Former
President Olusegun Obasanjo stated that he has sacrificed so much for the
country but he is not ready to do the same for any political party.
Obasanjo made
these statements during a courtesy call to his hilltop residence by Dr. Martins
Onove, the presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (founded by
Gani Fawehinmi).
He said, “My
first pre-occupation is what is best for Nigeria. Nigeria first, party second
and any other thing, third. I can sacrifice anything in the interest of Nigeria
and I can sacrifice my own life for Nigeria.“I can’t sacrifice my life for any
party’s interest but I’ll sacrifice my life in the interest of Nigeria.”
He also frown
on a situation where people would keep quiet and watch things go wrong in the
country.
He commended
the founder of the Party, Gani Fawehinmi saying he was a veritable voice of
conscience.
He advised
the party to accept whatever was the outcome of the election, if the election
was free, fair and uninterrupted. He said that people should not necessarily be
in government before they could contribute to the nation’s development.
He said, “In
this part of the world, we have a saying that if people sleep and they put
their heads on the same pillow, they are in danger. That means there should be
some people that should be critically looking and watching and also able to
speak up. They should speak up, no matter what others may say.
“Because
people may come up and say Nigeria doesn’t belong to anybody, I believe that is
a stupid saying. Nigeria belongs to all of us because anything that doesn’t
belong to anybody, anything can happen to it. For me, Nigeria belongs to all of
us and we are stakeholders in this country.
“Let me make
my own position clear, I am a card carrying member of the PDP, because that is
the party on which platform I became the President of this country.
“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
in this your campaign, try to inform, woo and to convince the electorates but
whatever may be the outcome of the election after you have done all that, once
the election is free and fair and undisturbed, uninterrupted, then you have to
accept the verdict of the people.”
Onovo said his
government, if voted, would continue with the developmental initiative of the
former President.
He said, “Our
programme is designed to lead to the abolition of poverty through full
employment, improve health care and electricity supply and energy which are
very critical to industrial development.
“We are very
aware that you did very few critical things in government when you were there
and some of those we wish to continue when we get to office, particularly the
anti-corruption efforts, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent
Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, we intend to continue.
“We intend,
when we get elected, to check the loss in national revenue so that we have
funds to carry out the developmental programmes we’ve promised our people.”
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