Countdown to 2023 Presidential Election
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President Olusegun Obasanjo endorses Gov Peter Obi for President in a 2764-word New Year Message targeted at the youths of Nigeria.
He described Obi as his mentee and someone that promises to bring Nigeria “liberation, restoration and great hope and expectation.”
“None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge.
“One other important point to make about Peter is that he is a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost. In other words, he has people who can pull his ears, if and when necessary. Needless to say that he has a young and able running mate with clean track record of achievement both in public and private life.”
President Obasanjo said Nigeria is at a worse place than when he took over power in 1999. Today, everyone witnesses “pervasive and mind-numbing insecurity, rudderless leadership, buoyed by mismanagement of diversity and pervasive corruption, bad economic policies resulting in extremes of poverty and massive unemployment and galloping inflation.”
He also said he listened to all the major candidates who are confident that they can bring Nigeria out of the woods but was not persuaded that all of them are capable.
He asked Nigerians to consider four major factors in choosing a leader, which he itemised as follows:
- Track record of ability and performance;
- Vision that is authentic, honest and realistic;
- Character and attributes of a lady and a gentleman who are children of God and obedient to God;
- Physical and mental capability with soundness of mind
“It is a very taxing and tasking assignment at the best of times and more so, it is at the most difficult time that we are.”
He took a swipe at the statements that betray entitlement mentality by two presidential candidates.
He called the statements are “emi lo kan” and “I have paid my dues.” This was a direct reference and indictment of candidates Bola Tinubu (APC) and Atiku Abubakar (PDDP).
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