Nigerians, Not God, Responsible For Nation’s Woes – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria, not God, is responsible for current woes, saying the nation should blame itself for failing to use the resources given to it by God.
He, however, lamented that Nigeria has got away with a lot of “stupid things” because of the love of God.
Obasanjo stated this yesterday during the official launch of The Letterman, a book authored by the Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Musikilu Mojeed in Abuja.
The 492-page narrative non-fiction titled: The Letterman: Inside the ‘Secret’ Letters of former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, x-rayed the role of letter writing in leadership, governance, and politics.
It focused on the former president and his fondness for speaking bluntly to subordinates, superiors, associates, and foreign personalities – through letters – not minding the reactions the letters might generate.
At the event, Obasanjo said: “I believe that God is a Nigerian. Bishop Kukah may not agree with me. Because God loves us so much that we have done so many stupid things and he allowed us to get away with these stupid things.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan said Obasanjo will be remembered for debt forgiveness, the creation of anti-corruption agencies, and international interventions across Africa.
Jonathan described the former president as a father-like figure.
Read Also: 2023 elections may make or break Nigeria, Obasanjo warns
Jonathan, who was represented by former minister of aviation, Osita Chidoka, said history will remember the former president for the great things he did, not the quarrels and the fights.
“Obasanjo is not as stupid as he looks,” Jonathan said.
He stated that there have been ample letters that have changed history.
He said Obasanjo’s letters created engagements within the political arena, diplomatic world and other sectors.
Jonathan commended the author for the work he has done in bringing the letters together in a single book.
The book reviewer, Bishop Matthew Kukah, said Obasanjo has made it hard for writers to write about him.
According to Kukah, Obasanjo developed an obsession with writing his own story.
He said the former president wrote everything about himself.
Kukah said it was hard to write about the former president because he has written about every part of his life.
The cleric said the former president elevated the act of letter writing to an art form.
He said the book covered 25 letters covering different issues.
According to him, most of the letters came from Obasanjo’s head, not his heart.
He cited a letter the former president wrote to Brigadier Eyo Ekpo during the Nigeria civil war, to stress the ability of the former president to write from his head and not his heart.
All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, was represented by Fani-Kayode; chairman of Premium Times, Nasir Abdullahi; Alexandra Gomez, the EU representative; Ukrainian Charge d’Affaires, former inspector-general of police Sunday Ehindero, Kole Shettima of the MacArthur Foundation.
Nigerians, Not God, Responsible For Nation’s Woes – Obasanjo
