Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a new movement by well-meaning Nigerians which he believes will “salvage and redeem” the nation.
He made the call on Tuesday in an 18-page statement where he criticised the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former president says the present government has failed especially in one of the areas it pitched as its ‘key point of action’ when it assumed office – the fight against corruption.
Citing the controversial case of the former pensions boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, he said it appeared that “national interest was being sacrificed on the altar of nepotic interest.”
He also accused President Buhari of having a “poor understanding of the dynamics of internal politics.”
While maintaining his position on practicing non-partisan politics, he, however, called on Nigerians to embrace the new movement which he called the Coalition for Nigeria.
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“We need a Coalition for Nigeria, CN. Such a Movement at this juncture needs not be a political party but one to which all well-meaning Nigerians can belong. That Movement must be a coalition for democracy, good governance, social and economic well-being and progress.
“Coalition to salvage and redeem our country. You can count me with such a Movement. Last time, we asked, prayed and worked for change and God granted our request. This time, we must ask, pray and work for change with unity, security and progress. And God will again grant us. Of course, nothing should stop such a Movement from satisfying conditions for fielding candidates for elections.
“But if at any stage the Movement wishes to metamorphose into candidate-sponsoring Movement for elections, I will bow out of the Movement because I will continue to maintain my non-partisan position. Coalition for Nigeria must have its headquarters in Abuja.
“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,” he stated.
Renewed Commitment
Speaking further, the former president stressed that the core values of the new movement will be centered on love, commitment and genuine interest in the country, rather than self.
“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,” he said.