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Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday said some presidential aspirants should be in jail.
The elder statesman noted that some politician who are interested in becoming president should be in jail if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) performs its assignment.
Obasanjo stated this while speaking at an international symposium to mark his 85th birthday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The event was a teamed theme, ‘Africa Narrative with Nigeria Situation’.
He further stated that though he has received presidential aspirants at his residence, Obasanjo added that he has not endorsed any aspirants.
Obasanjo said that he is not sponsoring a presidential aspirant from the south in the 2023 general election.
The former president stated that he would take his time and consult before throwing his weight behind a presidential aspirant.
Obasanjo said, “As the quadrennial madness builds a head of steam and the runners and riders crisscross the nation in the quest for nomination as the party flag bearer to the highest office in the land, I read and hear about endorsement and statements in support of candidates that I frankly have not made and forming next political parties that I can never get involved in. I was told that social media credited to me the names of three people from the south that I am sponsoring for the Presidency in 2023.
“My friend, Professor Ango Abdullah, who brought this to my knowledge remarked that he did not believe that I made such a statement because it was out of my character. I have neither named names nor stated my position. In a situation like the one we are in, I will not rush into naming names without necessary consultations and well-defined principles and criteria. We need to be clear about what Nigeria needs today and why Nigeria needs it. Only then can we answer the question of how that will inform us of the criteria and characteristics for determining who.”
He said since democracy started in 1999, elections rather than progress in the country has been going back.
Obasanjo said, “Since 1999, we have changed from one political party or another we have manoeuvred and manipulated to the point that election results are no longer reflections of the will of the people and we seemed to be progressively going back rather than going forward politically, economically and socially.
“We have activities without requiting actions and personnel to move us forward. If we continue in the same pattern of recycling, sweet-word campaigning, manoeuvring without the substance of integrity, honesty, patriotism, commitment, outreach, courage, understanding of what makes a nation and what make for development, we will soon have to say goodbye to Nigeria as a nation.
“I cast a cursory look at some of the people running around and those for whom people are running around. If EFCC and ICPC will have done their jobs properly and been supported adequately by the judiciary, most of them would be in jail. Any person who has no integrity in small things cannot have integrity in big things.”
He noted that henceforth, presidential aspirants must be x-rayed, profiled and must be educated.
Obasanjo said, “Such a person will have to lead what remains of the nation to courageously continue on the path of nation-building as a national team leader, no matter on what platform he or she assumes leadership. No one can do it alone. We must, however, stop sacrificing character, track records and performance on the altar of ethnic, regional or religious jingoism. As the watchman counts on daybreak, so too do I count on Nigerians and Nigeria to bring forth that person.”
