Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday eulogized Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Governor Godswill Akpabio of akwa Ibom State for being above board in the discharge of their duties.
Obasanjo, who spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the grand finale of a civic reception organised in his honour by the Peoples Democratic Party in the South West, said the two governors have performed creditably well.
He said both governors have delivered democratic dividends to their people.
Speaking specifically about Uduaghan, the former president said despite being the Secretary to the State Government under former Governor James Ibori, the Delta State helmsman was not found wanting during the investigation of Ibori for corruption.
However, Obasanjo blasted Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who laid claim to the successes of Obasanjo as president between 1999 and 2007.
Obasanjo described Okorocha as a failed presidential candidate, adding that he never took advice from Okorocha, who was his adviser as president.
Speaking on Okorocha, who was elected governor on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Obasanjo said: “I met him (Okorocha) not long ago by virtue of the fact that he was brought up in Jos, one of the few cities that I found in the 50s and 70s as genuine melting pot in Nigeria.
“He probably would not have been able to achieve what he has achieved.
“He is a true Nigerian.
“And when he wants to pull me down, he will say we are colleagues.
“How can I be a colleague of a failure?
“You are a failure in contesting for the presidency of Nigeria.
“Your speech gladdens my heart in a particular way.
“But we know why you have to take a detour.
“Now you have taken the detour, it is time to come back home and your speech is an indication that you are preparing.”
Okorocha had earlier said: “We are here to give honour to whom honour is due.
“Obasanjo will remain an unmovable and unshakable man.
“He is a man very difficult to describe.
“He represents different things to different people.
“Obasanjo is indeed PDP.
“But in the actual sense, he’s a national leader.
“He does not belong to the PDP alone but a national leader of Nigeria.
“If I have another opportunity to advice him, I will tell him to be the national leader of the country and not the national leader of the party.
“Political party is only a vehicle to attain governance.
“However, we must know when to stop politics and embrace governance.
“Let us produce more leaders than politicians.
“We must realise than what unites us is more than the party that divides us.
“While we play politics, let us not forget the masses that voted us into power.
“The party cannot put food on the table of the common man.”
Dignitaries at the event included Vice President Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan; the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; the PDP National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; a former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni; a former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu; and Rivers State Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, who represented Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
Also in attendance were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, who was represented by Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; a former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose; the Lagos State PDP Chairman, Tunji Shelle; and Hon. Lola Abiola-Edewor.
Advertisement
