Tobias Sylvester
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has assured Nigerians of a better country with new understanding and awareness among citizens.
Obasanjo stated this on Friday at 94th birthday of Pa Rueben Fasoranti, the Afenifere leader held in Akure, Ondo State capital, where his (Faaorant) autobiography entitled “My Life, My Legacy (Service with Integrity and Excellence) was also unveiled.
Pa Fasoranti had expressed concern over the state of the country emphasizing that all is not well with the country due to the issue of insecurity, unemployment and other problems that have been ravaging the country.
“while recommending the book for you to read, I can’t but prepare your minds for some of my worries about the state of the nation which I invite you to share with me and find early solutions to.
“At over 94 years I am still here with you because of the grace of God and even though as an individual I am fulfilled, I regret to say that all is not well with the country.
“No thanks to the insecurity of life and property, worsening unemployment of abIe-bodied citizens leading to all manners of crimes, threatening famine which is a conspiracy between mother nature and the ravaging of the land by ever surging marauders and so on.
“I call on all concerned to quickly arrest all these before they tear the country apart. Beloved countrymen, this is not the Nigeria of my, nay our, dream,” he said.
However, Obasanjo assured him of a better Nigeria, saying he could see a new vision and observed Nigerians having a new understanding of the nation.
“Baba, I feel your sense of frustration. That you are saying this is not the Nigeria of my dream, the Nigeria I laboured for all my life or a seemingly hopeless Nigeria.
“I want to assure you that I have a vision of a new Nigeria. I see new understanding among Nigerians. New awareness among Nigerians, new realization among Nigerians.
“As long as there is life, there is no end to working for Nigeria. We have nothing else to do except to follow your examples.
“When the time comes, my prayer is that you will see Nigeria of your dream that you have laboured for, the Nigeria our founding fathers wished for.
“Not Nigeria without development and a nation without security. In your lifetime we will have Nigeria of your dream,” he stressed.
KanyiDaily recalls that Obasanjo had attacked President Buhari, saying he has never seen Nigeria so divided like this, adding that many of the problems plaguing the country today were due to the recent mismanagement of Nigeria’s diversity.
But the presidency reacted by describing Obasanjo as a “Divider-in-chief”, accusing the ex-president of “attempts to divide the nation while President Buhari continues to promote nation building and the unity of Nigeria.”
