Obasanjo caused some of Nigeria’s problems — Afenifere

Pan-Yoruba association, Afenifere Renewal Group, has said former President Olusegun Obasanjo created some of the challenges bedeviling the country.

In an electronic mail to our correspondent, the group’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo, said though the ex-president shared the blame, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was responsible for the extent of insecurity, economic crisis and corruption in the country.

He said, “With the security of the country at the lowest abysmal region and unbridled corruption eating daily into the fabric of our society, you can smell nepotism all over the place.

“The reign of impunity and terror can be found in President Jonathan’s administration. Even as former President Olusegun Obasanjo created part of the problems confronting Nigeria today, his reign cannot be compared with the clueless Jonathan administration that some people are trying to market to us in Yorubaland.

“We are no fools. President Jonathan has been able to run Nigeria aground economically; he should not be painted as a performing president.”

Jonathan, two weeks ago, had visited the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State for a summit of Yoruba leaders convened by a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Mr. Olabode George.

As a result of the President’s visit, students of the institution had reportedly protested the alleged interruption of their examination, claiming Jonathan’s presence subjected them to unfavourable conditions, as commercial buses were not allowed to convey them to the campus by security agents.

Famoriyo claimed that Jonathan could not be regarded as an advocate of Yoruba advancement and development, adding that those who “stage-managed the Jonathan endorsement” in Ile-Ife had never been known to be in the vanguard of Yoruba developmental struggle.

“Were Gen. Alani Akinrinade and Mr. Wale Oshun at the Ife Summit? The translation of democracy for us in Yorubaland is a struggle for development. We know the political tendency that cares for our advancement.

“We know the people who still have the milk of humanity flowing in them and whose body language empathises with the people. Jonathan should ride his bicycle to somewhere else in Bayelsa State,” Famoriyo said.

According to the Afenifere spokesperson, the fact that there is no clear-cut ideological base for Nigerian politics presently does not mean that the Yoruba are blind, or that they don’t know who is working and fighting for their interest.

--Punch News