Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday January 1st, 2018 was formally registered as member of Coalition for Nigeria Movement barely a week after he called for a third force group to rescue the country from collapsing.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo speaking during the official inauguration of Coalition of Nigeria Movement
The event which took place at Iwe Irohin, press center, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta was attended by heavy weight politicians like former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Donald Duke of Osun and Cross River States respectively.
Obasanjo who was accompanied by several other political bigwigs in the State arrived the venue amidst cheers from members of the public who stormed the venue in their hundreds to witness the historical event was being decorated with the emblem of the Coalition by former Governors Oyinlola and Donald Duke as he was officially registered as member of the coalition at official Launching of the movement.
While addressing the fully packed hall, Obasanjo said his letter to Buhari last week was born not out of frivolity, but out of great concern for the situation in the country.
He added that Nigeria as a nation cannot continue business as usual, observing further “If the instrument we have used since independence has not worked, then we should rethink and retool to make the country work.”
Obasanjo, who stressed that Nigeria, like any other country, has various challenges, explained that the Coalition was set up to mobilize Nigerians for peace, unity, security, stability, love, welfare and the wellbeing of vulnerable Nigerians, particularly youth and women who, according to him, have been at the receiving end of national crises.
He mentioned the disrespect for the federal character as enshrined in the country’s constitution, the spate of killings and violence across the country, and the parlous nature of Nigeria’s economy under President Buhari’s administration, as some of the reasons for the Coalition.
Former Governor Donald Duke, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola
He noted that “if the instrument we have used so far in our nation-building and governance since independence have not served us well, it is imperative that we should rethink and retool, stressing that it would amount to height of folly for anybody or any group to continue to do things in the same way and expect different results
Obasanjo added that “the Coalition for Nigeria will raise standards generally but particularly standards of political leadership and governance”.
“Like all countries, Nigeria has many challenges. That, by itself, is not what we should worry about. What should matter is how, when and with what instruments we address or fail to address these challenges or create more problems”.
Expressing his happiness to be a member of the coalition, Obasanjo said, the movement is a pressure point towards good governance, saying that this is the commencement for our popular and grassroots association.
He added that membership of the movement will be free to collectively decide on whether CNM becomes a political party, assuring that if the movement decides to metamorphose into a political party; he will cease to be a member to maintain his non partisan elder statesman.
He charged members of the movement to promote the CNM and mobilize membership all over the country including membership from Diaspora, stressing that the movement is an opportunity for Nigerian men and women, especially youths who have been feeling marginalized and helpless to go all out and bring friends and families into CNM fold.
The CNM will remain a popular socio-economic movement open to all Nigerians who believe in the greatness of Nigeria and are ready to contribute to it.
While lamenting that Nigerian government has taken nation-building for granted, Obasanjo noted that nation-building must be given continued attention to give every citizen a feeling of belonging and stake in his or her county, arguing that the current administration of President Mohammadu Buhari concentrated the nation’s security apparatus in a particular geopolitical zone which he said was not good enough.
“Nobody and no group should feel excluded in his or her country. Inclusion and popular participation must be visibly pursued in terms of politics, the economy and our overall social life”.
He noted that “the spate of violence, criminality, organized crime, insurgency and terrorism have not received sufficient proactive ameliorative response through transformational leadership; a determined leadership that brings cohesion and wholesomeness to polity”.
“A socio-economic popular movement needs to be the new vehicle to give hope to the youths, dignity and encouragement to women and security, confidence and a promising future to all Nigerians. It must work to bring about a new democratic and efficient Nigeria. The movement must speak up boldly and bluntly about the truth but politely in accordance with African culture.
“The movement will also act collectively with political awareness, social responsibilities, sustained and sustainable economic development and p[progress. Timidity and cowardice must not be part of its make-up or culture and neither must there be indifference”.
“He who keeps quite, inactive and indifferent in the face of bad act is an act accomplice to that act. Self-interest, self-centeredness and selfness must be put aside. National interest must be paramount. The movement will teach what it believes and practice what it teaches,” Obasanjo said.
– Wale Adewunmi, Ogun State Correspondent