Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed his sadness over the state of our democracy and promised to do everything humanly possible to protect the Nigerian Democracy.
He made the remarks during the launch of Politics as Dashed Hopes in Nigeria, written by Auwala Anwar, his former special assistant on federal capital territory administration (FCTA), in Abuja on Thursday, the former president said the world is watching how Nigeria will handle upcoming elections.
He also called on Nigerians to guard the nation’s democracy ahead of the general election.
“If we cherish democracy, we will all guard and protect our democracy. And that I believe is the main purpose of the book,” he said.
“I am in despair; our hope lies in democracy and good governance as one of the hallmarks of free fair and credible election.
“As for me, I will do everything humanly possible to safeguard democracy, with good governance for Nigeria and for all Nigerians.”
He added that he is happy most Nigerians are “rising up to their duties and responsibilities in guidance of our democracy.”
“Remember that if you stand aloof when evil is being perpetrated, you become an accomplice in the perpetuation of the evil,” he said.
Obasanjo went further to agree that “the quality of politicians (in Nigeria) is deteriorating.”
“I also agree that money has become an unnecessary important aspect of our politics. And that the elites are not putting their act together,” he said.
“(But) I believe we have one thing that joins us together which is Nigeria’s nationality. I believe strongly that Nigeria should not be divided.”
Anwar, the author, said the book gives an insight into the activities of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) (which President Muhammadu Buhari co-founded) started as “an article in a newspaper.”
“When the CPC went into crisis. There were committees set up … we created a code of conduct because we believed the principal problem of the CPC was indiscipline,” he said.
“It was not a normal political party. There were various segments including the owners, labourers and workers, and the slaves.”
