The former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has declared
that he was aware Muhammadu Buhari weak both on knowledge and understanding of
the economy, reports ITRealms.
Obasanjo popularly known as OBJ made this disclosure in a
special press statement available to ITRealms on the state of the nations and
obviously in reactions to opening of campaign offices for Buhari 2019
re-election.
“I knew President Buhari before he became President and said
that he is weak in the knowledge and understanding of the economy, but I
thought that he could make use of good Nigerians in that area that could help,”
he declared.
OBJ also said that although, he knew that no one can give what
they do not have and that economy does not obey military order, stressing
"You have to give it what it takes in the short, medium and long-term.
Then, it would move."
He equally claimed knowledge of Buhari's weakness in
understanding and playing in the foreign affairs sector and again, there are
many Nigerians that could have been used in that area as well.
"They have knowledge and experience that could be
deployed for the good of Nigeria. There were serious allegations of
round-tripping against some inner caucus of the Presidency which would seem to
have been condoned. I wonder if such actions do not amount to corruption and
financial crime, then what is it? Culture of condonation and turning blind eye
will cover up rather than clean up. And going to justice must be with clean
hands," he lamented.
Obasanjo said that he thought President Buhari would fight
corruption and insurgency and he must be given some credit for his achievement
so far in these two areas although it is not yet uhuru!
He insisted that Buhari needs rest not minding the noise of
praise singers by his side, decrying the handling of the herdsmen and crop farmers issue, which is
being wittingly or unwittingly allowed to turn sour and messy.
"It is no credit to the Federal Government that the
herdsmen rampage continues with careless abandon and without finding an
effective solution to it. And it is a sad symptom of insensitivity and
callousness that some Governors, a day after 73 victims were being buried in a
mass grave in Benue State without condolence, were jubilantly endorsing
President Buhari for a second term! "
He said the endorsement timing was most unfortunate, noting
that the issue of herdsmen/crop farmers dichotomy should not be left on the
political platform of blame game; the Federal Government must take the lead in
bringing about solution that protects life and properties of herdsmen and crop
farmers alike and for them to live amicably in the same community.
Obj went on to list additional three other areas where
President Buhari failed woefully, namely nepotic deployment bordering on
clannishness and inability to bring discipline to bear on errant members of his
nepotic court.
He said, this has grave consequences on performance of his
government to the detriment of the nation. It would appear that national
interest was being sacrificed on the altar of nepotic interest.
"What does one make of a case like that of Maina:
collusion, condonation, ineptitude, incompetence, dereliction of responsibility
or kinship and friendship on the part of those who should have taken visible
and deterrent disciplinary action? How many similar cases are buried, ignored
or covered up and not yet in the glare of the media and the public? "
he wondered.
The second, OBJ said, is his poor understanding of the
dynamics of internal politics, which has left the nation more divided and
inequality has widened and become more pronounced. It also has effect on
general national security.
The third, OBJ said,
is passing the buck, citing for instance, blaming the Governor of the Central
Bank for devaluation of the naira by 70 per cent or so and blaming past governments
for it; is to say the least,not accepting one’s own responsibility.
"Let nobody deceive us, economy feeds on politics and
because our politics is depressing, our economy is even more depressing today.
If things were good, President Buhari would not need to come in. He was voted
to fix things that were bad and not engage in the blame game," he said.
Reminding PMB that the Constitution is very clear, "one
of the cardinal responsibilities of the President is the management of the
economy of which the value of the naira forms an integral part. Kinship and
friendship that place responsibility for governance in the hands of the
unelected can only be deleterious to good government and to the nation."
He maintaineed that President Buhari’s illness called for
the sympathy, understanding, prayer and patience from every sane Nigerian,
which is part of African culture.
"Most Nigerians prayed for him while he was away sick
in London for over hundred days and he gave his Deputy sufficient leeway to
carry on in his absence. We all thanked God for President Buhari for coming
back reasonably hale and hearty and progressing well in his recovery.But
whatever may be the state of President Buhari’s health today, he should neither
over-push his luck nor over-tax the patience and tolerance of Nigerians for
him, no matter what his self-serving, so-called advisers, who would claim that
they love him more than God loves him and that without him, there would be no
Nigeria say," he said.
Emphasising that President Buhari needs a dignified and
honourable dismount from the horse, stressing that it would afford him time to
reflect, refurbish physically and recoup and after appropriate rest, once
again, join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom
and outreach can be deployed on the sideline for the good of the country,
insisting that his place in history is already assured.
"Without impaired health and strain of age, running the
affairs of Nigeria is a 25/7 affair, not 24/7," OBJ counseled, appeal to Buhari to consider a deserved rest
at this point in time and at this age.
Chuks Egbune/GEE
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