Sequel to a 13-page thought-provoking public statement released by Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which he titled “The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement” the presidency has kept mum.
The statement by the former president, which was released on Tuesday, January 23 advised President Buhari to consider his health and not run for office in 2019.
Obasanjo said the President should not toy with the patience of Nigerians but should in a dignified way dismount from the horse (seat of power). He also emphasised the need for Buhari to “reflect, refurbish physically and recoup.”
“President Buhari needs a dignified and honourable dismount from the horse. He needs to have time to reflect, refurbish physically and recoup and after appropriate rest, once again, join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the sideline for the good of the country. His place in history is already assured. Without impaired health and strain of age, running the affairs of Nigeria is a 25/7 affair, not 24/,” Obasanjo said in the statement.
Besides the presidency, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has also not responded to the issues raised by the former president.
The party through its spokesperson, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi told Channels Television that they are studying the former president’s article.
The APC says it needs more time to study it before it can respond.
However, the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its reaction to the letter said the position of the former president vindicates their stance on the ruling APC, the Buhari government and their chances ahead of 2019.
The opposition party insists it remains the way out and described Obasanjo’s advice as courageous, timeous and patriotic.
PDP, however, disagreed with the former president on the call for a third force saying that such would amount to repeating the same blunder that brought in the APC and the Buhari-led administration.
“Chief Obasanjo’s counsel has rekindled the fate of the people in the democratic process. The solution, however, does not lie in creating another political quicksand in a third force but consolidating on a rescue mission with the repositioned PDP which Nigerians have already embraced,” the statement read in part.
The National Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu and former Governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, however, held a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.
They also refused to talk to journalists about the details of the meeting.
This meeting with Buhari was held a few hours after Obasanjo issued the statement.
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