The presidency has faulted the remark credited to former president Olusegun Obasanjo in which he declared himself the boss to Nigeria’s incumbent president, Muhammad Buhari.
“Buhari there is nothing personal between me and him… I am also his boss with due respect,” said Obasanjo, at the event which commemorated his 82nd birthday anniversay in Abeokuta, Ogun state on Tuesday, March 5.
Obasanjo was responding to Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, who had appealed to Obasanjo to whittle down his criticism of Buhari, his boss, saying at 82, he should rather be a consultant to Nigerian leaders.
His words: “You all know that I was an officer under General Buhari so each time Obasanjo criticises my boss, I always stand to say my senior, please leave the President alone! At 82, Baba is still fighting on, please fight less and be a consultant to everybody.”
However, Festus Keyamo, SAN, spokesman of Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organization, maintained that the statement is much as untoward as it is untrue.
In a twitter post on Wednesday, he said: “Just to set the records straight: The boss of ALL bosses today in Nigeria is Gen. Yakubu Gowon who holds the record of the SINGLE longest unbroken rein as Head-of-State. He’s senior to ALL. And as access is always guaranteed, he goes into the Villa ANYTIME to offer useful advice.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s full statement at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), according to SaharaReporters:
“I believe that Africa has no alternative to democracy, good governance and development, growth and progress of our economy. We have none and if that is not happening in any country, those who keep quiet about it are accomplices to the crime,” he said.
“You see, in a democracy, you criticise a policy of government because it is not a family affair. Even if it is my brother that is there and he is not doing what I think he should do, he must be criticised. That is what democracy is all about: criticisms; saying the other side.
So, if I say anybody in government in Nigeria or any government for that matter is not doing well, let that government prove that he is doing well. So, Kabiyesi, your boss, Buhari; there is nothing personal between me and him. Just as he is your boss, I am also his boss with due respect.
“The point is that I have been in that position longer than any Nigerian could ever be there. That is the truth because if any Nigerian comes in now and have two terms, he will not have almost four (4) years of military rule.
“I have been there longer than any Nigerian will ever be there. So, when I say something, I know what I am talking about. So, Kabiyesi, anytime you say ‘leave my boss alone’, I agree, he is your boss, but I am also his boss. So, you might also ask your boss to leave his boss alone or do what is right that his boss wants him to do.”
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