Obasanjo’s letter good for democracy – House Minority Whip

Former President Olusgeun Obasanjo

Minority Whip, House of Representatives, Samson Osagie, has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to his successor, President Goodluck Jonathan, as good for the polity.

Speaking in Benin, Edo State, during a book launch, he allayed the fears of Nigerians that Obasanjo’s letter could undermine the country’s nascent democracy.

He said, “The issue is not really about a letter between the President and the former President but that another person can look at his face and tell him some bitter truth.

“It is good for our democracy. It shows that people can no longer be in public office, do what they like and don’t get talked to. I think the President should use it as a Bible to look introspectively at his style of governance.

“I agree essentially with many of the thoughts of Chief Obasanjo. I commend him for having the mind to speak the truth.”

 However, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change has faulted Obasanjo‘s call on Jonathan not to stand for re-election, saying only God can stop the re-election bid of the President.

The group, in a statement signed by its President, Nelly Emma, Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Mukoro Stanley, accused the former President of being responsible for the country’s woes.

It read in part, “President Jonathan cannot forget about the 2015 general election; he has the right to contest. All Nigerians should encourage the President to seek re-election in 2015 to fix the many woes of the country caused by former President Obasanjo who is today asking President Jonathan to forget 2015.

“We know very well that the former President and his likes are responsible for the current crisis in the PDP just to distract President Jonathan, but we are urging the President to be courageous and seek re-election in 2015.”

Also, the Women Leader of Ndigbo, Lady Chinwe Dike, has asked  Obasanjo to take a cue from other respected statesmen in his comments on national issues and stop playing God.

She said in a statement made available on Sunday that Obasanjo should not now present himself as a saint.

Dike noted that the letter and the way it was made public showed a hidden agenda by the former President.

The statement read in part, “A letter which ordinarily should be handled discreetly, could find its way to the social media before getting to its destination betrays the self-serving agenda of the author.

“On a comparative level, the qualities of President Jonathan as a person, and a leader, far outweigh whatever Obasanjo represents.”