The elections were a show of shame, I’m too old to keep quiet—Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says the outcome of the
general election has made Nigeria more divided than ever before.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the presentation of a book
authored by Tunji Olaopa, the former president said he is too old to keep quiet
on national issues.

Obasanjo described the election outcome as a “sickening show
of shame” and urged the incoming administration to put measures in place that
would foster national reconciliation.

He said efforts are required to rescue the country from its
launch into dystopia, adding that it would only be possible with a common
vision.

 “Given what we saw
during the election, Nigeria is now even more divided and more corroded than we
thought. This places a deep onus on any administration following the current
one, to urgently facilitate the process of national moral rearmament and
national reconciliation for the aggrieved and will lead us across Nigeria and
to assuage the youth,” Obasanjo said.

“This must be done in sync with the imperative of national
value orientation that Nigeria requires to build a collective sense of enduring
and local values and national belonging.

“Let me conclude by stating clearly that I am now too old to
keep quiet and watch Nigeria’s seemingly clueless launch into dystopia. All
efforts are now required from all committed patriots to rescue the nation from
the precipice. And when I look at the audience I have a feeling that among the
people who can do it and who must do it are some of you here.

“It has become my own personal obligation, continuing in my
relentless service as a letterman, dedicated in my twilight years to say the
truth, as I see it, so as to push Nigeria in the direction of our collective
aspirations. What is our collective aspiration? A better society where all
Nigerians can become what the Almighty God destined [them] to be.

“At times like this, some of us have to adopt the attitude
of being known to be blind and not being afraid of the dark. But we must
continue to work for the light of all.”

‘THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX TO IMPROVE THE COUNTRY’

The former president recommended innovative ways for
expanding growth and development in the country, adding that gains made would
be reversed in the absence of a political will.

 “Governance in
Nigeria now calls for thinking outside the box in terms of development
financing, this has become inevitable in the face of Nigeria’s dwindling
fortune, in oil revenue, Nigeria’s huge foreign indebtedness and the urgency of
diversifying Nigeria’s neocultural economy,” he said.

“We cannot be spending like drunken sailors on frivolities
and corruption and expect development and growth. Such a situation cannot take
us into the fourth industrial revolution.

“My experience and understanding, however, is that the money
to develop and grow our economy is out there if we provide a conducive
environment for it to come and stay.

“Political will, political action and administrative efforts
must be invested on reforming the public service into a capability-ready
institution that could enable Nigeria’s development agenda beyond 2023.

 “All of these and
more are necessary to correct and not to repeat the sickening and painful show
of shame which the elections of 2023 generated into.”