Former Senate President, Chief Adophus Wabara, has observed that the observations contained in the special press release by former President Olusegun Obasanjo are not only apt but have been accepted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He stated this in an interview over the weekend, adding that the remarks by the former President were timely and on point.
He admonished other Nigerian leaders to always speak up against perceived ills in the polity adding that if Nigeria has many like Obasanjo, it would have moved faster in the area of development.
Wabara said: “First of all, let me state that Obasanjo is known to what they call the political scenario in this country. If we had one or two more of them speaking the way he does and monitoring what is happening in the country, I think the country would have charted a good course, vis-a-vis governance. If leaders are seen to be taking very keen interest regarding successors in office, maybe we would have gotten there faster than where we are now.”
Wabara added that the populace is suffering but that not many people are speaking out for the people adding that President Muhammadu Buhari has not responded adequately to the yearnings of the people.
The former Senate President further stated: “Yes it is true, the situation is very clear that Nigerians are suffering. When the populace speaks, of course you know that is it.
“I wouldn’t know whether it’s because of the health situation of President Buhari or that is his character that is insensitive to the yearnings of the people. But I don’t want to believe so. Maybe his health has slowed him, but he’s bounced back.
“So, the observation of President Obasanjo to some extent is correct. Even the reactions of APC and people in power shows that they were hit below the belt and I expected a punchy response to those accusations on their way of running the country. But they accepted virtually everything the ex-President said. “Maybe they are afraid of him or they don’t want to join issues. They were even thanking him for such observations. Maybe they will sit up this time. I wouldn’t know.
“When I was listening to the interview by Prof. (Akin) Oyebode, he stated that it was not even Obasanjo who has raised those issues for the first time, but others like Bishop Onaiyekan, Kukah, former Speaker Ghali Na’Abba. But then when you have such thing coming from such a colossus like Obasanjo, then expect some quakes.”
(News Express)