Wole Ayodele in Jalingo
Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared that no individual or group including himself can lay claim to bringing President Muhammadu Buhari to power.
The former president, who stated this in Jalingo tuesday when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Darius Ishaku, said Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for Buhari and as such nobody could claim to have brought him to power.
Reacting to a media report that he claimed that he and a few Nigerians brought the president to power, the former president and head of state said the report was not just untrue but malicious.
Obasanjo, who came to Taraba State on a five-day working visit to inspect some of the key projects he initiated while in office particularly the Mambilla Hydro power project, said the election of President Buhari was an overwhelming decision of the generality of Nigerians and it was inconsiderate of any single person or group to claim the glory.
“I was astounded by media reports quoting me to have said that I and a few other persons brought President Buhari to power to save Nigeria. I never said that because it is not true. Nigerians voted overwhelmingly for the president and we are all witnesses to that fact. No single person or group can claim that glory,” he said.
Stressing that he has spent most of his life trying to better the lot of humanity generally and Nigeria specifically, he stated that he was motivated to do even more now that he was approaching the end of his life and promised to help in any way possible to explore the enormous resources in the state.
“Taraba State is a blessing to Nigeria. The potentials in the state can turn the fortunes of the country for good. The Mambila Hydro Power project alone has the capacity to generate more than half of our present power capacity in the country.
“The livestock potential in the state spans all known livestock in the country including cattle rearing and poultry all in commercial quantities. The tea factory is a symbol of national greatness, while the tourism potentials can attract global tourists and earn the nation good foreign exchange
“Since I have spent most of my life doing good for humanity and Nigeria, I am motivated to do even more now that I am approaching my evening. I will therefore do everything to ensure that the potentials in Taraba generally and the Mambila Plateau specifically are optimally explored to make the nation great.”
Extolling the virtues of Ishaku, the elder statesman called on the people of the state to cooperate with the governor in his bid to make the state great just as he enjoined them to embrace peaceful coexistence, tolerance, mutual respect for each other and respect the sanctity of human life.
Welcoming the former president to his office, Ishaku described Obasanjo as one of the greatest assets that God has blessed Nigeria with adding that the younger generation of politicians must emulate his leadership skills to be great.
Ishaku however maintained that the pathetic state of the country’s power sector should be blamed on those who worked with the former president saying they were the ones that frustrated the execution of most of the projects initiated in the power sector during Obasanjo regime.
