• Blames Yar’Adua for dismantling anti-corruption structures

Agha Ibiam in London


A former Nigerian president and chairman of the panel of advisors of the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that it is not yet ripe to determine if he will support President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid for a second term in office or not.

Having ditched the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which brought him to power for eight years, Obasanjo in 2014 threw his weight behind Buhari and invariably the All Progressives Congress (APC) as against the PDP administration led by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

However, Obasanjo, whose response was brief when confronted with the question by THISDAY after delivering a speech titled, “Leadership in the African Context – How to Drive Transformational Change in African Countries,” at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, Monday, retorted that the time was not ripe to answer such a question.

Having given his terse response, Obasanjo was hurriedly ushered into his car and driven off for a dinner event at the university college.

The event, which was organised by AIG to announce the 2017/18 scholarship recipients, attracted hundreds of people from the university community and beyond.

His speech, nonetheless, drew a lot of questions bordering on why the African continent is governed by bad, corrupt and inexperienced leaders.

Obasanjo, who was well equipped and prepared to make the event an interactive one, responded to all the questions thrown at him by the audience.

On fighting corruption in Nigeria, he said it was a hydra-headed monster, which was deeply entrenched in the system, adding that fighting corruption was not a one-day affair but something that must be fought continuously.

“The man (leader) on top must be above board and be seen to fight corruption. Those around him must also be upright and various institutions such as the police, judiciary, the executive and other bodies must make it an all-inclusive affair because it is an endless process,” Obasanjo said.

He then went on to blame the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua whom he said had dismantled some of the structures he had put in place to check and curtail corruption, such as the pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

He noted that Yar’Adua had allowed former Delta State governor, Mr. James Ibori, to push for the replacement of the former EFCC chairman, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, whom Obasanjo claimed was poisoned but eventually survived it.

On achieving good governance in Africa and particularly Nigeria, Obasanjo urged Nigerian youths to participate in politics.

He, however, expressed regret that the amount of money required in politics was obscene, noting that something must be done about it.

“Politics in Nigeria has been dominated by people that have stolen money, that have godfathers or even drug barons, the type we have now at the National Assembly. So youths should pool resources to become politically active in order to replace the present crop of leaders and provide better alternatives,” he added.

Obasanjo told the audience that he was satisfied with what AIG was doing by collaborating with the Blavatnik School of Government to ensure that young minds are produced in West Africa to take up the mantle of leadership in the near future.

He remarked that Africa’s time to develop was now, but maintained that African leaders needed to implement transformational change agendas if things must happen.

“There must be far reaching reforms to ensure we remove the old order and introduce the new order because Africa is viewed by the Western world as a liability.

“For the eight years I was in power, I tried to reach out to other world leaders using my shuttle diplomacy which attracted positive actions. I campaigned for debt relief which we got and Africa was no longer treated with disdain,” he recalled.

He said transformational leadership abhors complacency by thinking outside the box, thinking strategically, and refuses to take no for an answer.

The former president added that policy development and honesty would push the reforms that the African continent was yearning for, adding that leaders needed to wake up for the paradigm shift.

The inaugural recipients of the AIG scholarships for 2017/18 are Emokiniovo Akpughe (Nigeria), Efosa Trevor Edobor (Nigeria), Abdul-Fatawu Z. Hakeem (Ghana), Chukwunonso Iheoma (Nigeria), Oluwapelumi Simpson (Nigeria) and Emmanuel Taiwo (Nigeria).

Before his speech, Obasanjo arrived at the university college at 14.07GMT and went straight into a meeting to discuss the partnership between the Blavatnik School of Government and AIG.

Others at the meeting included the Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, Prof. Ngaire Woods; Director of Development, Dr. Kirstine Knox; Head of Executive Office, Hillary Coyne-Bar; and the Head of Partnerships and Fellowship Office, Gail Allan.

Members of the AIG advisory panel present at the meeting included Obasanjo, Chairman of the THISDAY Editorial Board, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, and Mrs Yemisi Ayeni, while the AIG board members present were former President of Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Mrs. Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, and the Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/01/09/obasanjo-its-not-yet-ripe-to-say-if-ill-support-buhari-for-second-term/

Bubu was never ripe to be president it was you and those gullible Nigerians that vote him into power...... special thanks to the creator that they are finally reaping the repercussions of their actions ...... ( 2019 ) comes to mind

The Nigerian oracle!

Okay, we will soon know what you are waiting for !

Cunny man

Buhari deserves a letter from OBJ

Even Obasanjo and the Generals are tired of PMB. The Mallam selling Suya down my street who was a die hard supporter of PMB is even tired.
Me: Give me four hundred Naira Suya
Mallam: Maigida..I no dey buy plenty Suya again

Me: Money no dey

Mallam: Walahi Maigida no market. Buhari no good...Jonathan better..Market dey for Jonathan

Me: Sai Baba!

Mallam: I dey angry please take your Suya and go!

Following

Just tell Nigerians now to run away from the disaster called CHAIN-GE & Buhary.

Any person that has not made up his mind to kick Buhari out at this time is definitely and enemy of Nigeria and should be tried for treason . #BACK2DAURA

lol. one thing i like about Nigeria ex head of state, is that, once they leave power they automatically becomes a Democrats and give advice for things they couldn't do when in power.

it is unripe we know. Na plantain.

OBJ playing safe, baba no wan commit too early...

Let us know when it's ripe and ready to be plucked! Mtcheeewwwww

May ogun kill all of them

Of course he knew the president was never sound to lead Posterity will never forgive people like OBJ who helped to foist a monumental disaster of Buhari nature on this nation.

I'm just wondering, people dont want APC come 2019 and yet they say Atiku is a selfish greedy theif, now who will they vote for 2019. And whereas, all these people are educated illetrates with their hypocritic patroitsm, they have forgotten they have been suffering for the past 16year 'fore Buhari came into power, only that the government of just 3 years is yet to find solution to the destruction of sixteen years the past government has incured on Nigerians. Also, the present government is slow and week for action towards very sensitive issues. Now Lets Ask, Who Will Deliver Nigeria From The Foreseen Doom Its Heading To?

Buhari's "navigator"!

He has navigated nigeria into a ditch.

The old trick star should just shut up and start writing his WILL.


He's too blind to see the cold hands knocking at his door.

OBJ is a cun man but still better than buhari.





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Is it Atiku you will support?

Crook

How wants to seduce PDP members so that they will not field atiku as their candidate

Then he'll go behind and stab them in the back again

Obasanjo is now a democrat,lest we forget the man did his best but he should stop all this pontification,some of us were not too young when you were President Sir, the National Assembly you berate consistently got out of gear the day you started waving ghana-must-go at them,so forgive the institution for getting into your 3rd term ambition,please...
Yar'Adua is dead,so you can say so many things that make you happy...
He was Fulani and Moslem,irrespective how slow,we were not carrying our lives in our palms like we did now......He spent a glorious 2years plus,we will always remember.
Jonathan is out now,he is now a democrat....The PATRON that is in Aso Rock was an Anti-corruption czar outside,but he is there...we are now seeing his Amaechis, Fayemis, Mainas, Malamis, Babachirs, Dambazzaus, etc.....
Days have gone we rely on you 'Navigators',hunger has reset to factory settings.....OBJ(the boss of all bosses),whether it's ripe or unripe boli,go and tell Benue people about Buhari,then you will know how far.
Do not over-reach yourself,learn to opt out when the ovation is loudest.

ayoxx69:
I'm just wondering, people dont want APC come 2019 and yet they say Atiku is a selfish greedy theif, now who will they vote for 2019. And whereas, all these people are educated illetrates with their hypocritic patroitsm, they have forgotten they have been suffering for the past 16year 'fore Buhari came into power, only that the government of just 3 years is yet to find solution to the destruction of sixteen years the past government has incured on Nigerians. Also, the present government is slow and week for action towards very sensitive issues. Now Lets Ask, Who Will Deliver Nigeria From The Foreseen Doom Its Heading To?

Speak Pidgin please!

Even Buhary himsef is still in doubt of 2nd term

Baba they wait for ghana must go bag

[b][/b]OBJ I DON'T think you are still relevant in the Nigeria politics, just stop seeking for unnecessary attention

dre11:

• Blames Yar’Adua for dismantling anti-corruption structures
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/01/09/obasanjo-its-not-yet-ripe-to-say-if-ill-support-buhari-for-second-term/

PMB till 2060

aolawale025:
Buhari deserves a letter from OBJ

A love letter? He seems blind to the Terrorist's flaws. Only love can be that blind.

Ok