Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said on Thursday he was not ready
to sacrifice his life for any political party, but would prefer doing
that for Nigeria.
Mr. Obasanjo stated this when the Presidential Candidate of the
National Conscience Party, NCP, Martins Onovo, paid him a visit at his
Hilltop private residence in Abeokuta.
“My first pre-occupation is what is best for Nigeria; Nigeria first,
party second and any other thing third. Nigeria first means I will not
sacrifice anything for the interest of Nigeria but I can sacrifice my
own life for the interest of Nigeria, I can’t sacrifice my life for the
interest of a party, I will sacrifice my life for the interest of
Nigeria,” he declared.
Mr. Obasanjo commended the role Gani Fawehinmi, founder of NCP,
saying the late lawyer did not only fight injustice but also checked the
excesses of governments in power.
“In the interest of a better society there is always the need for
some people to serve as watchdogs. Fawehinmi throughout his life devoted
his intellect and energy to fight injustice, bad governance, corruption
and other social vices,” he said.
“Let me pay tribute as I have done in my recent book to the founder
of your party, Gani Fawehinmi, I believe he was a genuine social critic
though you may not agree with all that he said or how he went about
them. But he was definitely a genuine social critic, so you (Martins) as
the flag bearer of the party he founded, if you should follow his
footsteps of integrity and genuine critical analysis and committed
analysis and criticism of the situation in the country, I think nobody
will fault you,” Mr. Obasanjo said to his guest.
Mr. Obasanjo said “Let me make my own position clear, I am a card
carrying member of PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) because that is the
party on which platform I became the president of this country”.
His further advised his guest that “If what you’re trying to do is in
the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians accept and vote for you, who
I am I not to accept you as President of Nigeria, I will. But whatever
may be the outcome of the election after you have done all that you can,
once the election is free and fear and undisturbed, uninterrupted, then
you have to accept the verdict of the people”.
The former President reiterated his call on the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure free, fair and transparent
elections that would be acceptable to Nigerians.
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