Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday bemoaned the frustrations of Nigerians because of the state of affairs in the country, but said he still remained convinced that “God did not create Nigeria to be rudderless.”
Obasanjo said God created Nigeria and endowed her to be one of the great nations of the world, declaring that it is not the fault of God that the country is unable to attain its potential despite the great endowments.
The ex – President spoke at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolade Osinowo led the candidates of the party in the state, including the governorship candidate; Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, the running mate, Mrs Bisi Okeowo – Bolade and Chief (Mrs) Titi Oseni – Gomez, for the 2019 general elections to him.
He reckoned that God though usually use human beings to advance his cause on earth, stressing however, that what the pitiable state the country is today is result of the “conscious and unconscious choice of the people of Nigeria.”
He noted that many are “hopelessly frustrated and disillusioned” in the country, but also counselled Nigerians not to despair much, expressing the hope that the “God of miracle” that had continued to love Nigeria, would bring succor to the land.
He also admitted that Nigeria as a country has made many mistakes which could have plunged it to extinction, but said the country has continued to exist and remained as one because of the love and grace of God upon her.
Obasanjo explained that he is not one of those who would sit down and be wringing one’s fingers when things are bad, on the contrary, he said he would reflect and deliberate to figure out what is amis as well as suggests likely exit path.
According to him, this informed why he wrote a certain letter in the past, pointing out what ails Nigeria and proceeded to push for a coalition of forces to spearhead and drive a better country for all.
He said: “I believe that God has decided that things will change for good in Nigeria. Some people are in despair due to the situation of things in the country, it is understandable.
“God did not create Nigeria to be rudderless, He did not create Nigeria to be a failed country. God created Nigeria to be one of the leading countries among the committee of nations. That we are not there is not the fault of God, that we are not there is a conscious and unconscious choice of the people of Nigeria.
“I believed then, when we were confronted with bad situations in this nation, we should sit back and think and look at the situation and ask ourselves, what is wrong? and when we have ascertained what is wrong, what can we do to correct what is wrong?
“And that was the statement I made on the 23rd of January which led to the establishment of Coalition for Nigeria Movement to start doing something about the wrongs and stop complaining.
“One thing is to think of what to do, another is to do something about it which is very important. We have gone from that statement making to the adoption of a political party because movement is an activism but in the context of moving Nigeria froward, our Constitution only allow a political parties to be the instrument.
“And when we did the assessment we decided to come up with a political party for the yearning Nigerians and for the betterment of Nigeria.
“We have made so many mistakes in this country that should have stopped Nigeria from existing but that has not been our lot. Some are going from PDP to APC and back to PDP, in the short run we have no choice but in the long, we have choice because we cannot be running here and there and expect transformation.
“We have to get out of where we are and the only way to get out is through what you have in your hand, your party.
“If your party do things the way other parties have done things in this country, it will not create a new channel for Nigeria so you have to be different and that is why the movement adopted ADC.
“You can not do things the way other parties have done it in the past and expect a difference, in fact you must not.
“Going by so what happened in Osun election, you must not give money to voters, don’t buy voters, your party must be different and voters should know that those who buy them will steal their money.
“Let me warn those of you who are going for legislative assembly, don’t go their to steal you are going as law makers so make laws for good governance. It is necessary for you to let people know that you are different.
“I will continue to do what is good for the country till I die. I am not a man of ADC I am just a guide and adviser also to PDP and APC and SDP. Whoever comes around, my doors are open.”
Obasanjo lauded the ADC for what he described as its phenomenal growth in Ogun State and Nigeria, and advised the party to strive to be different from other political parties and also “work extremely hard” to achieve successes in 2019.
On the Governorship candidate of the party in Ogun state, Obasanjo described Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as his “son” in whom he is “well pleased,” saying he is a “credible and trusted candidate” deserving of the executive office of the state.
“Gboyega Isiaka, I believe you are a good product and your running mate but don’t sleep, you have to work hard. We have a peculiar situation in Ogun State since creation and the situation is that the East has democratically produced governors twice also the central but the West has not produced any.
“One of the things I usually hear is that they(Ogun West) have no people, how there you say that. No section of this country has monopoly of good people. I have maintained that it is time for the people of the West to be given opportunity to provide the governor,” he said.
