2019 Elections: Obasanjo Clarifies Position, Says He Is Not Neutral.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has faulted the report which
indicated that he is not opposed to or in support of any
presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections.

He made the clarification in a statement by his media aide,
Kehinde Akinyemi, sent to TheNigerialawyer on Sunday.

“It is disingenuous, if not malicious, for anyone to suggest
that Chief Obasanjo was being neutral when he chose not to use the
Owu Convention as a platform for political campaign but instead
adopt a communal and familial approach in talking to members of his
Owu family,” the statement said.

Akinyemi said although the former President stated that he would
not impress any candidates on the people, Nigerians should vote for
credible candidates who would make their lives better.

According to him, Obasanjo’s statement did not suggest his
neutrality and he will not sit on the fence when he needs to be
active for people to know where he stands in the nation’s
interest.

“In fact, the former President believes that only a fool will
sit on the fence or be neutral when his or her country is being
destroyed with incompetence, corruption, lack of focus, insecurity,
nepotism, brazen impunity and denial of the obvious. Chief Obasanjo
is no such fool nor is he so unwise,” Akinyemi said.

He noted that Obasanjo has reaffirmed that he was on the side of
what was best for the country.

The former President asked Nigerians to ‘stop complaining and go
out to get beneficial change’, stressing that such change would not
come if they remain complacent and inactive.

Read the full statement by Obasanjo’s aide
below;

While Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is in Cairo to attend the maiden
edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), of which he is
Chairman of the Advisory Council, his attention has been drawn to a
report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) with the headline
“Atiku: Obasanjo Shifts Political Gear to Neutral.”

It is disingenuous, if not malicious, for anyone to suggest that
Chief Obasanjo was being neutral when he chose not to use the Owu
Convention as a platform for political campaign but instead adopt a
communal and familial approach in talking to members of his Owu
family.

For the records, and as accurately reported by some media
organisations, what the former President said at the Convention in
Iwo was that while he would not impress any candidates on them,
Nigerians should vote for credible candidates who will drive growth
and development and make their lives better than it is now.

Chief Obasanjo’s statement did not suggest his neutrality. In
fact, the former President believes that only a fool will sit on
the fence or be neutral when his or her country is being destroyed
with incompetence, corruption, lack of focus, insecurity, nepotism,
brazen impunity and denial of the obvious. Chief Obasanjo is no
such fool nor is he so unwise.

The former President reassures Nigerians that he will not sit on
the fence when he needs to be out and active for people to know
where he stands in the best interest of Nigeria.

Chief Obasanjo reaffirms that he is on the side of what is best
for Nigeria and what we have currently and as the affairs of
Nigeria are being run is not the best for Nigeria, so nobody should
fool himself or deceive others about Chief Obasanjo’s position.

The former President further urges Nigerians who are victims of
what we have for now to stop just complaining and go out to get
beneficial change. They must know that such change will not come if
they remain inactive just complaining and complacent and they allow
themselves to be deceived by sycophants and enemies of Nigeria. If
they do not become active and get the much-needed change of the
current administration to a government that will improve the
economy, regain the confidence of investors and generally drive
growth, development and economic progress with security, what is
coming will be much worse than what Nigerians currently suffer.

On his part, Chief Obasanjo will remain consistent in speaking
out whenever and wherever he sees evil as he is known to do no
matter whose ox is gored. Nobody should manipulate Chief Obasanjo’s
position, particularly on the 2019 Presidential election and what
he said in Iwo to perpetrate or perpetuate continued destruction of
our country.

Thanks for your usual cooperation and support.

Signed:

Kehinde Akinyemi

Media Aide to H.E Olusegun Obasanjo

December 9, 2019.

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