Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has endorsed the presidential ambition of his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar.
Obasanjo who is currently in a meeting with Atiku, the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and others in Abeokuta,
Ogun state declared that Atiku will defeat the incumbent President,
Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.
According to him, he believes that Atiku has ‘re-discovered and
re-positioned himself’ and is now good enough to enjoy his support in
the next election.
Obasanjo said, “Let me start by congratulating President-to-be, Atiku
Abubakar, for his success at the recent PDP Primary and I took note of
his gracious remarks in his acceptance speech that it all started here.
“Yes, when it started, it was meant for Atiku to succeed Obasanjo. In
the presence of these distinguished leaders of goodwill today, let me
say it openly that we have reviewed what went wrong on the side of
Atiku. And in all honesty, my former Vice-President has re-discovered
and re-positioned himself. As I have repeatedly said, it is not so much
what you did against me that was the issue but what you did against the
Party, the Government and the country.
“I took the stand I had taken based on the character and attributes
you exhibited in the position you found yourself. I strongly believe
that I was right. It was in the overall interest of everyone and
everything to take such a position.
“From what transpired in the last couple of hours or so, you have
shown remorse; you have asked for forgiveness and you have indicated
that you have learnt some good lessons and you will mend fences and make
amends as necessary and as desirable.
“Whenever or wherever you might have offended me, as a Christian who
asks for God’s forgiveness of my sins and inadequacies on daily basis, I
forgive and I sincerely advise you to learn from the past and do what
is right and it will be well with you. Obviously, you have mended fences
with the Party and fully reconciled with the Party. That’s why today,
you are the Presidential Candidate of the Party. In addition to
appreciating all that the Party has done for you, may I advise you to
work together with all those who contested for the Party’s flag with you
as a team for your campaign.
“There are still areas, nationally and internationally, where you
have to mend fences and make amends. You will know how to handle what is
already out and what may yet be put out by the opposition. But, I am
convinced that if you continue with the attitude that brought you here
with these distinguished leaders of goodwill, with remorse and contrite
heart, the rest of the coast within and outside the country can be
cleared. And if there is anything I can do and you want me to do in that
respect, I will do.
“I am sure with the right attitude for change where necessary, and by
putting lessons learned by you to work, you will get the understanding,
cooperation, support and mandate – all at the national level. With
Nigerians voting for you, it will mean that you secure their forgiveness
and regain their confidence. It will be with the hope or assurance of a
Paul on the road to Damascus Conversion. After all, change and
conversion are of man. I believe that with a contrite heart, change is
possible in everybody’s life and situation.
“For me, relatively and of all the aspirants in the PDP, you have the
widest and greatest exposure, experience, outreach and possibly the
best machinery and preparation for seeing the tough and likely dirty
campaign ahead through. From what I personally know of you, you have
capacity to perform better than the incumbent. You surely understand the
economy better; you have business experience, which can make your
administration business-friendly and boost the economy and provide jobs.
“You have better outreach nationally and internationally and that can
translate to better management of foreign affairs. You are more
accessible and less inflexible and more open to all parts of the country
in many ways. As Pastor Bakare, one-time running mate of the incumbent
President said, “You are a wazobia man.” And that should help you in
confronting the confrontable and shunning nepotism.
“As you know, along the road to where you are today, many leaders and
ordinary people cooperated and overtly and covertly worked hard. On
your behalf, I thank them all. May their coast continue to be expanded.
And when you become Nigerian President which, insha-Allah, you will be,
remember what we did together in government – we ran an administration
by Nigerians for all Nigerians where merit and performance count more
than blood relationship, friendship or kith and kin. Although some time
and ground have been lost, you should endeavour to start from where we
stopped and recover some lost ground, if not time.
“Please uphold truth, integrity, principles, morality and fight
corruption, crimes and insurgency. The fundamental law of the land, our
constitution must be scrupulously defended. I make one demand and one
demand on you today, I need you to say before God and man that you will
always remain irrevocably committed to upholding ALL the provisions of
the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the whole
country will remain your single indivisible constituency.
“Constitutionalism, popular participation and inclusiveness are
pre-conditions for reversing the deficits of the past three and half
years. They will ensure abiding faith in our indivisibility, oneness and
faith in the survival of all against none.
“The fundamentals for our development, economic growth and progress
are hard and soft infrastructure. Remember to always give adequate
places in your administration to our youth and women.
“All the authorities involved with the preparation, all processes and
conduct of the election must ensure that the election is free, fair and
credible.
“Once again, congratulations and I wish you well. My distinguished
brothers and leaders of goodwill, thank you for making this happen. I
will now count on you to encourage all hands to be on the deck to take
Nigeria to the level God has created it to be – autopilot level.”