A former president, Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo, has said he will henceforth
maintain silence on the state of the
nation until after the forthcoming
general elections.
He said this on Wednesday while
addressing traditional rulers from
Egbaland who were attending a
seminar organised by a non-
governmental organisation, The Village
Network Empowerment Initiative. The
seminar held at the Olusegun Obasanjo
Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
The former president, who had in
recent times criticised President
Goodluck Jonathan’s administration,
said it was unfortunate that some
people could misconstrue his good
intention for the country.
He said, “Where we are now, I
have spoken. I have used body
language and whoever still does not
understand all I have been saying,
it would take such a person a long
time to understand."
Hence, he said he had chosen to keep
mum until after the elections.
Obasanjo, who also flayed the situation
in which teachers in some states were
being owed salaries for upward of six
months, said Nigerians had an
opportunity from February 14 to play
their own part in enthroning leaders of
their choice.
“It is something that is very clear for us
all to see. Some people came to visit me
from Benue State three days ago and
told me teachers in that state had not
been paid for six months.
“There are states where teachers have
not been paid for four months, three
months and two months. That is not
good at all. It’s only God that can help
us to overcome all these problems.
“All I know is that God has done His
own part and it’s now left for us as
human beings to do our own bit. Do we,
as Nigerians, say that God has not been
magnanimous enough to us?
“Is it human or natural resources that
we do not have? We are blessed with a
lot of fertile land. Shakespeare says the
fault is not in our stars but in ourselves
that we are underlings.
“God has done his own part and it’s
now left for us as human beings to play
our own part. That our own part starts
from the 14th and it’s now left to you
and me. I won’t say more than that.
I’ve said I won’t say anything anymore
until after the elections.
“You’ll hear from me after the elections.
But I’ve said it verbally and through
body language and how you understand
it all is now left to you. But whatever
you still don’t understand about all of
these, I will put it in prayers that God
should enable you to clearly understand
it all better.
“But I won’t say more than this until
after the election.”
