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Why I will continue to criticise Buhari —Obasanjo

Published

5 years ago

March 5, 2019

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has explained why he will continue to criticise President Muhammadu Buhari , saying , democracy involves criticism and that it is not family affairs .Obasanjo said the issues between him and Buhari were not personal .

The former president stated this on Tuesday during his 82 nd birthday anniversary celebration held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library , in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo was born on March 5 , 1937 .

Obasanjo had responded to remarks by the Alake of Egbaland , Oba Michael Gbadebo , who advised him to stop attacking Buhari as he clocks 82 .

The monarch had said that he was never comfortable whenever Obasanjo verbally attacked Buhari , urging him to stop .

Obasanjo said , “ Governance is not a family affair and democracy involves criticism and considering all sides to an issue . There is nothing personal between President Buhari and me.

“ In a democracy , you can criticise a policy , a government or a leader because democracy is not a family affair .

“ If it is my brother that is occupying the leadership role and he is not doing what I believe he should do , he must be criticised and that is what democracy is all about .

“ I believe that Africa has no alternative to democracy , good governance , development and growth of our economy . And If that is not happening in any country, those who keep quiet about it are accessories after the fact .

“ That is what democracy is all about , criticism and seeing the other side . So, if I say anybody in government in Nigeria or any government for that matter is not doing well , let that government prove that it is well . It ’ s not anything personal .

“ So, Kabiyesi , your boss , Buhari ; there is nothing personal between me and him . Just as he is your boss , I am his boss , with all due respect .

“ Now, the point is that I have been in that position longer than any Nigerian will ever be there . That ’ s true . If any Nigerian comes in and has two terms , he will not have almost four years of military rule . So, I have been there longer than any Nigerian would ever be .
“ So, when I say something, I know what I am talking about . Kabiyesi , any time you say , “ Leave my boss alone , ” I say , ‘ He is your boss . But I am also his ( Buhari ) boss . ’

“ So, you might also ask your boss ( Buhari ) to leave his boss alone or do what is right that his boss wants him to do . ”

Earlier in his goodwill message , Alake , who was a Principal Staff Officer to Major -General Tunde Idiagbon during the military administration of Muhammadu Buhari between 1983 and 1985 , disclosed that he had always told Obasanjo to leave his boss alone .