A former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has dismissed claims that
his choice of a successor did not benefit Nigerians much, saying that
those who voted for the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, are also
guilty.
The former President made the comment on Saturday while responding to
questions from students and other individuals at the 11th Convocation
Lecture at the Benson Idahosa University in Benin City, the capital of Edo
State.
He said that the ‘scorecard of the former President leaves much to be
desired’.
Mr Obasanjo admitted that he was part of the process that led to the
emergence of the former President Jonathan, as the running mate to the
late President Umar Yar’adua and later President after the demise of his
boss.
He, however, explained that he saw the need for the Niger Delta region,
where Nigeria’s crude oil is mostly drilled, to get the opportunity of
presenting a leader for the nation.
Mr Obasanjo further stressed that there was little he could do to help Mr
Jonathan do his job as the nation’s Chief Executive.
“I believe, opportunity that afforded itself in 2010 for somebody from the
minority to, on his own steam, become the President of Nigeria, we should
never lose that opportunity.
“But what he did with it is entirely up to him.
“And don’t forget, what he did or did not do with it will reflect for a
long time on that part of the country.
“There is nobody who will be held,” Mr Obasanjo stated.
He further stressed that he was not the only one that voted for the former
President, saying that Nigerians that voted for him in 2011 were equally
guilty.
“But you voted for him. I was not the only one that voted for him out of
the 18 million people. You voted for him.
“The man who put out the question, who did you vote for in 2011?” he
questioned.
The crowd responded; “Jonathan” and he said: “You are as guilty as Jonathan”.
Mr Obasanjo had few days ago said his choice of a successor was not poor,
insisting that it was the best choice he could make at that time.
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