Former Nigerian leader, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
has drawn similarities in the present economic
situation in the country under President Goodluck
Jonathan with the one witnessed during the era
of the military tyrant, Late General Sani Abacha.
The former President declared that after he got
an SMS message from a Nigerian requesting for
his financial assistance, he concluded that the
middle-class era has been destroyed by the
economic situation.
He spoke today when a group of traders visited
him in Abeokuta, rummaging through his phone
message file to read the SOS message from the
unidentified Nigerian.
He said that the development, notwithstanding,
did not change his conviction that, "tough time
does not last forever, and when tough time
comes, tough people get going. We will keep
going and we will survive this tough time".
"I told him (the SMS sender) that we have
experienced this period in the time of Abacha, all
the members of the middle class were completely
destroyed",he said.
He informed his guests about a military officer
who could not afford to buy a new brand car,
declaring, that was a surprise to him.
"I was surprised the day a Colonel in the Army
came to me complaining that he and his family
could not afford to buy a car".
Another example to buttress his assertion was
about a medical doctor family that had to relocate
to Saudi Arabia to survive. "A friend of mine, Dr.
Okoro, a medical Doctor, his wife was also a
medical doctor and they have a daughter too,
who is also a medical doctor : between the three
of them, they could not afford a new car. They
had to go to Saudi Arabia, but I pray we will not
have such a time in Nigeria", Obasanjo prayed.
While responding to the request of the traders on
the way forward ahead of the 2015 political
dispensation, the former President said Nigerians
have to be alert and vigilant to collectively battle
the situation.
"We have to be at alert. To be forewarned is to be
forearmed, if we will get ourselves out of the
morass we find ourselves in, it has to be done by
each and every one of us. We all have
contribution to make and should not leave our
responsibility for others to do for us. If we fail to
participate in things that are meaningfully
positive for this country, you will be a victim and
we all become victims", Obasanjo warned.
Obasanjo told the 150 traders from across the 36
States that visited him that,"as far as the next
political dispensation is concerned, I can not
decide yet,we should all resort to spiritual
guidance for help.
"As for me, we don't know where we are going
yet, may God show us the way. The way that will
take this country and make it a great country and
well for me too. I understand and If I see the way,
I will tell you. I pray that God will show me the
way, may God show you the way", the former
President declared.
In her reaction, the leader of the delegation,who
is also the National President of the Nigerian
Market/Traders Council, Yeye (Mrs) Osho said the
visit was meant to come and get the direction of
the former President on the 2015 election.
She said the council had tremendous support of
the former President during his eight year- rule.
"As such, we deem it necessary and as a mark of
respect to come and find out on which direction
we are going. He had told us to wait and we shall
pass the message to our members throughout
the country, that Baba is yet to decide", the
market leader said.
Among the dignitaries that were with the former
President to welcome his guests were the Iyalode
of Yorubaland, Alaba Lawson and one of the aides
to President Olusegun Obasanjo while in office, Dr.
Gbolade Osinowo.
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