Former-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has said he has no candidate for any political office in 2019.
He disclosed this yesterday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential library, Abeokuta, during a courtesy visit by a youth group from Delta State led by a governorship aspirant, Frank Esanubi.
Obasanjo, who said he had taken a decision in 2015 not to participate any longer in partisan politics, added that he would rather remain an elder statesman having a passion for a greater Nigeria.
He went further to explained that open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari was not meant to disrespect him or his office. Obasanjo said in the letter he was only articulating his views about the situation in the country and offering his candid advice.
He also explained that his statement was thoroughly thought out, adding that as a former President, he could not hold the office of the President in contempt.
He said: “In the year 2015, I said I would no longer participate in partisan politics. And I still stand by my decision. Everybody, irrespective of his or her political affiliation is free to come here for advice, I will gladly do that. I have no candidate, whatsoever, for any political office. I just believe that things must be done differently in Nigeria to get a different result.
“If you study our transitions since the colonial era, they have all taken place without taking the people of the grassroots into consideration. So, CNM is about the people at the grassroots. It is a socio-economic movement where youths and women, especially, will be given an opportunity to appreciate their interests and power. Unlike before, I believe we must put the horse before the cart.
“I believe that we must not start to put the horse before the cart, before we establish the platform before we establish the system that would make sure we are not repeating the mistakes of the past. I believe if the platform and the systems are right, the platform and the system together will bring up.
“And of course, there is nothing illegitimate in Nigerians wanting a political office at whatever level, but I believe when we continue the same thing that has not paid us or served us well in the past, and we expect a different result, I think that is out of foolishness. We should stop being foolish and try and do things differently so that we can achieve different results from what we have achieved in the past.
“But of course you know that I have no political office that I want to take and I have no candidates for any political offices, no candidate. But I believe that the platform must be right, the system must be right. The youths and women of this country must be the one that would bring about what we need to have so that we will not continue to do the same thing and expect different result."
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