Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s comments that PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar is still better than President Muhammadu Buhari, despite his (Atiku’s) loss in the Presidential election, is a crude joke.
The Buhari Media Organisation(BMO) said in a statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke that Obasanjo’s comments during a courtesy visit bySouth-West leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is ridiculous and contemptible.
“We are completely taken aback that someone who ordinarily should be seen as an elder statesman has continued to use his position to try to derail the country from the path of progress.
“We note that while President Muhammadu Buhari has used his four years in office to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria’s sustainable growth, Obasanjo as Nigeria’s president for eight years created instability by removing Senate presidents and state governors at will. It should be restated that throughout Buhari’s four years in office we have not witnessed a state of emergency in any state, and neither has the administration masterminded the unceremonious removal of any Senate President or State Governor.
“We also recall that Obasanjo’s era was characterised by unbridled corruption with the introduction of Ghana-must-go bags at the National Assembly. Similarly, Nigerians will not forget in a hurry the monumental sleaze that surrounded the power sector contracts under former President Obasanjo, nor the unethical use of his position to build a multi-billion naira presidential library.”
BMO recalled that former chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu had revealed that corruption under former president Obasanjo was worse than the era of late General Sani Abacha. “Many Nigerians are also aware that Obasanjo is responsible for the myriad of problems facing the country today, and rather than make recompense for his sins, he continues to arrogate unmerited knowledge and wisdom to himself.
“We consider it totally unwarranted for Obasanjo to deride the person of President Muhammudu Buhari who Nigerians have freely given their mandate for another four years. Former President Obasanjo’s outbursts are therefore a distraction which must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians are yet to recover from the corruption that Obasanjo bequeathed to the country, and President Buhari is presently cleaning the augean stable. The least Nigerians expect of the former president is to join hands in rebuilding the country from the ruins of PDP’s pillaging over a period of sixteen years, eight of which were under Obasanjo.
“We therefore consider the remarks of the former president as a face-saving tactic following the defeat of his preferred candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the presidential poll,” the group added.