Obasanjo driven by passion for Nigeria

NIGERIANS have continued to comment on the contents of the letter written by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Muhammadu Buhari assessing the performance of the present administration among others in the areas of the economy, security, corruption, national unity, politics, good governance and development. While analysts are busy examining the issues raised in the letter, some business-minded Nigerians have taken advantage of the opportunity and reproduced copies of the letter and are making quick sales of same in the streets of Abuja. Ingenious, you may say!

The truth of the matter is that, love or hate him Obasanjo with a good conscience has, in all honesty, assessed the current state of affairs in Nigeria.  He has written the letter on behalf of millions of downtrodden, forgotten Nigerians whose voices no longer matter and have been silenced because of their low status in life, poverty, illiteracy and disease. The opinions being expressed both in the electronic and print media on the said letter are varied and diversified just like the nation itself. As is the case in a divided country, sectional, tribal, religious and political considerations and have inhibited critical and impartial analysis of the contents of the letter on the basis of the message the letter seeks to convey to President Buhari. However, the consensus view among Nigerians of good conscience is that Obasanjo has spoken the truth to the throne and history will positively judge his contribution to democracy and development in our fatherland.

The former President may have his shortcomings like all human beings, but he is, without doubt, a true patriot and statesman who is truly concerned about the Nigerian condition and has in the past risen to the occasion by telling occupants of villa the truth on issues of security, welfare of the people no matter how bitter. Political gladiators in the face of painful truth seek solace by taking the old travelled road by asserting that the former President Obasanjo is just seeking for relevance. This is far from the truth as is common knowledge that Obasanjo is very busy on the international level promoting democracy,   good governance and conflict resolution. He has kept himself busy in the pursuit of academic excellence culminating in the award of Doctorate Degree in Theology by the National Open Universities of Nigeria. An Author of This Animal Called Man and My Watch, definitely cannot be seeking for relevance.

I can thus be stated without fear of contradiction that Obasanjo is driven by the passion for the well-being of Nigerians as asserted in the letter to President Buhari. The former President referred to the lingering herdsmen/ farmers’ conflict, with its attendant senseless killings of innocent people. In this regard, the elder statesman has called on the Federal Government to find a solution that “protects life and properties of herdsmen and crop farmers alike”.

• Rahila Ahmadu,

Asokoro, Abuja