Faseun Canvasses Support for Obasanjo

Tokunbo Adedoja

2 December 2003

Lagos — Traffic was yesterday brought to a stand-still for about three hours on the old toll-gate/ 7up axis in Ikeja following a rally organised in support of President Olusegun Obasanjo by the founder leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress(OPC), Dr. Fredrick Faseun.

The rally, which kicked off at about 11am was attended by hundreds of members of the Yoruba militia group from various parts of Lagos and neigbouring states in the Southwest. Dec 2, 2003 – "They think because he does not enjoy Yoruba support, they want to ,  force Obasanjo out of office, we will tell them what OPC stands for",

http://allafrica.com/stories/200312020624.html

Faseun Canvasses Support for Obasanjo
By Tokunbo Adedoja
Traffic was yesterday brought to a stand-still for about three hours on the old toll-gate/ 7up axis in Ikeja following a rally organised in support of President Olusegun Obasanjo by the founder leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress(OPC), Dr. Fredrick Faseun.

The rally, which kicked off at about 11am was attended by hundreds of members of the Yoruba militia group from various parts of Lagos and neigbouring states in the Southwest.

The large turn-out of the members of the group who came in about 100 buses hindered the free flow of traffic along Oworonsoki/Third Mainland bridge, Ojota, and Maryland.

The rally, which was the second Faseun would organised for Obasanjo, was however peaceful without any interference or molestation from the police.

Addressing the rally, Faseun who spoke in Yoruba scored Obasanjo's administration high on all fronts, maintaining that the regime has brought the country out of the woods.

He specifically stated that Obasanjo's leadership qualities have brought peace to the country and praised the President for "removing thieves, robbers, fraudsters and deadwoods from our public service".

The OPC leader, who spoke occassionally in proverbs to buttress some of his points maintained that, the president has successfully launched the nation back into the comity of nations through his virile foreign policies since it assumed power.

He added that an example of the dividends of the foreign policy of the government is the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting(CHOGM) and the State Visit of Queen Elizabeth of England.

According to him, this is significant because the same Commonwealth suspended Nigeria in the days of Abacha and consequently made Nigeria a pariah nation.

He also cited as example the recently held All African Games(COJA) saying that all these show that Nigeria has been fully re-integrated into the world socio-political environment.

The OPC leader chided the president's critics, describing them as pessimists and adding that Rome was not built in a day.

He consequently called on them to give Obasanjo a chance to develop the country and complete what he called the good work the administration has started.

He urged Yorubas to rally round Obasanjo, their kinsman adding that should he be disgraced out of office, it will take the Southwest up to 2047 to produce another Nigerian president going by the four years, two-term formula.

He threatened those that may be planning to remove the present admnistration from power, adding that OPC is solidly behind the president.

"They think because he does not enjoy Yoruba support, they want to upset him. If they should force Obasanjo out of office, we will tell them what OPC stands for", he said.

He, however, dispelled rumour that he was sponsored by the government to stage the rally saying "all of you know me, I can't be bribed, but no one's child can be so bad that the parents will throw him out for wild animals to consume him".

So my Ijaw brothers, I present to you evidence that Yorubas supported Obasanjo and rallied for him when he had problems with the North
Now Yorubas are complaining when you do the same for your brother

Ijaw I ask you, who is your enemy?

What is good for Obasanjo is good for GEJ, no?

jmaine:

Nchara at his best      

Just helping my Ijaw brothers know who their enemy is . I have posted this on a Niger Delta website and gave a link to nairaland so they see where am coming from.

Interesting pespertive. Now let me see how some of the hypocrites will spin this!

let me add to the list

-the yorubas also supported obasanjo when he increased the pump price of petrol by 120% on a new year day of 2003
-the yorubas also supported obasanjo when he killed igbos during the the civil war and chased cowardly ojukwu to run to ivorycoast with his tail in between his legs

The large turn-out of the members of the [size=16pt]group who came in about 100 buses hindered the free flow of traffic along Oworonsoki/Third Mainland bridge, Ojota, and Maryland.
[/size]
The rally, which was the second Faseun would organised for Obasanjo, was however peaceful without any interference or molestation from the police.

[size=16pt]Addressing the rally, Faseun who spoke in Yoruba scored Obasanjo's administration high on all fronts, maintaining that the regime has brought the country out of the woods.[/size]

He specifically stated that Obasanjo's leadership qualities have brought peace to the country and [size=16pt]praised the President for "removing thieves, robbers, fraudsters and deadwoods from our public service".
[/size]
The OPC leader, who spoke occassionally in proverbs to buttress some of his points maintained that, the president has successfully launched the nation back into the comity of nations through his virile foreign policies since it assumed power.

[size=16pt]He added that an example of the dividends of the foreign policy of the government is the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting(CHOGM) and the State Visit of Queen Elizabeth of England.
[/size]
According to him, this is significant because the same Commonwealth suspended Nigeria in the days of Abacha and consequently made Nigeria a pariah nation.

He also cited as example the recently held All African Games(COJA) saying that all these show that Nigeria has been fully re-integrated into the world socio-political environment.

[size=16pt]The OPC leader chided the president's critics, describing them as pessimists and adding that Rome was not built in a day.
[/size]
He consequently called on them to give Obasanjo a chance to develop the country and complete what he called the good work the administration has started.

[size=16pt]He urged Yorubas to rally round Obasanjo, their kinsman adding that should he be disgraced out of office, it will take the Southwest up to 2047 to produce another Nigerian president going by the four years, two-term formula.[/size]

Nchara:

Faseun Canvasses Support for Obasanjo

Tokunbo Adedoja

2 December 2003

Lagos — Traffic was yesterday brought to a stand-still for about three hours on the old toll-gate/ 7up axis in Ikeja following a rally organised in support of President Olusegun Obasanjo by the founder leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress(OPC), Dr. Fredrick Faseun.

The rally, which kicked off at about 11am was attended by hundreds of members of the Yoruba militia group from various parts of Lagos and neigbouring states in the Southwest. Dec 2, 2003 – "They think because he does not enjoy Yoruba support, they want to ,  force Obasanjo out of office, we will tell them what OPC stands for",

http://allafrica.com/stories/200312020624.html

As opc confirmed, he did not enjoy Yoruba support, that says it all.

The OPC leader chided the president's critics, describing them as pessimists and adding that Rome was not built in a day.

He consequently called on them to give Obasanjo a chance to develop the country and complete what he called the good work the administration has started.

He threatened those that may be planning to remove the present admnistration from power, adding that OPC is solidly behind the president.

He, however, dispelled rumour that he was sponsored by the government to stage the rally saying "all of you know me, I can't be bribed, but no one's child can be so bad that the parents will throw him out for wild animals to consume him".

if not for ethnic sentiments i don't see how Nchara and co wouldn't see the highlighted. They did not accuse any group of anything, their acclaimed critics of Obj was generic and not ijaws.
Also note that they did not support him based on what the yorubas are contributing or av contributed even though they contributed more when it mattered most in our history (in the 50s).

In addition they clearly implied that Obj is not perfect when they release the second bolded part in the quote above.

^

Here again

The large turn-out of the members of the [size=16pt]group who came in about 100 buses hindered the free flow of traffic along Oworonsoki/Third Mainland bridge, Ojota, and Maryland.
[/size]
The rally, which was the second Faseun would organised for Obasanjo, was however peaceful without any interference or molestation from the police.

[size=16pt]Addressing the rally, Faseun who spoke in Yoruba scored Obasanjo's administration high on all fronts, maintaining that the regime has brought the country out of the woods.[/size]

He specifically stated that Obasanjo's leadership qualities have brought peace to the country and [size=16pt]praised the President for "removing thieves, robbers, fraudsters and deadwoods from our public service".
[/size]
The OPC leader, who spoke occassionally in proverbs to buttress some of his points maintained that, the president has successfully launched the nation back into the comity of nations through his virile foreign policies since it assumed power.

[size=16pt]He added that an example of the dividends of the foreign policy of the government is the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting(CHOGM) and the State Visit of Queen Elizabeth of England.
[/size]
According to him, this is significant because the same Commonwealth suspended Nigeria in the days of Abacha and consequently made Nigeria a pariah nation.

He also cited as example the recently held All African Games(COJA) saying that all these show that Nigeria has been fully re-integrated into the world socio-political environment.

[size=16pt]The OPC leader chided the president's critics, describing them as pessimists and adding that Rome was not built in a day.
[/size]
He consequently called on them to give Obasanjo a chance to develop the country and complete what he called the good work the administration has started.

[size=16pt]He urged Yorubas to rally round Obasanjo, their kinsman adding that should he be disgraced out of office, it will take the Southwest up to 2047 to produce another Nigerian president going by the four years, two-term formula.[/size]

See the loads of praise worship going on

^^^^beaf at it again.


radical=beaf

onomeasike:

^^^^beaf at it again.


radical=beaf

Beaf=Nchara too
And Onomeasike=Tinubu

He urged them to rally round their kinsmen but how did he rally round OBJ for a start. Did he accuse the ijaws? Did he cjaim to come from the area that contributes blah blah blah . . . ?

onomeasike:

^^^^beaf at it again.


radical=beaf

onomeasike = alj harem = bluetooth = gbawe

The usual f00ls like Alh Harem wont see this one O.
Dem go skip am. LOL,
I support IJAW 100%.

Hypocrites roam on NL!

^^beaf=BlackPikiN =Radical=blood money is still having his monologue,pls read,enjoy and ignore!

Clearly, a certain section of Nigeria contains two-faced hypocrits. They need watching over 24/7. Who knows what trick they will pull next?
They have been busted by this thread.

onomeasike:

^^beaf=BlackPikiN =Radical=blood money is still having his monologue,pls read,enjoy and ignore!

Lol,
BlackPikiN=GEJ=Asari=Obama.
If you can get me, you can get the rest.
Mumu.

Where are the idoits saying trash about the ND support for their son and for the support of the Igbo people.
Thunder go strike una two by two.

Yes, that section of Nigeria where you orginate not only maintians two faces - it is more like uncountable faces.

Let me help you as I did on the other thread where you were posting your irrelevances. [size=14pt]Below is OPC/Fasehun's reaction to OBJ own misadventure at subsidy politics in 2005[/size]:

Quote: Those who spoke included NLC President, Adams Oshiomhole, Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Ibrahim Kano, Leader of the Joint Action Forum (JAF), Beko Ransome-Kuti and Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) Leader, Frederick Fasehun.  All spoke of the negative effect of an economic theory “imposed on the Nigerian people” by the IMF and the World Bank.

http://www.nigerianmuse.com/nigeriawatch/?u=Lagos_Strike_September_2005.htm
Fuel Rally: Thousands march in Lagos, demand old price Independent
Thursday 15th September, 2005

Fuel Rally: Thousands march in Lagos, demand old price
• No negiotiation, says NLC • New price threatens security – Tinubu

• Nigeria project under Obasanjo a failure – Soyinka • FG hails Lagos rally

By Wisdom Patrick,
Emmanuel Ukudolo,
Lekan Sanni (Lagos)
And Chesa Chesa (Abuja)

Lagosians, at the behest of Labour, filed out in their tens of thousands on Wednesday to give the federal authorities a piece of their mind on “bad governance” which they say has boiled over with the new price of fuel that has shot up the cost of everything else: Plus water and gari.

“Revolution now”; “Enough is enough; merchants of impoverishment go home”; “Stop importation. Make our refineries work”; “The will of the masses must be respected, no to fuel price increase” were some of the inscriptions on the placards they carried as they stomped the streets from Surulere to Alausa (Ikeja).

It was all peaceful though; to the delight of Abuja, which promptly commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for making its point without a show of aggression – and the police for ensuring the safety of  life and limb and property.

But Abuja stuck to its guns on the price hike, a position conveyed after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) which held as the NLC kicked off the Lagos leg of the national rally billed to hold in strategic cities on different days.   

The protesters blamed mainly the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the government as well as Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the hardship faced by the masses at a time “when they should be enjoying as a result of the high prices of crude oil” on the international market.

Those who spoke included NLC President, Adams Oshiomhole, Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Ibrahim Kano, Leader of the Joint Action Forum (JAF), Beko Ransome-Kuti and Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) Leader, Frederick Fasehun.  All spoke of the negative effect of an economic theory “imposed on the Nigerian people” by the IMF and the World Bank.

They marched from the National Stadium, Surulere to deliver a letter to Governor Bola Tinubu in Ikeja for onward transmission to President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The letter was signed by Oshiomhole, Ransome-Kuti, Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Peace Obiajulu and Princewill Ojeh of the Congress of Free Trade Unions (CFTU).

Oshiomhole, who presented the letter, also raised questions which he would like Obasanjo to answer.

“When Obasanjo assumed office in 1999”, he began, “crude oil was selling at $16 per barrel on the international market, while the product was being sold to local refineries at $9.50. Even at that, the government was making a profit of $5 since local cost of production was $4.

“Today, crude oil is being sold at between $65 and $70 per barrel, while the government projection is $30”.

He regretted that, even with an additional revenue of over 150 per cent, the railways are not working, the school system is in a shambles with Nigerians sending their children to Ghanaian universities, while power supply is as epileptic as ever.

He added that when the government announced an increase in fuel price from N20, it promised to repair roads and provide seven million jobs, but six years on, the roads are still in a terrible shape, the refineries are still not working.

“Who are the ones not making the refineries work? Nigerians want to know. Who are the importers of petroleum products that we consume. Why are the refineries not working?”

Tinubu said he shares in “the grieve, anger and the rejection” of the price hike, “which is unnecessary because what is needed to be done in the last six years to reduce the suffering of the people has not been done”.

He described the increase as a threat to national security because of its social and economic implications.

“Nigeria needs a change. The PDP government lacks in focus, it is wasteful and entrenches mediocrity in the national polity and is a party of chop and chop”, he insisted.

“Our (Lagos) government believes that petroleum product is so critical to major sectors of economic activity, including transportation, agriculture and manufacturing, that incessant increases in the price of the commodity has a direct bearing on poverty levels.

“There is certainly no way the more than 10 fuel price increases between June 1, 2000 and August 26, 2005 can be justified. We doubt if there is any country in the world with this incredible record”.

Tinubu also kicked against the plan to pay $12 billion to the IMF, saying no nation would use a chunk of its wealth to pay debts at a go. Rather, he said the money should be used to revamp the economy, repair infrastructure and raise the standard of education.

Soyinka said the Nigerian project is possible, but only in an egalitarian society which recognises the equality of all.

However, he explained, the division among the masses has made it possible for the ruling class to impoverish them.

He called on the people to put aside short-term gain for long and sustainable solution.

He asked what has happened to the dream of the founding fathers of Nigeria.

The dream is still realisable, he enthused, “but certainly not under this government. This government has no answer to Nigerians’ problems. Obasanjo told me in 1999 that he wants to build an egalitarian society which all Nigerians would be part of, contribute their quotas, and benefit at the end of such sacrifices, but today I think he has lost focus. So the time is up, the people have spoken.

“The labour of our heroes past and their dream are still achievable. It is still possible, it could still be done, but certainly not under Obasanjo and his gang or his cabal. They have to give us way. This project would be possible in the hands of the people. So get ready to fight. I am ready to walk on foot from Lagos to Abuja if that would change the present situation”.

Oshiomhole added: “This is just the beginning. Our message to this government is very clear: You must revert to the old pump price of fuel. Don’t call for negotiations because we would not come. You have no other option but to go back to the old price. The people have spoken. They call themselves a listening government in Abuja and we expect them to listen. The only way we would know they are a listening government is when they revert to old pump price of petrol”.

The FEC praised Labour for keeping the rally peaceful. But it insisted on the new pump price of fuel.

Its meeting was chaired by Vice President, Atiku Abukabar, and its outcome was passed on to reporters by Labour and Productivity Minister, Hassan Lawal.

He said the FEC commended the police for “guiding and guarding” the rally peacefully, noting that the NLC’s conduct so far has been a healthy development despite the fact that the government had tried to persuade it to shelve the action.

His words: “I must say here that we need to commend them because, for the first time, the Labour movement has decided not to go on strike right away. They have decided to hold a rally to make their point and to protest to the government.

“I think it is a very healthy development in the sense that on previous occasions, you will recall that the most predictable action by Labour was a strike. Sometimes they called it the mother of all strikes, ultimatum, intimidation and all what not. At least one is happy that the gospel of dialogue one has been preaching is paying dividends and we believe that we will all come to understand and appreciate each other’s point of view.

“The government has taken some steps and is still taking some steps to ensure some palliatives. Labour tried to argue that the Mantu committee report has not been implemented and we tried to show that it has been implemented.

“However, in our own discussion with them, new ideas have emerged. Labour has made new proposals, which we have discussed and will be carried to the government. They are also going back to make consultations with their own people and we believe there will be an amicable solution to this problem”.

Asked if the government would therefore follow the example of Ghana, Britain, Germany that are considering lowering the price of fuel price  cushion its effect on their citizens, Lawal replied: “This is the fundamental error we always make. Please compare apple with apple. Don’t compare an apple with an orange. The quantum of money we saved from some of these increases is not money meant for anybody to go on a Christmas spree.

“This is money meant for the provision of basic infrastructure. You are now talking of European countries. For God’s sake, is water or borehole an issue in England or Italy or France? Is electricity an issue in Germany or England? The issue is that we are a developing society”.

Nchara:

Clearly, a certain section of Nigeria contains two-faced hypocrits. They need watching over 24/7. Who knows what trick they will pull next?
They have been busted by this thread.

nchara!you are infamous in digging up news from archives

Subsidy removal has turn to opc vs. asari. Naija people no dey think straight.

ok I see Asari is retaliating for what OPC did, smart!

@Poster true talk.

I wish to see an end to all these ethnic militia

I will not duel on this ethnic issue because it does not add value to my life. But I will make this short comment. What u should ask is were they supporting him to stay in office generally or this support as stated in the article is specifically over his fuel subsidy policy? I am not a fan OBJ or even OPC (just like I call for total wiping out of all militia groups in Naija) even though I am a complete Yoruba man. N.Deltans are completely free to support gej to stay in office, generally, but should they do so even when their son comes up with anti-people policy. If in the remote parts of the country where you never get fuel at #65 what makes them think they will not get the commodity at #200 or more because of this anti people policy yet they still support him (although the likes of asari can afford #500/liter)

@ gists - bless u for that. I am an igbo man and I don't know how this issue became an ethnic matter. I was part of the protests (ok I just attended) and there were ppl there from every ethnc group. If nigerians fall for the same tribal card every time then it means the problem is very very serious.

Another failed thread by Nchara. This dude is always getting it wrong. The thread is just one of those aimed at brainwashing the SS in an alliance with the SE. Yorubas will always come out to speak their mind freely without any complex.
Shld the SS go into a marriage with the SE, I see another Northern/Southern kind of marriage.

The day the veil of sectionalism will fall off our eyes is the day Nigeria will genuinely begin to move forward. If we are not a corrupt nation, what do we stand to gain personally by our kinsman being in power? Can't we just let our president lead the entire nation wholeheartedly irrespective of where he is from? To think that some of these comments come from "educated" people speaks volumes of our educational system.

NCHARA ABEG MAKE U DEY HELP US DEY FIND ARTICLES LIKE THIS BECAUSE I THINK ITS TIME WE PULL DOWN THE VEIL THESE SNAKES HIDE BEHIND. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THESE ONES HERE FOR EXAMPLE:

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-847061.0.html

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-847061.0.html

the same people SCREAMING for the impeachment of GOODLUCK gave all their support to Obasanjo until 2010 when the "film don finish" thats when they started "criticizing" him . You guys think other Nigerians are silly sha ! Don't over estimate your intelligence , the deception games of the YORUBA's worked in the 60's but its 2012 and NO MORE .

http://thenationonlineng.net/web2/articles/49170/1/Yoruba-support-for-Obasanjo-regretted/Page1.html

[quote]A chieftain of the Oyo State Action Congress (AC), Chief Femi Lanlehin, has regretted his support for the second term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Lanlehin, a governorship aspirant in 2011 election noted that he and other Yoruba leaders who worked for Obasanjo’s presidency, did so in the interest of the Yoruba race.

But he regretted that they were disappointed in the end by the abysmal performance of the former President.

Addressing reporters at the premises of the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Iyaganku, Ibadan, the politician, who dumped the Alliance for Democracy (AD) for the ruling party in 2007 to work for Obasanjo, decried the former President’s style of governance.

He said: "[size=12[/color]pt]We (Yoruba) rose in unison to say that Obasanjo must get a second term. Rightly or wrongly, he won the election but failed to justify this support. He woefully fai"led the Yoruba people.[/size]

"He got the opportunity on a platter of gold but wasted all this. It was indeed a disappointment and a regret," he

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/mar/16/national-16-03-2011-020.htm

Ladoja ungrateful to Obasanjo

extracts

[size=12[color=#990000]pt]during his second term, Yoruba supported him very well. The Afenifere people refused to recognize him due to their selfish interest. .[/size]

During Obasanjo’s second term, a lot of things happened. We started the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) because of Obasanjo to counter Afenifere. Papa Alayande, Papa Adewale Thomson, General Adeyinka Adebayo, Dr. Tunji Odegbeye and myself came together to form the YCE to give Obasanjo a base. We held several meetings in Ota for his second coming. It got to the stage we got involved in the planning of Obasanjo to accept second term. It was part of our strategy at that time. YCE was fully represented when we demonstrated to the whole world that Obasanjo has accepted, after so much begging.

So, definitely, Yoruba had a hand in Obasanjo’s second term. YCE was solidly behind him and he succeeded

may i remind you that during OBJ first term he commited the following crimes:

1. THE ODI MASSACRE.
2. THE REFUSAL TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATE BOLA IGE'S MURDER (WE ALL KNOW WHY .)
3. TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF NIGERIAN AIRWAYS.
4. FAILURE TO CONTROL THE ETHNO-RELIGIOUS KADUNA AND JOS CRISIS WHICH STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN IN 2001 , HE HAD A GOLDEN CHANCE TO CHANGE THESE THINGS BUT TURNED A BLIND EYE .
5. UNCOUNTABLE IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES .

YET the YORUBA'S decided to support him for A SECOND TERM . And now barely 8 or 9 months of goodluck's administration and the SAME SNAKES are asking for his impeachment . NA WA OH!

THAT'S THE SWEET THING ABOUT HISTORY AND THE ARCHIVES . THEY DON'T LIE !!! IN YOUR FACE YOU SLIMY YCE / ACN ODUA SNAKES .

[/quote]

^^
Goodlvck has already shattered that record in 20 months. And besides u don't equate someone's opinion to that of the group he belongs to.
Let Gej fix Boko haram with his ''protest diffusion wisdom''. If he can approve the wastage of lives and has close to 1 Trillion for defence then let him exercise his new pharoah swagger on BH.