Nigeria Still in Chains, Needs a Saviour… Obasanjo Warns

Former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has deeply looked at the problems bedeviling the country and said Nigeria is currently in bondage.

Obasanjo said Nigeria will bounce back once the country has a leader that is a true Nigerian that does not promote sectional interest.

Chief Obasanjo made this known on Friday when the Southern leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP) paid him a courtesy visit in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital.

The leadership of the NNPP that visited Obasanjo include Prince Nweze Onu, NNPP National Deputy Chairman (South); Prince Ademola Ayoade, NNPP National Vice Chairman (Southwest); Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, Ogun State NNPP 2023 Gubernatorial candidate; Alhaja Shakirat Arowolo, NNPP Ogun State Secretary; Ronnie Dikko-Killa, NNPP Lagos State Chairperson; Lady Chinyere Ofokansi, NNPP Southeast Women Leader; Mrs Erelu Tosin, Sole Southwest Women Leader.

Others are Mrs Oluwakemi Kayode, Mrs Dasola Adebayo, Oluyinka Folahan, Comrade Malik Sannie, NNPP Southwest Youth Leader, Teluwo Kehinde, NNPP 2023 Ogun Central Senatorial Candidate; Kilamuwaye Badmus, NNPP Southwest PRO; Olagbenro Bababowale, Ibrahim Shuaib, NNPP Southwest Treasurer and Ladipo Johnson, NNPP National Publicity Secretary.

Obasanjo said, “Let’s continue watching the situation. We are in bondage and we should pray that God should free us from the bondage”.

The former Nigeria President who said he doesn’t belong to any political party insisted that Nigeria is his political party and said he is more concerned about improving the present state of the country.

He said Nigerians need to be up standing so that they can have the opportunity to see the challenges better rather than be on seat watching what is going on in the country, saying if you don’t stand up the country may end up in bad hands.

He said Nigeria as a country needs to look at the problems of insecurity, bad economy and should shun tribalism.

He said the country needs a true Nigerian as the President of the country, saying “what we have been having are sectional leaders like Fulani Nigeria President, an Hausa Nigeria President, a Yoruba Nigeria President, saying until we have a true Nigerian Nigeria leader, the problems plaguing the country will persist.

“We have few true Nigerians as politicians. Most of the politicians are concerned about themselves. Until we have a true Nigerian leader, our problems will remain unsolved. What we are having now are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa Nigerian and they are only protecting the interest of their tribes”.

Obasanjo said Nigeria is the leader of the Black African nation but said sadly Nigeria has been a disappointment.

“Nigeria as the leader of the Black African nation has disappointed Africa and even the World”, Obasanjo said

He said Nigeria has not been playing its leadership role and thus has been a disappointment to Africa and among the nations of the World.

Speaking shortly after the visit, the Ogun State NNPP Governorship Candidate in the 2023 election , Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo said political process is a game of interest and every politician has one motive or the other for joining politics.

“It is either you want to develop Nigeria or not. You must have one intention. it is either you want to contribute to the development of our nation or you are not ready. To say the fact, if we are going to look at the atmosphere of the political system we are now, you would know that the situation is not good. We need to be open to ourselves.

“Our leaders should know that they are governing humans not animals. And we need to know the needs of the people we are governing. If we know the needs we will be  able to proffer solution to them. And if any leader don’t look at politics or governance from this angle, then he is not getting it right . We must know how to make our citizens’ needs first priority. That is how to bring great development to our nation.

“So I have not seen that genuine Nigerian who wants to contribute his or her quota to make Nigeria better. And that is why come 2027 election, by the Grace of God we as part of Nigerian youths are coming out en-masse to make sure we choose our leader right” .

Also speaking, the South West Vice Chairman of the NNPP, Chief Ademola Ayoade said the Southern leadership of the NNPP were in Abeokuta to see Chief Obasanjo for prayers and advice as the party is set to begin consultation ahead of the 2027 election

He said “We are here to greet our father. Baba Obasanjo. A father that wants peace and development for Nigeria. A father who wants good things for Nigeria. Our party is planning on how to make Nigeria better. We are doing consultation.

“We feel before we start moving round, we should visit our father for prayer. We have visited him and he has given us his prayers. He said there will be no problem. He said he is behind us”.

On whether the party will join the coalition of ADC, Chief Ayoade said,.”As of now we don’t have any plan to join any coalition. We are doing consultation and after consultation, we will decide what to do. But for now, we are standing as NNPP.

On rumour that the National Leader of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso will join the APC, Ayoade dismissed the rumour .

“That is mere speculation. As far as we are concerned, he is not moving to the APC. They might have been inviting him but he has not said he is going to any other party”.

Also speaking, Deputy National Chairman (South), Prince Nweze Onu corroborated Chief Ayoade saying the NNPP leaders believe they needed Chief Obasanjo’s blessings ahead of the party’s consultation among its stakeholders and Nigerian leaders.

“He had given us a fatherly advice and we will abide with what he had told us. As an elderly person he had seen all. He can’t put we his children in dangerous path.

On some governors moving to the APC

Onu said “you can see what the leader of Nigeria has told us about having good characters in politics. It is an advice to the politicians and even the governors. If you are doing well, you don’t need to be jumping from one party to the other”.