Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has decried the precarious economic situation in the country, saying that Nigeria has been on the reverse gear.
Obasanjo warned that the woes of the country would get worse if Nigerians failed to make the right choice at the February 25 presidential poll.
He described the level of poverty and widening economic gap between the poor and the rich following the poor handling of the country’s economy.
“I am concerned that the current state of our nation’s economy has widened the gulf of inequality and left many people in despair. Inflation is on the rise; poverty and hardship have returned to many households.”
The former President, weekend, spoke on the title: ‘The Quest For Unity In Nigeria And The Role Of Unity Schools,’ at the 50th anniversary of Federal Government College, Kaduna.
He regretted that instead of pursuing policies and programmes that would unite the country and give every tribe a sense of belonging, Nigeria’s Leaders rather promotes nepotism, mediocrity and tribalism.
Obasanjo further regretted that the gains recorded by previous administrations had been eroded by the current administration, and warned Nigerians to stop voting based on primordial sentiments.
He said: “The last decade has reversed many of the economic gains that were made in the first decade of the century. There is a general sense of hopelessness across the nation with seemingly uncontrollable insecurity.
“In addition to the economic hardship is political mischief. Never have we been so politically divided along religious, ethnic and other fault lines and deliberately so.
“Appointments in government are skewed and lopsided on basis of nepotism and mediocrity and disregard for merit and competence. Elections are here and may compound the problem.”
Obasanjo frowned at the fragrant disregard of the federal character by Nigeria Leaders in appointments, saying that such breach promotes disunity.
“Political parties and politicians have now been emboldened to discard some of the things that were put in place to give all groups a sense of belonging.
“Exclusion is being taken as normal. Disunity stares us in the face and many of our leaders are more concerned about their selfish interests than the survival and health of our nation.”
He further advised Nigerians to take into consideration all the concerns being raised about candidates contesting in the forthcoming presidential poll, and only vote for a credible candidate capable of turning the fortunes of the country for good.
“Let me reiterate that the concerns being raised about the nature of the options before us in the Presidential elections for instance are real and should not be trifled with.
“Nigeria belongs to us all and no part of the country should be left in doubt about their place in this union on any basis whatsoever; ethnic, religious, language, region, culture or social standing.”
He told Nigerians to be ready to take responsibility for any choice they make in the forthcoming polls, hence they need to vote wisely.
“If we choose to do nothing, we will only have ourselves to blame. If we choose to do the right thing, we will by so doing return this country on the right track; one which gives all our people a sense of belonging and a sense of unity of purpose and a stake in the project Nigeria; a project that will give all of us peace, security, stability, shared prosperity, hope and progress and a place within the comity of nations.”
Obasanjo is one of the strong supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, whom he said had proven integrity, capacity and antecedents to rebuild Nigeria’s failing economy and unite the country.
He, also, has never hidden his opposition to the ambitions of the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu; and his main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, counterpart, Atiku Abubakar; who served as his (Obasanjo’s) Vice President.
