By Olusegun Lawrence The Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Organisation has reacted to the recent allegations of former President Olusegun Obasanjo against President Goodluck Jonathan, saying they are “reckless”.
While admitting that the allegations are grave, the organisation posited that the issues raised are capable of creating chaos and derailing the nation’s democracy.
The Director of Media and Publicity, Femi Fani-Kayode, while addressing newsmen in Abuja, on Sunday, insisted that the outburst of the former president was uncalled for.
According to him, “It is an irony of fate and history that he (Obasanjo) is now condemning the actions of his old friend (Laurent Gbagbo) and accusing others of trying to emulate him”.
Obasanjo had while addressing a press conference at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta on Saturday, accused President Jonathan of plotting to cling to power by “hook and crook”.
He also likened him to former Cote D’Ivore President Laurent Gbagbo, who held on to power until he was disgraced out of office.
Faulting this, Fani-Kayode said, “President Obasanjo spoke about President Laurent Gbagbo and he claimed that President Jonathan was attempting to do a Gbagbo in Nigeria.
“The question that must be put to him is this: ”who got Gbagbo out?” Was it not Jonathan’s government that played a key role in ensuring that democracy was fully established in the Ivory Coast and did he not play a key role in ensuring that the Gbagbo plan ”stay in power forever plan” did not work?
“If anyone doubts this they should ask President Alhassan Outtara of La Cote D’Ivoire the role that Jonathan and Nigeria played in helping to restore democracy and stability back to his country.
“They should also find out the role that President Obasanjo played in attempting to keep President Laurent Gbagbo in power at all costs and the deep friendship that exists between the two men.
“It is a matter of fact and public record that when he was President of Nigeria, President Obasanjo, perhaps more than any other African Head of State with the exception of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, propped up and supported President Gbagbo and it is an irony of fate and history that he is now condemning the actions of his old friend and accusing others of trying to emulate them.”
The campaign spokesperson said Obasanjo was attacking President Jonathan because the latter did not allow himself to be teleguided by the former.
Fani-Kayode spoke further, “The truth is that he knows that President Goodluck Jonathan will win next month’s presidential election and that is why he wants to destroy the credibility of the whole process right from the outset.
“This is not only wrong but it is also unfair and uncharitable. If President Obasanjo has any evidence to prove his weighty allegations he ought to present it before the Council of State and take it up there.
“He should also report to INEC itself and present the data of whatever sinister plan he believes that President Jonathan has to stay in power ”by hook or by crook” to them. He should tell INEC whatever it is that Jonathan is doing in order for him to stay in power by all means and he should give them all the details. That should be the starting point.
“President Jonathan has re-affirmed his commitment to the democratic process over and over again and he has also said that the handover date of May 29th is sacrosanct. In view of these assurances, one wonders why President Obasanjo is creating such a hue and cry over nothing.
“What is he seeing that no one else can see? One wonders what his motives are? Does he have to rule every government by proxy? Must every leader take instructions from him? Is it a case of ”if I cannot control you and tell you what to do then you must go?”
“After Jonathan came to power, Obasanjo not only tried to control and teleguide him but he also asked him to do a number of things that were simply wrong and unacceptable. It is for President Goodluck Jonathan himself to divulge those things and I am sure that he will do so at the appropriate time.
“As far as he was concerned, he must either control Jonathan or Jonathan had to go. That is why he decided to secretly support the APC and became their ”navigator in chief”. He was determined to pull the whole house down rather than allow Jonathan to return to power.
“This is simply because he believes that if he cannot control someone that person must be destroyed. Control and domination is an obsession for Obasanjo. That is the bottom line.
“He is prepared to put even the devil in power provided he can control him. That is why he is so determined to stop Jonathan and put in place an Interim Government which he, or one of his surrogates, will head. That is his plan and he is determined to achieve it no matter what it takes.
“Obasanjo does not want genuine democracy. He only pretends to want it. What he wants is control and a stooge in power. It does not matter what type of government it is as long as he controls it and it is headed by his puppet. It can be a military government, a civilian one, a democratic one, an interim government or a government of National Unity.
“To Obasanjo it does not matter as long as he can control it. That is his objective. That is why he hates Jonathan so much and that is why he wishes to stop him at all costs.
“We continue to hold President Obasanjo in high esteem but his recent actions and utterances are beyond the pale. He has been unfair to Jonathan, to Nigeria and even to himself. Most importantly the days of intimidating others with his harsh words and overbearing influence are long over. Obasanjo is not God. Only God is God and He alone determines the fortunes of men and the destiny of nations.”
Former President Obasanjo has been using every opportunity he has to take President Jonathan to the cleaners, accusing him of running Nigeria’s economy aground.
