SAYS RUNING NIGERIA IS 25/7 NOT 24/7 AFFAIR
BUHARI FAILS TO BRING DISCIPLINE ON HIS MEN
ENDUSING BUHARI WRONGLY TIMED, INSENSTIVE, CALLOUS
Emmanuel Ukudolo l Tuesday, January 23, 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria – Former Head of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari advising him not to run for a second term but to consider retirement from public service and help in governance from the sideline.
Obasanjo who was very angry with the lackluster posture of the president on the heels of massacre by Fulani Herdsmen in Benue condemned governors for endorsing the President for a second term few hours after 73 people felled by Fulani Herdsmen were buried, adding that the time was wrong and that the move was insensitive and callous.
“It is to no credit to the Nigerian government that the herdsmen rampage continues with careless abandon and without finding and effective solution to it. And it is a sad symptom of insensitivity and callousness that some governors a day after 73 victims were being buried in a mass grave in Benue State without condolence were jubilating endorsing President Buhari for a second term!
“The timing was most unfortunate. The issue of herdsmen/crop farm dichotomy should not be left on the political platform of blame game; the Federal Government must take the lead in brining about solution that protect life and properties of herdsmen and crop farmers alike and for them to live amicably in the same community”, he said.
He blamed Buhari for what he called nepotic deployment bordering on clannishness and inability to bring discipline to bear on errant members of his nepotic court, which he said has grave consequences on performance of his government, poor understanding of the dynamics of internal politics and passing the buck.
He acknowledged that health is part of the culture of Nigeria, stressing that Nigerians prayed for him while he was away but stated categorically he has made his marks in the history of Nigeria.
“But whatever may be the state of President Buhari’s health today, he should never over push his luck nor over-tax the patience and tolerance of Nigerians for him no matter what his self-serving so-called advisers who would claim they love him more than God loves him and that without him there would be no Nigeria.
“President Buhari needs a dignified and honourable dismount from the horse. He needs to have time to reflect, refurbish physically, and recoup after appropriate rest, once again join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the sideline for the good of the country. His place in history is already assured. Without impaired health and strain of age, running the affairs of Nigeria is a 25/7 affairs, not 24/7.
“I only appeal to brother Buhari to consider a deserve rest at this point in time and at this age. I continue to wish him robust health to enjoy his retirement from active public service”, he said, adding that President Buhari does not necessarily need to heed his advice. “But whether or not he heeds it, Nigeria needs to move on and move forward”, he said.
