Bolaji Akinyemi, a former minister of external affairs, has taken a swipe at former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his New Year message and letter, in which he declared support for Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election.
Akinyemi made this assertion while speaking in an interview on Channels Television.
Recall that Obasanjo, in his letter, “My Appeal to all Nigerians, particularly young Nigerians,” urged youths to be more deliberate about the choices they make, adding that the 2023 elections should not be taken for granted.
Akinyemi, a professor of political science, said the former president is “part of the foundation of the problems” of the country, adding that Obasanjo should have stayed away from politics at end of his term as president.
He dismissed the comment that the focus should be on Obasanjo’s message rather than his personality or records while in office.
Akinyemi said, “Some of us believe he (referring to Obasanjo) is also part of the foundation of the problems that we have in this country,” he said.
“One of the things I had said is once you have occupied the post of president and served your term, go home, be like General Gowon, General Abdulsalami. Just be quiet, you have had your term, you have had your innings, to use a cricket language. Let others get on.
“But for you to create problems for us and then you come back and present yourself as a problem solver, I find it difficult to swallow.
“I know there are people who say, ignore the messenger, focus on the message. I’m sorry, I’m a political scientist That doesn’t rub with me as a political scientist. I’m sure whoever came up with that must be a politician, who does not want people to look back into his own record.”
