into our politics of change . Whenever the history of this nation is written, former leaders like Obasanjo and Babangida will occupy tons of pages to capture their misrule and terrible destruction of our future hope . It is an irony OBJ in particular was the most vocal among his peers during Babangidas leadership and I enjoyed his loud mouth then . The current relationship between him and his former friend and mentor is born out of fear and jealousy. Remember when Abiola sought to complain about lack of picking up his phone calls by Babangida immediately following the after effect of that historical election result, Obasanjo had turned 360 degrees against his Townsman to admonish the wounded Abiola to " Call Your Friend Harder" Anyone who can recall the intrigues then will not fail to see Obasanjo's behavior towards Jonathan as quintessential Obasanjo in his true color . He's the most cunning and dangerous leader ever to come out of Nigeria. Isn't it an irony that when he was given the people's mandate to show what he's capable to give his country, he bled us to death with track of endless corruption and loot he now regret to have affected his resolve to spend his loot to provide power and other infrastructure to the nation . Does he realize he was confessing to citizens who're aware of the source of their depleted empty treasury ? It is only in Nigeria such individuals can be given the privilegde to live and mouth his wide open volume to the anger of those he looted beyond reason . If I became the nations Chief of State , such destructive former looter will be made to regurgitate all they looted with dispatch back to the treasury with a view to stop current borrowing and show potential looters the agony of sweeping out the national treasury
Olusegun Obasanjo is the problem NIGERIANS are having today and am very sure he is living in fear that's why he is doing what ever he is doing today in other to damage Jonathan Government.