Obasanjo bombs Buhari again, says US trip mediocre

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has again slammed President Muhammadu Buhari, saying his performance during the recent trip to the United States is “mediocre”.

The former president said that Buhari missed another opportunity to display his mettle as a thoroughbred leader and instead undermined Nigeria’s interest in at least three segments of national development.

His outburst followed a report making the rounds on social media that he (Obasanjo) had made a U-turn and now supports Buhari for second term bid.

The fake news, which went viral on social media, alleged that Obasanjo disclosed his intention to support Buhari when he received some labour union leaders on Workers’ Day celebration.

The report further alleged that Obasanjo took the decision following President Buhari’s “superlative” performance during his appearance with President Donald Trump on Monday.

But the former president, who debunked the report in a statement issued by Kehinde Adeyemi, his official spokesperson in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, stated that Buhari’s performance further highlighted his “mediocrity”.

He also distanced himself from those singing the praises of the president over his performance in the US, adding that he stood by his January 23 statement in which he strongly condemned Buhari for his poor handling of national issues, unchecked killings of citizens and warned him not to run for second term.

This is the the second time in four months that the former president is criticising Buhari.

The Daily Times recalls that Obasanjo had on January 23, 2018 asked Buhari to quit the stage after the expiration of his current term in office.

The former president condemned those calling on Buhari to go for a second term in 2019.

He urged Buhari to honourably dismount from the horse and join other Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the sideline for the good of the country.

Obasanjo had said, ”President Buhari needs a dignified and honourable dismount from the horse. He needs to have time to reflect, refurbish physically and recoup and after appropriate rest, once again, join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the side line for the good of the country.

His place in history is already assured. Without impaired health and strain of age, running the affairs of Nigeria is a 25/7 affair, not 24/7.”

He further called for the formation of a coalition for a Nigerian movement (Third Force) that will drive Nigeria up and forward.

”This Coalition for Nigeria will be a Movement that will drive Nigeria up and forward. It must have a pride of place for all Nigerians, particularly for our youth and our women.

It is a coalition of hope for all Nigerians for speedy, quality and equal development, security, unity, prosperity and progress. It is a coalition to banish poverty, insecurity and despair.

Our country must not be oblivious to concomitant danger around, outside and ahead. Coalition for Nigeria must be a Movement to break new ground in building a united country, a socially-cohesive and moderately prosperous society with equity, equality of opportunity, justice and a dynamic and progressive economy that is self-reliant and takes active part in global division of labour and international decision-making.

”The Movement must work out the path of development and the trajectory of development in speed, quality and equality in the short- medium- and long-term for Nigeria on the basis of sustainability, stability, predictability, credibility, security, cooperation and prosperity with diminishing inequality.

What is called for is love, commitment and interest in our country, not in self, friends and kinship alone but particularly love, compassion and interest in the poor, underprivileged and downtrodden.

It is our human duty and responsibility so to do. Failure to do this will amount to a sin against God and a crime against humanity,” Obasanjo added.