Politicians and stakeholders have since been reacting to the statement.
We have taken your special press statement in good fate ―Lai Mohammed
In a seven pages press release by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, speaking on behalf of the Federal Government thanked Obasanjo for his positive comments on President Buhari’s administration and reassures Nigerians of a better life ahead.
“We have no reason to believe that former President Obasanjo has any motive beyond the well-being of the nation in issuing his Special Press Statement.
“We have also taken his admonition in good faith, and we thank him most sincerely for taking time off his busy schedule to pen such a long statement.’’
Obasanjo and Buhari are like accuser and the accused ―Fayose
Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose took to his twitter account to express his opinion saying
“Obasanjo (the accuser), and Buhari (the accused) are both expired that Nigerians are desirous of getting rid of. They both don’t know when they were born and have outlived their usefulness in the political life of Nigeria.”
“Content of Obasanjo letter is a welcome development but the message is also culpable in the enthronement and colossal failure of Buhari. Though we want them ahead of this tragedy. It is, therefore, the decision of Nigerians that Buhari has failed and he must go, not that of Obasanjo.”
“I agree with Obasanjo’s letter even though he didn’t say anything that I have not said about Buhari and his government before. However, Obasanjo and Buhari are like accuser and the accused; two of them are analog and they do not represent the Nigeria of today.”
Obasanjo needs to learn how to respect other people ―Prof Sagay
Reacting, Sagay said Obasanjo lacks the moral standing to ask Buhari to not seek a second term in office, owing to his own alleged pursuit of a third term in office.
Sagay described Obasanjo’s letter as “insulting” and asked him to “learn to respect other people”.
Sagay told The Nation: “I saw Obasanjo’s comments and I could not believe my eyes, that a man who tried to get a third term is discouraging someone else from getting a second term. It doesn’t make sense.
“I think Obasanjo should try and respect other people. He has achieved a lot. He is a great man and I respect him. But he should learn to respect other people and think of them as being, at least, as good as himself.
“I think it is insulting for a man who wanted third term to tell somebody else not to want second term. It is most inappropriate, and for a former head of state to say so is most improper.”
How won’t Buhari fail when he surrounds himself with expired products ―Reno Omokri
Media Aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, in his remark said:
“Buhari should not listen to that snake/sycophant @Elrufai who wants to use him to retain power. He should listen to his wife and daughter. Listen to Obasanjo. He should listen to Nigerians and return to Daura. If he likes, he can take El-Rufai with him and make him his house boy!
“That Obasanjo letter really affected the @Elrufai family. His son insulted both Obasanjo and I. I never knew his son’s temper is as short as his father’s height. What did Obj say about Buhari that the serial betrayer and Buhari’s houseboy, El-Rufai, has not said before?
Those attacking Obasanjo for his letter should note that Obasanjo is a National Treasure while Buhari is a National Mistake. That a butterfly and a bird both fly doesn’t make both of them birds. Obj is a leader. Buhari is a ‘lidder’. He doesn’t lead Nigeria. He is a lid on Nigeria!
“How won’t Buhari fail when he surrounds himself with expired products like Sagay and Tam David West? Look at his cabinet? A French degree holder as Agric Minister! A polytechnic product in a sensitive ministry like finance. I’ve heard of ‘born to rule’, but Buhari was born to fail.
“I heard that Obasanjo’s letter has caused serious confusion in Aso Rock that Buhari is planning to release Chibok BOYS to distract the Nigerian people this time around and stop the #RedCard he has been given by the people.
“Has President Obasanjo also joined the wailers? First, his wife @aishambuhari attacks him and now Obasanjo rejects President Buhari’s second term bid after stating the obvious that the President has failed and should be rejected “as a horse rider in Nigeria again.”
Professor Sagay says Obasanjo’s comments are ‘insulting and inappropriate’. Who told Sagay Nigerians care about his comments? What have Sagay and Buhari achieved for Nigeria beyond taking us back several decades? Sagay can follow Buhari back to Daura in 2029 and be his houseboy.
Obasanjo’s challenge has been taken up by many Nigerians ―Femi Falana
Radical lawyer, Femi Falana, in a statement released on Tuesday night said:
“President Olusegun Obasanjo’s intervention is a vivid expression of the frustration of the Nigerian people with the Buhari administration.
“The statement is a clarion call on President Buhari to remove the incompetent and corrupt cabal of power mongers that have hijacked political power from him. Through sheer nepotism and cronyism, the regime has lost the massive goodwill that heralded it to power.
“President Obasanjo’s challenge has been taken up by many Nigerians who have already formed a coalition of genuine progressive forces to liberate Nigeria from internal colonialism and imperialist control.
Today Obasanjo’s missiles have landed on the Rock of Aso ―Shehu Sani
Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, also reacted saying:
“We need to remind those who used to say look at the message and not the messenger, to look at the message and not the messenger; so that they don’t forget their piece of advice and start looking at the messenger instead of the message.
“When Baba fired missiles to the National Assembly and called its members unarmed robbers you celebrated him; today his missiles landed on the Rock of Aso and you want to demonize him.
When Baba Dr OBJ writes you a letter, you know say ‘wahala dey’ ―Joe Abba
Dr Joe Abba a Country Director at DAI and visiting lecturer in Maastricht Graduate School of Governance commented:
“Hmmm. When Baba Dr OBJ writes you a letter, you know say wahala dey.”
“If 2 years ago, I thought someone was the Messiah, and 2 years later I think he’s the AntiChrist, I must question my judgement, my knowledge of politics and governance, and my recommendations for the future, as should anybody that respects my opinion.”
“I am keen to see how political Tweeter interprets #Obasanjo’s letter. Will they focus on the message? Or on the messenger and his moral right to deliver the message? Or on the antecedents of the messenger good and bad? Or on his track record of supporting others? Or all above?”
There is hardly a single word, even a comma in that letter that is not the truth ―Isuwa Dogo
Isuwo Dogo, a political scientist in his interview on Channels TV said:
“I am tempted to believe than those who have even say that I believe very sincerely in all what Obasanjo has written.
“There is hardly a single word, even a comma in that letter that is not the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
I plan on reading the statement of President Obasanjo ―Oby Ezekwesili
The co-convener of #BringBackOurGirls campaign, Oby Ezekwesili also reacted on her Twitter page after her release from police custody on Wednesday.
“After yesterday’s impunity of the Aso Rock and its Police I finally have found time on my schedule today & plan on reading the Statement of President Obasanjo that everyone is talking about. Heard it is several pages long. Wawu. And NO, I NEVER KNEW about that Statement.”
Obasanjo failed to list one important failure of Buhari ―Ogundamisi
Kayode Ogundamisi, a popular social activist and political commentator who campaigned for President Buhari in 2015 election noted:
“Olusegun Okikiola Obasanjo made valid points against Buhari and I hope Aso Rock does not dismiss those points, but Obasanjo failed to list one important failure of Buhari as Nigeria president and that is that rogues such as Obasanjo are still walking free with their massive loot.”
It is President Buhari’s prerogative to decide to re-contest ―ACF
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a northern socio-cultural group reacted in defence of the President in a statement signed by Muhammad Biu, the National Publicity Secretary:
“The statement credited to former President Obasanjo that President Buhari should not run in the 2019 election, it is his democratic right to express his view like any other Nigerian on all issues, including democracy,”
“However, it is President Buhari’s prerogative and that of his party to decide on whether to re-contest or not.”
Fani Kayode
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode in his terse reply said:
“OBJ has spoken. Matter closed.”
and then