Third Republic Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, tells TOBI AWORINDE that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), may not be worth its salt
What do you think of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who helped found the Peoples Democratic Party, endorsing the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)?
Unusual and unconventional things keep happening in Nigeria. I don’t know whether the solidarity of the military is so strong that it compels people to do such things. Is there a military caucus made up of a different breed of Nigerians such that an officer must support another officer? I hear that Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.) is also supporting Buhari, to my greatest surprise. The military caucus, perhaps, is the strongest one in the (political) system. An endorsement by Gen. Obasanjo can be a kiss of death for any political figure. I don’t know how much is left of Obasanjo’s credibility to endorse somebody and if it can have a positive effect.
But Obasanjo also endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. Are you saying the President didn’t profit from that vote of confidence?
You are right, Obasanjo brought out Jonathan and endorsed him in 2011, even when he (Jonathan) was contesting against Buhari. So, what has changed? Or is there another caucus of the North and northern supporters? What happened to (Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru) Jega is also happening to other northerners. But some Hausa/Fulani Muslims have taken a decision to return power to themselves—the ‘born-to-rule people’—and everyone seems to be endorsing Buhari for that reason. The ways of Obasanjo are sometimes inscrutable, but I pray that, for him and for all of us, the will of God will happen. Jonathan is a tool in the hands of God, chosen to do God’s purpose for Nigeria. If he has finished that purpose, he will leave. But if he has not finished God’s purpose, he will be there and no man born by a woman can remove him.
Is it normal for an elder statesman of such prominence to go against his party’s mandate and endorse a member of the opposition?
A former head of state is a human being and has human rights. I don’t think anything is wrong with that. But if you are in a party and you endorse another party’s candidate, it means you are indulging in anti-party activities. In honour, he should therefore resign from the PDP.
