Obasanjo congratulates Buhari, says ‘much harm’ has been done to the military

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has written to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, advising him that “with so much harm already done to many national institutions including the military, which proudly nurtured y0u and me, you will have a lot to do on institution reform”.

The letter, dated March 31, 2015, was circulated on Wednesday by the APC presidential campaign organisation.

The full text

I hasten to congratulate you on your success and victory in the Presidential Elections of March 28, 2015.               

Your success and victory after three previous unsuccessful attempts must be great object lessons for you and for all politicians, particularly in Nigeria.

For me, the totality of 2015 elections hold many lessons for our democracy and democratisation process, which are both maturing. On this occasion, the system has been unnecessarily overheated before and particularly during the campaigns when emphasis was more on trivialities and hate, divisive, undignifying and disrespectful statements and comments rather than on pressing issues requiring attention. I know that in victory, you will be magnanimous to start binding the wounds and bitterness occasioned by the campaign and the evil disciples.

With so much harm already done to many national institutions including the military, which proudly nurtured you and me, you will have a lot to do on institution reform, education, healthcare, economy, security, infrastructure, power, youth employment, agribusiness, oil and gas, external affairs, cohesiveness of our nation and ridding our land of corruption. Your varied and wide experience will undoubtedly stand you in good stead.

I am also sure that there are men and women of goodwill, character and virtue across the board that you can mobilise to join hands with you in the reform, repairs and redirection that will be imperative to put Nigeria back on the fast lane of good governance, unity, cohesiveness, development and progress.

Once again, I felicitate with you and wish you well.