Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said on Saturday, that some presidential aspirants should actually be in jail.
The octogenarian stated that many of them should be located away for good if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and IICPC do their jobs.
Obasanjo stated this while speaking at an international symposium to mark his 85th birthday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The event was a teamed theme, ‘Africa Narrative with Nigeria Situation’.
He added that even though he has received presidential aspirants at his residence, Obasanjo added that he has not endorsed any aspirants.
The former president stated that he would take his time and consult before throwing his weight behind any 2023 presidential aspirant.
In his words,, “Since 1999, we have changed from one political party or another we have manoeuvred and manipulated to the point that election results are no longer reflections of the will of the people and we seemed to be progressively going back rather than going forward politically, economically and socially.
“We have activities without requiting actions and personnel to move us forward. If we continue in the same pattern of recycling, sweet-word campaigning, manoeuvring without the substance of integrity, honesty, patriotism, commitment, outreach, courage, understanding of what makes a nation and what make for development, we will soon have to say goodbye to Nigeria as a nation.
“I cast a cursory look at some of the people running around and those for whom people are running around. If EFCC and ICPC will have done their jobs properly and been supported adequately by the judiciary, most of them would be in jail. Any person who has no integrity in small things cannot have integrity in big things.”
He added that Nigerians must take time to run background checks on all aspirants before supporting them.
Obasanjo said, “Such a person will have to lead what remains of the nation to courageously continue on the path of nation-building as a national team leader, no matter on what platform he or she assumes leadership. No one can do it alone. We must, however, stop sacrificing character, track records and performance on the altar of ethnic, regional or religious jingoism. As the watchman counts on daybreak, so too do I count on Nigerians and Nigeria to bring forth that person.”
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‘Some Presidential Aspirants Should Be in Jail’ – Obasanjo
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