Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been a recurring decimal in Nigeria’s political history.
Some have called him the morality monitor of those in power and it is hard to consider letter without considering his person.
A lot has been said about his relevance at this time given his track record, while taking note of his letter where he said at age 70 he was already on his way out making reference to why the next president should be energetic and youthful.
The APC also reacted saying that his support is useless for any candidate at this time.
Speaking on the former president’s recent endorsement of Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Kayode EEsuola , Research Associate Professor of Politics, IADS, Unilag said the APC and the PDP are being political.
He said “It is difficult to say former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s opinion is irrelevant in Nigeria.
“If the opinion is not relevant, why did the candidates of these parties go to him to solicit his support, it is a contradiction.
In Nigeria today, Obasanjo remains an opinion leader. He has one vote, perhaps with members of his family, if they will vote for what he wants.
“But definitely you cannot deny that his position will influence a lot of people in this country. That is the reality of politics as we see it now.
He stated that Obasanjo is quite right in his message to the Nigerian people and especially the youth.
“Going back to his message to the Nigerian people and especially the youth, I think Obasanjo is quite right. He’s right to the extent that he needs to make a call that change is necessary.
“But I don’t agree with him on the fact that that change is only going to be brought about by the youngsters.
He noted that no single section of the society makes a change, rather, It must be holistic.
“If i were Obasanjo, I would make a call to the Nigerian people and say that whoever you choose to vote for in 2023 just don’t matter to me, I’m an elder statesman. What matters to me is that once the people gets to power do not go to sleep.
“Eternal Vigilance is the driver of democracy.
According to him, elections don’t change political system, they only change political leadership.
A reaction from the APC presidential council as it relates to the latest letter from former president Olusegun Obasanjo says “We make bold to say that our party and candidate Asiwaju Tinubu will not lose sleep over Obasanjo’s move as Obasanjo is notorious for always opposing progressive political forces as he did against MKO Abiola in 1993.
“The endorsement is actually worthless because the former president doesn’t possess any political goodwill or leverage anywhere in Nigeria to make anyone win a councillorship election, let alone win a presidential election. He’s a political paperweight.
Speaking further, Mr EEsuola stated that Obasanjo is not a moral standard, people should stop analyzing issues because there is no perfection in the affairs of men.
He added that people should focus on the issues raised and what will help the Nigerian people at this point as there is hardly any government that would have 100% score sheet therefore, what is important is not to enthrone a government but to vigilant all the time and not allow anyone to come to office and destroy the nation.
