Tag: Olusegun Obasanjo

Obasanjo leads search for alternative democratic system in Africa

Aminu Imam

Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo will, in a fortnight, lead other past African Heads of State and Government to a high-level summit to explore the possibilities of developing an alternative political and governance system for African countries. Disappointed by the seeming failure of Western Liberal Democracy on the continent, these eminent leaders under the auspices of the African Progress Group (APG) will be converging in Nigeria to chart a new course for a home-grown democracy in Africa. According to an issued letter of invitation, participants of the high-level regional…

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‘Nigeria has disappointed Africa, world’ – Obasanjo

Aminu Imam

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, decried Nigeria’s inability to live up to expectations since it got independence about 63 years ago, stressing that the country had not only disappointed itself but also Africa and the world. Obasanjo disclosed this while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation of the book titled: ‘Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa,’ written by former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, who also served as Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga. The book was unveiled by President Bola Tinubu through his Special Adviser on Monetary Policy,…

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Obasanjo writes UK, seeks clemency for Ekweremadu, wife

Aminu Imam

Former Nigeria’s president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has written the United Kingdom, (UK), asking for clemency for Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife convicted for organ trafficking. Recall that Ekweremadu and his wife had been convicted for organ trafficking by the Central Criminal Court, Old Baily, London, and will be sentenced to prison in May. However, Obasanjo pleaded with the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court, in a letter dated 3 April, 2023, to step in and guarantee that the UK government in this case balanced justice with mercy. The…

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“Obasanjo is Igbo in spirit” – Ohanaeze chieftain replies Fani-Kayode

Aminu Imam

A chieftain of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organisation, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an Igbo in spirit but a Yoruba biologically. Isiguzoro made the remark in response to a remark made by former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode. Obasanjo’s father, according to Fani-Kayode, may not be a true Yoruba man because his ‘silence’ over a comment by Igbo businessman, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, that Yoruba people are “political rascals,” was an indication that the former president’s father was an Igbo man, not a Yoruba man. In response, the Ohanaeze…

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2023: ‘Obasanjo, plotting a palace coup’ – Former INEC Commissioner

Aminu Imam

A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Lai Olurode, has criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for allegedly attempting to truncate Nigeria’s electoral process through the back door. Olurode, a retired Sociology Professor, warned that Obasanjo’s letter on the results of the presidential and National Assembly elections shouldn’t be mistaken for the patriotism of an elder statesman. He said Obasanjo’s adversarial contemplation of elections cancellation was not “only preposterous but counter-productive and a grievous invitation to violence”. Although he admitted that INEC could certainly have done better…

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2023: “Ignore Obasanjo’s advice” – Akinrinade to Buhari

Aminu Imam

A former Chief of Army Staff, Alani Akinrinade, (rtd), has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore the advice of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the ongoing electoral process. In an issued statement released yesterday, Akinrinade said Obasanjo’s advice “falls short of patriotism and fits perfectly into meddling in the affairs of state”. Recall that on Saturday, Nigerians voted in the presidential and national assembly elections. However, the elections continued in some polling units on Sunday owing to logistics. In the last 48 hours, the major opposition parties — Peoples Democratic…

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Tinubu defeats Peter Obi, Atiku in Obasanjo polling unit   

Aminu Imam

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has won in the polling unit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who endorsed Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the election. At Unit-2, Ward-11, Olushomi compound, Totoro–Sokori area of Abeokuta-North local government area of Ogun State, Tinubu polled 56, while Obi followed with nine votes, and Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured seven votes. Recall that after Obasanjo endorsed Obi last month, the APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in an issued statement, said nobody…

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‘Obasanjo commends Buhari on naira redesign’ – Femi Adesina

Aminu Imam

Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, says former president Olusegun Obasanjo commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the naira redesign policy. Adesina, in an issued statement, said that the former president praised Buhari at the Council of State meeting held in the State House, Abuja, on February 10. He quoted Obasanjo as saying: “Change was necessary from time to time, and resistance to change is normal”. The former president said the policy would bring a “little bit of sanity into our elections and have a salutary effect on kidnapping and ransom taking, and…

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2023: “There will be democratic quagmire, unless…” – Obasanjo

Aminu Imam

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has warned Nigeria may experience what he termed: a “democratic quagmire” if the country fails to retrace its political steps in the right direction. He made the assertion while presenting his Keynote address, titled: “Respecting the Principles of Democracy”, in Port Harcourt, on Thursday. The former president noted that Nigeria’s democracy has gone through twists, dives and turns since political independence. He opined that, “The best of the country’s history has been the sustenance of democracy since the military transfer of power to an elected government…

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“I would have secured a third-term if I wanted it” – Obasanjo

Aminu Imam
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he could have secured a third term in office if he wanted, saying he is audacious enough to get it. This is as he says he won’t join the campaign train of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, saying he has done his best by writing his endorsement. The former president said these while speaking at a virtual engagement organised by Africa Leadership Group. Recall that Obasanjo had in his New Year message to Nigerians, titled: “My appeal to all…

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