- Reuben Abati, former special adviser to the ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan, says Obasanjo's letter came just at the right time
- Abati states that the former president has the right to air his views about the Buhari-led administration
- He, however, notes that although Obasanjo's letter reflects the thoughts of Nigerians, it should have contained apology to the nation
Reuben Abati, a former special adviser to Goodluck Jonathan, on media and publicity has expressed his thoughts on a statement written by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in which he criticised the performance of the President Buhari.
Abati while speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, January 23, noted that the letter reflects certain levels of consensus within society.
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However, he noted that the only thing that was not mentioned was an apology to Nigerians especially as the former president was one of those who voted for the ‘change’ administration.
He also said the there was no better time for him to respond to the state of the polity than now. The former president in the statement written on Tuesday, January 23, accused President Buhari of failing, especially in one of the areas his administration pitched as its ‘key point of action’ when it assumed office – the fight against corruption and therefore, asked him to honourably “dismount from the horse”.
Abati said: “It’s probably the most important subject of the day. Its been the main subject that everyone is discussing and that should be understandable considering the stature, the capacity, the influence of the author of the letter.”
“Before now, many Nigerians had been waiting on the former president Olusegun Obasanjo to say something about this administration and he has chosen his time very well to come out and do a full assessment of the administration so far.
“If you look at that letter it drips with frustration, disappointment, even regret. The only thing president Obasanjo does not do in that letter is to apologise to Nigerians but he admitted that he was part of the efforts to bring about change in 2015 and he not only supported the incumbent president, he also voted for him and now he says he is disappointed.
“The letter probably reflects certain levels of consensus within society because you know of late, a lot of people have been saying some of the things that president Obasanjo said in that letter but coming from Obasanjo, those statements acquire a special significance and resonance both locally and I believe, internationally.”
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Although the president has not yet responded to the letter, Abati noted: There would be meetings upon meetings and there will be persons who would have sat down with that letter to try to deconstruct it.
“I imagine also that the president would have read it over and over again and people around him would be offering advice and they will be trying to provide strategy.
“It is necessary for the president to look at the letter and make up his mind about whether he wants to do a formal response because the time has come for this administration to change the narrative.”
Aliyu Abdullahi, a member of President Buhari's support group also responded to the statement on the programme.
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He is of the opinion that the Buhari administration has performed beyond average especially in the areas of economy. Abdullahi said that the administration has succeeded in recovering the nation from recession and has done much to bring about development in infrastructure and transportation.
He said: “It was just a matter of time for that letter to come, as we all know. Reuben Abati has received a similar letter during his own time so of course this administration will receive its own.” . Abdullahi stated that Obasanjo had the right to air his view about the present administration, just as Buhari has the constitutional right to seek re-election.
NAIJ.com reported that northern youths had commended former president Olusegun Obasanjo for his letter asking President Muhammadu Buhari not to contest in 2019.
In an interview with news men in Kaduna, the president of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima said what former Obasanjo said was what they had seen long ago and had been drawing the president’s attention to.
2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to President Buhari on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Wednesday, 24 January 2018