- Reactions continue to trail the widely publicised letter of former president Olusegun Obasanjo advising President Muhammadu Buhari not to re-contest in 2019
- A non governmental organization, Unity and Peace Initiative for the Survival of the Society (UPISS) disagrees with the former president's position
- UPISS said Obasanjo's call for the president not to seek re-election is undemocratic
A non governmental organization, Unity and Peace Initiative for the Survival of the Society (UPISS) has said the call by former president Olusegun Obasanjo to President Muhammadu Buhari, not to seek a second term in 2019 is undemocratic.
The organisation cautioned the former president not to derail Nigeria's democracy by his statement, stressing that Buhari has every right as a citizen of Nigeria to seek re-election.
According to UPISS, only the Nigerian electorates will determine whether to accept or reject President Buhari at the 2019 polls.
Obasanjo and President Buhari exchanging pleasantries recently in Addis Ababa, Ethopia. Photo credit: Bayo Omoboriowo
READ ALSO: President Buhari meets Obasanjo in Addis Ababa
UPISS position was made known in a press briefing over the weekend in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja by its national convener, Dr Ugochukwu Okafor.
Okafor likened the former president’s call for the “rejection of democratic parties and President Buhari as an invitation to anarchy, derail of democracy and undemocratic means of change in government.”
He said that the president is trying his best to tackle the insecurity and other challenges bedeviling the country and needs every support from Obasanjo and well meaning Nigerians to surmount these challenges.
His words: “General Obasanjo’s call for Buhari to leave the political arena in 2019 is undemocratic and an infringement on the fundamental rights of president Buhari as enshrined in the constitution. The president has every right as a citizen of Nigeria to seek re- election, it is left for the electorates to accept or reject him at the polls.”
He further warned that “the relative peace and unity in the country could be seriously threatened by unguarded and inciting statements of our elders.”
He enjoined the elders to always preach peaceful co existence, non violent approach to issues and unity of the country, instead of inciting and doing things that will derail our democracy and threaten the peace and unity of the country.
READ ALSO: Coalition for Nigeria criticises Obasanjo over recent letter to President Buhari
Obasanjo, in a 13-page statement released on Tuesday, January 23, described President Buhari as clannish, nepotic and insincere in fulfilling the promises made to Nigerians.
He accused the present government of failure in several aspects, especially in the areas of economy and appointments.
2019 re-election bid: Should President Buhari heed Obasanjo's advice? on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng