Former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo has denied ever singing the praise of former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu during the latter’s visit to his residence a few weeks ago.
Obasanjo pointed out that from his experience in life so far, only military-trained personnel were good managers of people and not civilians like Tinubu.
The rebuttal by the ex-Head of State was issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Kehinde Akinyemi in a statement which was obtained by Africa Today News, New York.
Obasanjo went on to assert that was no way he could not have made any remark at the expense of his noble military profession.
A viral WhatsApp message by a group, ‘National Patriots’, claimed that the retired General described Tinubu as a super politician.
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‘If you are looking for a thoroughbred politician of masters class, visit Lagos Bourdillon,’ he was quoted saying.
Obasanjo stressed that only individuals trained by the armed forces had the capability to properly manage men and materials.
‘I cannot disparage my noble profession for politics that has no formal training. This is false and fake,’ he said.
Africa Today News, New York reports that Obasanjo had recently asserted that what the country needs at the moment is a government that has a proper understanding of what governance is all about.
Obasanjo made this assertion while speaking at a colloquium organised to mark the 113th anniversary of Kings College, Lagos.
The former president, who chaired the occasion, said national identity is the foundation of social position, adding that weak social position causes distrust as people are reluctant to engage with one another.
He said, ‘We do not trust ourselves while confidence is totally destroyed and where there is no confidence, there is no togetherness. If we have no dream, then, what can be the inspiration for the aspiration of our youths? What can they look up to or aspire to? We must take being a Nigerian as first and being anything else as second.’
Speaking on the theme of the colloquium ‘Building Nigeria of our dream’, the former President said economic emancipation and citizens’ well-being are central to the national dream.