₦airaland Forum

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said there is no alternative to President Muhammadu Buhari or his leadership style because of the peculiar period in the country’s life.

He urged Nigerians to support Buhari to bring about the desired “change” in the country.

Obasanjo noted that a lot of things that were left undone in the last six years are hurting the country today but said there is a ray hope in the government of President Buhari that the expected change for the better would soon come.

The former President made this declaration at the weekend when a delegation of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by the Vice – President, Ogunkunade Oluwatoyin, visited him at his residence on Presidential Hilltop Estate, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Obasanjo who is a former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before quitting party politics early this year, said he stuck out his neck for change during the last general elections because things were no longer going the way it ought to be for the country.

The former president spoke in response to the demands of the students, particularly as it concerns fighting corruption, security, economy, unemployment and improvement in the standard of education.

He noted that God loves Nigeria and that he would continue to support and pray for the success of President Buhari and his administration.

Obasanjo said: “ I will underline what I regard as the most important right now which is key that deals with almost all the points that you raised and that is the issue of leadership. I believe very sincerely that God loves this country.

“I have said it on a number of occasions that when you go through the history of this country, particularly during the pre-independence and how many times we have gone through difficult times but we have not fallen over, you would say like I have said over a number of times that God really loves this country.

“And the general elections you talked about is a typical section of it, many people believe that after that election there will be no more Nigeria, many had even sent their families abroad, to some of us there is no where we can live abroad they will say you with all your mouth that you were running so you can even run out of Nigeria and come here.

“I have nowhere else that I can go and live in except Nigeria. Some said that they know the NADECO route but I do not know the route and I do not want to know it. So God did it almost miraculously and the election took place although some did not want it to take place but it took place.

“And some did help in no small measure to make sure we that got what God has destined for Nigeria. But in the first instance, we must give thanks to God and in the second instance we must thank those that made sure that we had a change and a credible change and the relative peace that we enjoyed before, during and after the election.”

The former president continued, “The issue of good leadership which was what many of us were clamouring for. There is no angel, for me there is no messiah except Jesus Christ, but there are leaders who are concerned about what is happening in this country, leaders that are so passionate about this country and who are ready to stick out their necks for this country and God has given us such an individual as the President of the country.

“What has happened is an indication that change has come and that our dreams may come true. But all that is required of everyone, young and old, youths and even students is to give unalloyed support to the government and where we believe that we should give criticism that is objective and positive we should give.

“For me these points that you have made about what is going on in this country, about corruption, about the economy, about security, we all know these and that is why some of us prepared to stick out our neck to achieve change because most of these things have not been addressed for the past six years.

“And how can anybody tell us that they will be addressed the next four years but now we have seen a ray of hope, so I will say let us encourage where we need to encourage, let us be objective where we need to be objective, let us show solidarity where we need to show solidarity.”

He added that nobody is too young or too old to give meaningful contribution,” even what you are doing here is part of it, but do not limit it here, let us take it to them, those at the Senate, House of Representatives, those at the state level men and women of goodwill in this country.”

According to him, “God forbid that this present democratic dispensation should fail, because we have no other alternative and that is why I said that the present administration should succeed there is no excuse and that is why I am so concern about the success of this administration.

“Say whatever you like about me, I pray and I will work for the success of this government. There is no alternative to democracy, the alternative to democracy is even worse than the imperfection of democracy.”

Going down memory lane, the former president said, “I am a victim of military regime, I was put in jail and meant to be killed by (the Sani Abacha regime)..If there was democracy there might have been fair amount of trial. So I heard you, I note your request and as time goes by when I do have opportunity in the community of leaders when you want me to pass your message, I will deliver your message.

“But one of the things that gives me great concern is youth employment, there is no employment for the youths in this country. Somebody told me that we can admit about seven thousand students in a year but those who seek admission into the university probably double that number.

“We need to be mindful of job creation and wealth creation, it does not matter what university you attended, you must be mindful that job creation and wealth creation to the next generation.

“If you don’t have a target about the actions that you are about to take then you do not have anything to work up to. I believe that having a target is necessary. Let me give the history of the Nigeria’s civil war. I was one of those who did the appreciation of the war and wrote the order (plan) we thought that the war would end in six months and we made a plan for six months, but the war took 30 months but you cannot just leave it open, it must be an open ended, now fix a target and then those who are to carry it out will know that they have time and space within which to work.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/no-alternative-to-buhari-says-obasanjo/

The vindictive orangutan will do and say anything to spite the GEJ led FG for placing him where he belongs.

I expect the probe to start with the OBJ's $16Bn power investment with nothing on ground to show for it.

Get rid of Obj and solve 50% of Nigeria's problem.

Sophisticated azz licking baboon

All correct sir! Supported!

This man will not even believe that he may not witness 20years ahead and meanwhile a target has been fixed to fight bokoharam, to bringbackourgirls let's whatch and see! Mr target setter/king without kingdom!

chidifyn:
All correct sir! Supported!

what ar e you supporting! That things were left undone for past 6years but was well done between 1999/2007?

prof17:
what ar e you supporting! That things were left undone for past 6years but was well done between 1999/2007?

that tins ll be well done now..

chidifyn:
that tins ll be well done now..

I hear you.

Keep believing fake campaign promises.

chidifyn:
that tins ll be well done now..

then what about 1999/2007 does he (obj) mean that it was the best time for the country?

BishopMagic:
I hear you.

Keep believing fake campaign promises.

I can see everything turning around, everything turning around for our favour...lol

prof17:
then what about 1999/2007 does he (obj) mean that it was the best time for the country?

old things have passed away, d best is yet to come so we r experiencing d coming of the best tins.

chidifyn:
I can see everything turning around, everything turning around for our favour...lol

Don't follow the hopeless crowd and their delusional hope on buhari.

Put your hopes only in God and not a mere mortal and see how you will live a peaceful life without disappointment.

Nigeria will move forward when OBJ shuts his mouth or simply disappears from the scene.

[quote author=chidifyn post=37270962]old things have passed away, d best is yet to come so we r experiencing d coming of the best tins. [/quot. Then as your master tell him to stop shefting blame to past 6years let us enjoy the present!

OBJ

Yes, that's how a senile person thinks. Obasanjo is just dull And for those of you who believe you are leaders of tomorrow. OYO is your case

You see how these military thugs have hijacked the country and rotating power among themselves?

This country is a zoo

Well you think OBJ but God is than Buhari.

He's talking as if his tenure was the best Nigeria ever had.

People like him shouldn't even appear in public.

He should be long dead by now

In our current circumstance as a country, buhari is the most suited for that position...He has to succeed.