Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently stated that, while Nigeria’s condition is dire, it is not hopeless.
On Thursday, August 19, the former Nigerian leader said this when he received Uche Secondus, the beleaguered national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in his Penthouse within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.
During the visit, Obasanjo stated that Secondus had not come to see him because of partisan politics, but because he was concerned about the country’s deteriorating circumstances.
He said;
“You have not visited me because of partisan politics but you have visited me as a person who is concerned about where Nigeria is and where Nigeria may be descending into if the right action is not taken.
“And I couldn’t agree with you more, every right-thinking Nigerian and every lover of Nigeria will agree that Nigeria is not what it should be today, unless there is something else wrong with them.
“The situation is bad, very bad, but the situation is not irredeemable. That is where the hope lies. The situation is very bad, but it is not hopelessly irredeemable. Therefore we need all hands on deck. Let’s put partisan politics apart and think of what we can do to get Nigeria to where it is supposed to be and move Nigeria forward.”
Secondus on his own part, said he came to Abeokuta with his team to tap from the wealth of experience in his host.
He told newsmen;
“I am here with the members of my team and as well as the PDP executives in Ogun State to tap from the wealth of Baba’s knowledge as a statesman.
“It has been very difficult lately because Baba is a global personality, resolving issues across the world. In fact, the last place I learnt Baba visited was Afghanistan, despite the situation in that country, he went there and came back alive.
“So, my team and I are very grateful and we give glory to God. We have discussed Nigeria. Nigeria first before any other thing.
“Yes, we belong to a political party, but if we don’t have a country, where do we practice the democracy? We need to have a peaceful country where democracy can strive and at this point we need Chief Obasanjo to come in with solutions.
“We are aware of the insecurity, the poor economy, banditry, kidnapping all over the country; and we can’t continue to watch without reaching out to the elders so that they can come to gather and advise the present government. That is the duty of a statesman.”
