Avoid emotion that can destroy, Obasanjo urges Nigerians

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the 2023 election must be a turning point for the country, saying he is in support of a southerner becoming the next president.

Obasanjo said this on Saturday when the leadership of the apex socio-cultural group in Tiv, Benue State, Mzough, paid him a visit at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Penthouse residence, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

The former president, who was conferred with the title of a Great Warrior of Tiv land by the socio-political group, said if Nigeria is ready to get it right, the 2023 election should be a turning point.

“We should not go for emotion that will destroy us,” he said.

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Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, in a statement, said the former president enjoined Nigerians to take farming seriously.

Obasanjo, who was responding to the President-General, Chief Iorbee Ihagh, said “Nigeria must be restored to what God has created it to be.

“Only farming and agric business could tackle the nation’s growing population. Farming and agric business is what will feed the nation.”

He called on the Tiv people to focus on farming and agric business, stressing that he had put the experience of having his farm burnt in Benue State behind him, as he hinted of having an industry established in the state next year.

Earlier, Ihagh  in his speech, stated that the reason for the group’s friendship visit was “basically to interface with you as our former Head of State, a political pillar, a nationalist and elder statesman to appreciate your overwhelming love, passion and concern you have demonstrated over the Tiv people.”

He listed three prayers for the former President’s consideration, including the need for the establishment of a fruit juice industry in Benue state and inclusive national politics.

There was also the issue of Fulani herders’ attack on Tiv land and position on the Nigerian power sharing formula.

He said, “With regards to the current power equation in the country, we in the Mzough Tiv in conjunction with the Middle Belt Forum had unanimously resolved for power shift from the North to the South for fairness, justice and a true federalism.

“We want to call on Your Excellency and other well-meaning Nigerians to strictly adhere to the principle of rotation and distributive justice. If this is enforced, the Middle Belt would also be assured of producing the next president come 2031.”