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Obasanjo Dragged Nigeria's Electoral Process Back By 50
Years Oshiomhole
The Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, on Friday blamed Nigeria's former President,
Olusegun Obasanjo, for dragging Nigeria's electoral
process backward by 50 years
Oshiomhole spoke at the inauguration of the Journalists
Rendezvous, a multifaceted facility built to provide
relaxation for journalists and sited beside the Nigerian
Compass Newspaper premises in Ogun State.
Recalling his 18 months' ordeal to regain his mandate,
he said there was the urgent need for the media to
intensify its efforts to redeem the nation's electoral
system.
He said Obasanjo and the leadership of the Peoples
Democratic Party had used the electoral system to
satisfy their interests rather than respecting the
electoral wish of the people.
”What Obasanjo has done to our electoral system is such
that overides the people's will and imposes candidates
on them. For instance, we should stop confusing what
happened in Jos recently as a religious issue because
what happened was that the people resorted to the use of
violence, being the only option available to them, to
protest the imposition of some candidates.
”Things like that should not be allowed to happen in our
society. That is what happens when the rule of law is
not allowed to have its course. Even some of my brothers
(governors) have had to learn their lessons the hard way
from Obasanjo. The will of the people should be
respected. If we cannot at least elect our own leaders,
then what can we do? Ghana did it and we can do it too
once things are done the proper way.”
The governor, who was thereafter spotlighted as the
first guest on Media Eye-ball, a live television
interview with top media practitioners at the
Journalists Rendezvous, spoke on the pressure he had
been under in terms of appointing his cabinet.
Stating that he would work with competent people,
irrespective of their political leaning, he added that
such persons had to merit their appointments.
The inauguration was attended by the Ogun State
Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; the former governors of
Cross River and Lagos states, Mr. Donald Duke and Alhaji
Lateef Jakande, respectively; and top media
practitioners.
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