Obi’s endorsement: Obasanjo hero of post- Buhari Democratic Nigeria

By Simon Njoku

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of Labour Party’s Peter Obi is anchored on sound judgment. OBJ as we know him is not easily swayed by sentiments. Many a time we have seen him take decisions or assume positions devoid of primordial considerations, to wit ethnic and religious chauvinism.

His endorsement of His Excellency Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, out of the three front-line presidential candidates who had at different times called at his Ota, Ogun State country home, seeking his endorsement for the February 25, 2023, Presidential election, demonstrates his high level of patriotism and concern for the present and future generations of this nation. In pitching his tent with LP’s Peter Obi, he took a careful look at the three foremost candidates in the race for presidency including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He looked at the age of the candidates which is a critical factor in the choice of the occupant of the presidential seat. In this regard, as indicated in his New Year letter to compatriots, he drew from his experience as a head of state during his youthful age (his 40s) and again as Nigerian President, as a septuagenarian and concluded that a younger president is what befits the nation, especially at this point.

His position is buoyed by the experience of the current Nigerian President, Muhammad Buhari, who has on several occasions publicly cried out that old age was hindering the effective discharge of his Presidential duties. Buhari is a septuagenarian. Atiku as well as Tinubu are also septuagenarians. Besides being old and frail, the doubtful health status of both septuagenarian candidates has become an issue of great concern to the Nigerian public, going by the nation’s sad experience concerning the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. On this score, age and physical/mental well-being, Obasanjo, as a forthright elder statesman, toed the path of wisdom and went for Peter Obi who is in his early 60s.

This is because Obi has the energy, vigour and mental capacity to traverse the length and breadth of this country to meet his constituents as duty calls, in addition to constant foreign trips to honour engagements with global partners.

Obasanjo also considered competence, ability to effectively discharge the duties of the office of President – policy formulation and implementation, policy options, policy analysis, policy selection, prudent political and economic decisions etc. This enormous task calls for one who is ready to accept responsibility for the success or failure of his policies and not rely solely on a team of advisers who will constantly cajole citizens with “The President said; the president said”, without the people seeing the president, or hearing directly from him, as in the days of Yar’Adua. Obasanjo, having assessed Atiku and Tinubu’s mental health concluded that their ability to undertake the stressful Presidential tasks has become doubtful.

He found Peter Obi to be mentally alert. For Obasanjo, youthful Obi also has capacity to undertake rigorous Presidential tasks which require an individual that is capable of working 25 hours as against normal 24 hours/per day.

The former head of state moreover cast a look at the candidates to determine which of them possesses the characteristics of a visionary leader, one who understands where Nigeria is today and where e he wants it to be and the kind of policy mixes he is going to put in place to take it there. In all these, he found Obi towering above the other two candidates.

Another parameter OBJ used to arrive at his choice of candidate was their level of acceptability among the youth, that segment of the population that is now determined, more than ever, to take the country back from the older generation. The future of any nation rests with its young men and women. The elder statesman found that the youth form Obi’s major support base.

The above are some of the reasons that informed Obasanjo’s decision to endorse HE Peter Obi.
Currently, a barrage of criticisms has trailed his endorsement of the highly successful business mogul, especially from the camps of the other two candidates. Unfortunately, his critics have focused mainly on the person of the former Nigerian leader rather than on the issues that informed his decision. Their criticisms at best are aimed at confusing Nigerians and diverting their attention from the issues at stake. They are hereby challenged to address the issues that formed the basis for OBJ’s position on Obi and show where he erred instead of pursuing shadows.
It is unacceptable for some people to think they can just ride roughshod over Nigerians to power by sheer force of intimidation and brazen acts of braggadocio. The earlier they realised they owe Nigerians explanations regarding some yet-to-be-answered questions about their candidates the better for the nation. They should therefore start talking to Nigerians and stop talking down on them.

By this singular act of open endorsement of his choice Presidential candidate, not minding whose ox is gored, Obasanjo has unwittingly endeared himself to the hearts of not a few compatriots. Importantly, he has etched his name on gold for posterity. He has used the lamp the Creator has placed in his hands to light up the path that others should follow. Surely, history shall be kind to this patriot who has inadvertently become the hero of post-Buhari democratic Nigeria.

Long Live Olusegun Obasanjo! Long Live LP’s Obi/Datti!! Long Live Nigeria!!!