.Lists ex-president’s misdemeanors
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Constitutional lawyer and President of Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI), Wale Ogunade, has counseled former President Olusegun Obasanjo to leave Nigerians alone as they are capable of taking a stance when the time to vote comes and do not need to be telly guided.
Ogunade was reacting to the special press statement Obasanjo issued in which he advised President Muhammudu Buhari not to seek re-election.
The lawyer also listed the misdemeanor of the former president while in office.
“I have, and I am sure many Nigerians do also, not forgotten how you imposed the Land Use Act on the entire country.
“The 12, 2/3rd Saga of 1979, which brought in Ex-President Shehu Shagari administration.
“You became the main beneficiary of the June 12, 1993 election cancellation struggle by taking the Yoruba slot to become president even though you never identified with the struggle.
“Baba, may I remind you Sir, that on becoming the president, you worked against every thing Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s political dynasty stood for.
“You rubbished Chief MKO Abiola when you said he was not the messiah to lead Nigeria to the promised land. You not only made your self-leader of the Yoruba, but father of the Nation.
“Your tenure as president between 1999 to 2007 was a disaster! You appointed advisers you never took their advice thereby wasting public funds through the appointment.
“You did not improve on housing, infrastructure, road or health. Companies, particularly, banks, busied themselves retrenching staff rather than growing the economy.
“Baba, during your tenure, Nigeria was living a borrowed life despite the boom in oil sales. Money realised during this period was wasted on electric power architecture that added no single kilowatt to national grid. Similar fate befell money voted for road construction all over Nigeria.
“The aviation sector became comatose. You officially liquidated Nigeria Airways, and till you left office, you never saw the need to pay your government commitment to the retrenched staff of the organisation. Indeed, during your tenure, planes were falling off the sky like mangoes falling off tree.
“Baba, do I remind you, sir, that as Minister of Petroleum, you increased fuel pump price eleven (11) times, which is the cause of the economic crisis we are still in till today.
“The only sector that thrived during your era was corruption and this was because you knew those involved would disturb your Imperial ambition of a third-term. You set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), brought in Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to hound your real and imagined enemies,
“You knew the health status of ex-president Umar Yar’ Adua, yet you imposed him on Nigeria and Nigerians. You never trained nor groomed a successor, because of your life presidential ambition. You could have picked or promoted the candidature of a younger and vibrant Northerner, rather than the sick Yar’Adua whose eventual demise nearly plunged the country into another war.
“Baba, rather than allow the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caucus and the party organs choose the vice presidential candidate ahead of the 2007 presidential election, you unilaterally decided on Dr. Goodluck Jonathan whom you would later lambast and worked for his fall,” Ogunade said.
He said that Obasanjo’s letter was borne out of mischief because he had unrestricted access to President Buhari whom he could have discussed the content of the letter with.
He said that Nigerians do not need the counsel of Obasanjo to take a stance as a people.