A former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has alleged that the postponement of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was part of the grand plans by President Goodluck Jonathan to win the election by all means.
The former President made the statement on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while speaking on the state of the nation and giving his opinion on the election postponement.
He, however, appealed to politicians in Nigeria to ensure that peace and tranquillity reigned supreme.
The former President also asked President Jonathan not to consider the removal of the chairman of the INEC, Professor Attairu Jega, as the decision may truncate the nation’s fledging democracy.
Forcing Elections Postponement
Obasanjo further accused the President of forcing the elections postponement on the INEC, a situation he said was designed to make him win by all means possible and if not create chaos and confusion in the country.
The former president, who was the nation’s military leader from 13 February 1976 to 1 October 1979 and a democratically elected president from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007, further expressed pessimism on the possibilities of achieving success in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram by the Nigerian military and other allied forces.
He urged the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Party (APC) to ensure that the nation’s democracy remains intact.
Presidency Faults Obasanjo’s Claims
The Presidency has however faulted these comments coming from General Obasanjo, and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati made Government’s position known on his website.
Dr. Abati said that the former president’s comments are odious and repugnant.
According to Dr. Abati, it is obvious that Chief Obasanjo has willfully chosen to close his eyes to the present administration’s good works and intentions, and that for reasons best known to him, Chief Obasanjo has set his mind on regime change by fair or foul means.
The President’s Spokesman said “For the record, President Jonathan has no such intention and will continue to give the greatest possible support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant federal agencies to ensure that the rescheduled elections are successfully conducted”
Dr. Abati went on to say, “It is not President Jonathan who remains faithful to his oath of office who is trying to plunge Nigeria into crisis, but Chief Obasanjo, who is scheming to plunge the country into chaos in pursuit of a selfish and highly egocentric agenda”
The President’s spokesman alleged that Chief Obasanjo’s plot with others within and outside the country to thwart the general elections and foist an unconstitutional interim national government, which he hopes to heap on the nation is well known to the Federal Government.
Dr. Abati added that as President Jonathan has also assured the nation, the rescheduling of the general elections was in the best interest of the nation and was never driven by any ulterior motive on the part of government as Chief Obasanjo and others have alleged.
Not Consulted By INEC
During a Presidential Media Chat on Wednesday, President Goodluck Jonathan responded to allegations that he had forced the INEC to postpone elections in his interest, saying he was not consulted by the INEC on the postponement of the elections.
President Jonathan also said that the decision by the INEC to postpone the election would enable electorates that had not collected their permanent Voter Cards to do so before the elections.
He also said that there were no plans to send the INEC chairman on compulsory leave before the elections.
“Do not be disturbed by the stories that are not real. The president will not send INEC chairman on leave and bring another person. Those stories belong to the garbage world. Less than 20 per cent of the stories on the social media are credible,” President Jonathan said.
The INEC while announcing the postponement of the elections told reporters that the decision of the commission was not forced by any individual or group.
Professor Jega said the decision was reached after ‘wide-reaching consultations’ with stakeholders.
He said that the decision was based on the advice by the military that it needed time to secure areas in the north-east to enable voters cast their votes in a safe environment.
Obasanjo Endorses Buhari
The former President, who is a member of the PDP had few days ago in Nairobi, Kenya, in what seemed like an endorsement for the presidential candidate of the APC, expressed support for General Muhammadu Buhari.
He, however, at the launch of his new book ‘My Watch’ in the United Kingdom, responded to questions on his reported endorsement of General Buhari, saying “well, whatever you get in the paper and in the press, please yourself”.
“What I said, I maintain that I will say it again and I will do it. When the time comes for me to vote, I will consider the track record of all the candidates that are contesting and I will assess and based on my own assessment for who I believe have the best track record to perform the job of the Nigerian President, then he will have my vote.
