Obasanjo Vows To Vote Based On Performances Not Political Affiliations.

 


Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday, warned against post election violence,saying the emergence of any candidate is only the desire of the people.

Obasanjo urged the candidates in the coming elections to be gallant losers if the results of the election did not favour them and also be magnanimous in victory.
The former President stated this while playing host to the delegation of Igbo leaders from Lagos and Ogun states at his Presidential Hilltop residence in Abeokuta .
Obasanjo however, disclosed that he would vote for candidates based on their performances and not because of their political affiliations.
He also emphasised on the need to obtain the Permanent Voters Cards, which he described as a tool to ensure pod governance.


He said “Therefore, I beg you to go and get your PVC. It is your passport to good governance. If you cannot vote, you can not get good governance, you cannot have a say in those in government. my own is in my wallet and it is only if you want to steal my money that you can get to see my PVC.

“I cannot understand why we must engage in violence. Don’t let anybody lure you or use you for electoral violence. Elections should be free, fair and transparent. If you don’t win, take it in good stride, believing that next time you will win. But, if you go into violence, you may not even be alive to contest for another election, which you are now going to win. So, my people tell our people not to engage in electoral violence.”

He said “if we say, we want good governance, it is something that we are going to use to get that good governance, and that is our votes”.

Obasanjo who claimed to be a card carrying member of the PDP, endorsed the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for second term , seeking the support of the South East residents in Ogun state in the February 28 governorship election for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
He explained that despite being in different political party with the governor, his choice of Amosun was born out of personality and not that of political party.

According to the former President, “in 2011, we were not together; though we were together before and I did campaign against him. But, see what he has been able to do in the last three and half years in the state, I cannot sacrifice performance for party.

“I never dreamt of having a bridge on dry land in Ogun state in my life time. Yes, we have Ogun river, where there is a bridge, but, on a dry land, go to Ijebu, Sagamu, Ota, what I am seeing , bridges, not even one, two three… This is a development that some of us in our 60s, 70s even 50s would have thought would be a mirage during our life time. Apart from this, it will bring development that future governments shall be major beneficiaries.

“So, my people, I am not talking about other elections. I have come to tell you that in order to appreciate what this personality has been able to do in the last three and half years, let us give him our votes.”

Obasanjo however emphasized that if the situation changes, after the governor must have been re-elected, he should be held responsible.

“If you do me this honour and things changes, come and meet me and I will be responsible. But, because I know his personality, he will not. What happened in 2011 is politics, and we can all see the difference between politics and personality.

At the visit, which saw Obasanjo being conferred with the traditional title of Enyi Nndigbo the President, Association of Non-indigenes Residents in Ogun state, Ohaneze Ndigbo Ogun state, Ogbueti (Chief) Austine Nkeze said the visit was meant to identify with the former President and sought for his direction in the next political dispensation.

He said, he would go back home to inform his people on the request by Baba to support the incumbent, who he described as his man.

” But, I have to go back home to inform them and collectively we shall make our position known.
The traditional head of the Igbo, HRH Eze Dr. Willy Ejimkonye prayed for the Obasanjo family before conferring the title, which literarily means Father and friend of the Igbos in Ogun state.

The entourage included the Political Cordinator, Chief Vitalis Onwuelezi, youth president, Chukwuji Monday, Ifo LG leader Prof. I.F Okunamiri, Ezendigbo Alimosho LG, Lagos, Dr. Lawrence Nnamdi and the ezewanyi (Queen) 1 Ndigbo, Ogun state,Tessy Nwaobi Nnadi