Obasanjo hails Jonathan for ‘realising his mistakes’ — and takes a swipe at Wike

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has “realised his mistakes” and has a role to play for the good of Nigeria, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said in his “special press statement” on Tuesday.

He also apparently took a swipe at Nyesom Wike, although he did not mention the governor of Rivers state by name.

Obasanjo, who asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to go for a second term,  explained why he opposed Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 after writing a stinging letter, titled “Before it is too late”, to the incumbent then.

“For Africa to move forward, Nigeria must be one of the anchor countries, if not the leading anchor country.  It means that Nigeria must be good at home to be good outside.  No doubt, our situation in the last decade or so had shown that we are not good enough at home; hence we are invariably absent at the table that we should be abroad,” he said.

“All these led me to take the unusual step of going against my own political Party, PDP, in the last general election to support the opposite side.  I saw that action as the best option for Nigeria.  As it has been revealed in the last three years or so, that decision and the subsequent collective decision of Nigerians to vote for a change was the right decision for the nation.

“For me, there was nothing personal, it was all in the best interest of Nigeria and, indeed, in the best interest of Africa and humanity at large.  Even the horse rider then, with whom I maintain very cordial, happy and social relationship today has come to realise his mistakes and regretted it publicly and I admire his courage and forthrightness in this regard.  He has a role to play on the sideline for the good of Nigeria, Africa and humanity and I will see him as a partner in playing such a role nationally and internationally, but not as a horse rider in Nigeria again.

“The situation that made Nigerians to vote massively to get my brother Jonathan off the horse is playing itself out again.  First, I thought I knew the point where President Buhari is weak and I spoke and wrote about it even before Nigerians voted for him and I also did vote for him because at that time it was a matter of “any option but Jonathan” (aobj).  But my letter to President Jonathan titled: “Before It Is Too Late” was meant for him to act before it was too late.

“He ignored it and it was too late for him and those who goaded him into ignoring the voice of caution.  I know that praise-singers and hired attackers may be raised up against me for verbal or even physical attack but if I can withstand undeserved imprisonment and was ready to shed my blood by standing for Nigeria, I will consider no sacrifice too great to make for the good of Nigeria at any time.No human leader is expected to be personally strong or self-sufficient in all aspects of governance.”

Obasanjo said his opinion that the two leading parties — APC and PDP — are “wobbling” remains the same, alluding to the choice of Wike’s candidate, Uche Secondus, as PDP chairman as evidence.

“I have had occasion in the past to say that the two main political parties – APC and PDP – were wobbling.  I must reiterate that nothing has happened to convince me otherwise.  If anything, I am reinforced in my conviction.  The recent show of PDP must give grave and great concern to lovers of Nigeria,” he said.

“To claim, as has been credited to the chief kingmaker of PDP, that for procuring the Supreme Court judgement for his faction of the Party, he must dictate the tune all the way and this is indeed fraught with danger.  If neither APC nor PDP is a worthy horse to ride to lead Nigeria at this crucial and critical time, what then do we do?”

He called for a “Coalition for Nigeria” to chart the way forward.