Former President Olusegun Obasanjo delivered a new year message to Nigerians. In his lengthy letter which is currently making the waves, he addressed a number of issues. His message mainly dwells on the forthcoming elections. He urged Nigerian youths to reject the Emi Lokan idealogy and embrace Awa Lokan.
From frying pan to fire
In building the consciousness of Nigerians, Obasanjo acknowledged that the current administration has done its best but its best isn’t good enough. He likened the situation to a case of moving ‘from frying pan to fire.” He urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be fooled again.
The last seven and a half years have no doubt been eventful and stressful years for many Nigerians. We have moved from frying pan to fire and from mountain top to the valley. Our leaders have done their best, but their best had turned out to be not the best for Nigeria and Nigerians at home and abroad. For most Nigerians, it was hell on earth… Let us be cautious, not to be fooled again.
TVCP: 4 factors in a leader
In order to determine the best candidate for the job, Obasanjo designed what he termed, “TVCP”. The TVCP represent the four factors we should look out for in a leader:
There are four major factors to watch out for in a leader you will consider to hoist on yourself and on the rest of Nigerians in the coming election and they are what I call TVCP: Track record of ability and performance; Vision that is authentic, honest and realistic; Character and attributes of a lady and a gentleman who are children of God and obedient to God; and Physical and mental capability with soundness of mind…
Reject ‘Emi Lokan’
Obasanjo expressed his dissatisfaction with the ‘Emi Lokan’ concept and urged Nigerian youths to embrace the ‘Awa Lokan’ idea. He explained:
Let me say straight away that ‘Emi Lokan’ (My turn) and ‘I have paid my dues’ are one and the same thing and are wrong attitude and mentality for the leadership of Nigeria now… Get up, get together, get going and get us to where we should be. And you, the youth, it is your time and your turn. ‘Eyin Lokan’ (Your turn)… I appeal to you to turn the tide on its head and march forward chanting ‘Awa Lokan’ (Our turn) not with a sense of entitlement, but with a demonstrable ideological commitment to unity and transformation of Nigeria.
We don’t need aged & unhealthy leaders
Nigerians need a leader who will be fully and actively in charge. Obasanjo advised Nigerians to reject septuagenarian and older persons as leaders.
The vigour, energy, agility, dynamism and outreach that the job of leadership of Nigeria requires at the very top may not be provided as a septuagenarian or older. I know that from personal experience. And it is glaring out of our current experiences. Otherwise, we will be fed with, “The President says” and we will neither see nor hear him directly as we should.
Forgiveness
In a remarkable way, Obasanjo identified that as a nation, we need to forgive each other of past events and move forward.
Just let us agree to move forward together in mutual forgiveness, one accord, inclusive society, equality and equity. Together and without bias and discrimination, fear or favour, we can have Nigeria of one nation in diversity, in truth and in practice. Let us honour, cherish, respect and even celebrate our diversity which is the basis of our potential greatness and strength.
In this spirit of forgiveness, Obasanjo appeared to particularly single out the Igbo tribe whom many have often described as a tribe that cannot be trusted with leadership. This seems to be in view of the Biafran agitation.
If we will continue with wide brush to paint a national or sub-national group as bad and never to be trusted with leadership because of past error or mistakes that some of them were responsible for and treat their offspring as inheritors, it will amount to great injustice that will surely lead to no peace, no security and no stability for development and progress.
In his wisdom, Obasanjo preached against tribalism. In essence, he figuratively identified that there are only two tribes in Nigeria:
My dear young men and women, let me assure you that there are only two tribes of people in Nigeria a tribe of good people and a tribe of bad people.
Peter Obi with the edge
In all his analysis, and after laying good foundation, Obasanjo boldly endorsed Peter Obi, the presidential flagbearer of the Labour Party, for President. He urged Nigerians to vote him in the forthcoming elections.
None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge.
Obasanjo continued:
One other important point to make about Peter is that he is a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost. In other words, he has people who can pull his ears, if and when necessary.
