Obasanjo speaks on his reported move to form a political party

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denounced a report in the Vanguard newspaper linking him with the formation of a proposed new political party, describing such a report as “unfounded” and “false.”

The said report in the newspaper was entitled: “New Party Ahead of 2023: Obasanjo picks 3 ex-govs as coordinators, meeting July 13,” and dated July 4, 2021.

But a statement on Monday by the former president’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, said: “Obasanjo who is currently in Kabul, Afghanistan, as a guest of President Ashraf Ghani, has declared the report, written by one Soni Daniel, is false,” maintaining that there is no plan to float a new political party now or in near future.

Obasanjo said the fabricated story did not come to him as a surprise though, because for some time now, he had observed with bewilderment the efforts by some people to drag him into their political games.

Akinyemi said in the statement: “Upon hearing of this latest fabricated report, Chief Obasanjo said ‘In my part of the world, when you say goodnight in a place, you do not go back there and say good evening.

“The one who reported that may need to visit Yaba Left. And those who believe it can believe that their mothers are men.

“I’m done with partisan politics, but by my position in Nigeria and in Africa and without being immodest and indeed in the world, my door must be open, and it is open to any individual or group of individuals who want to seek my opinion, view or advice on any issue or matter and I will respond to the best of my ability, without being part of that individual or group.’”

Akinyemi said if anything, Chief Obasanjo’s political party today is the party of Nigerians facing insecurity, unemployment, hunger, poverty, and various other challenging issues.

He said: “It is the party of Nigeria which must be saved, kept wholesomely united in peace, security, equity, development and progress.

“Let those who want to use the back door to force Chief Obasanjo to return to partisan politics respect his choice to remain a non-partisan statesman.

“On his part, the former president will continue to perform his role as a statesman focused on providing counsel, support, or solutions wherever possible in Nigeria, Africa and indeed the world.”