Five PDP Governors Meet OBJ On State of the Nation

Abeokuta — FIVE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors yesterday visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta.


The visiting governors, who had a closed door meeting with the former President were Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Mallam Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa).

At the end of the three-hour meeting, Obasanjo told journalists that they discussed the state of the nation.

He stated, "I thank my colleagues and my brothers who have decided to pay me a special visit. They were concerned about what you may call the situation of the nation, security, and the economy. We discussed most of the things I have raised in my own public pronouncement in recent times, not to castigate anybody, not to bad-mouth anybody, not to run anybody down, but out of genuine concern for the situation of this country and that is the same thing that has brought them and I want to thank them."

He added "We looked at these issues closely, very objectively and we came to the conclusion that yes, we have a bad situation but not irretrievably bad. Something can still be done and what is required now is the will and the courage to do something, when, and how it needs to be done."

"We agreed on that and I appreciate their coming to me because of the respect and honour they have for me.

This task is not for one man and it is not even a task for one group, it is a task that requires all hands on deck and as they have said and as they have assured me that this type of consultation, they would have with other leaders because this country is ours and we have no alternatives," the former President asserted.

He disclosed "The other day, somebody told me he knew NADECO route, but I do not want to follow NADECO. It is okay for us to do what is right."

Answering a reporter's question on whether he was scared that the country's economy would soon collapse, Obasanjo affirmed, "I am never scared by anything, but I am concerned that when we had surplus, we did not remember the rainy day now that the rainy day is starring us in the face, we must be honest and courageous enough to do what is right, to let the nation know and then to take the steps that will put it right as quickly as possible."

Akpabio, who also spoke said, "I thank our dear leader (Obasanjo), our former President and a man that all Nigerians love and respect. If you notice, we are from the PDP extraction and we have decided that it is important for us to come and consult with him.
Babangida Aliyu, who is the Chairman of the PDP Northern Governors' Forum said, "The issue of Nigeria is beyond partisanship, we must tell all Nigerians to rally together and let us put our nation in the right place."

 Source: The Guardian by By Charles Coffie Gyamfi