The battle for the political soul of Ogun State reverberated on Tuesday at the National Conference in Abuja
when a delegate representing the South-West, Senator Femi Okurounmu, told members of the Confab Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government by that his kinsman and former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not win the 1999 Presidential election.
He said Obasanjo's emergency as President was planned and executed by the powers-that-be at the time to reduce tension generated by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was said to have been won by the late businessman, Chief MKO Abiola.
Okurounmu's comments came on the heel of a heated debate among the members of the committee on rotational presidency and other key positions in the country.
He said, "Obasanjo did not win the election, he was anointed by the powers-that-be to pacify the South-West over the annulment of June 12 elections. What I said, I have said it to his hearing."
Okurounmu however said he welcomed the rotational principle idea, saying that the system would give every zone the opportunity to produce the nation's president.
He therefore suggested that the rotational principle, if adopted, should be embedded in the Electoral Act and in the constitutions of the various political parties, stressing that it would protect the interest of the Nigerians at different zones.
Another member of the committee representing the Federal Government, Senator Nimi Amange, corroborated Okurounmu, insisting that Obasanjo was not the best presidential candidate in 1999.
He also faulted the inclusion of rotational presidency in the constitution.
Amange said, "Obasanjo was not the best candidate in the 1999 contest, but Nigerians decided to give it to the South-West for what happened to the late Chief Moshood Abiola. Nigeria has never had the best as its president.
"Our greatest problem is fear and suspicion and that is why we want everything to be in the constitution. Then if we want zoning, we should zone the presidency to all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria so that all of them will enjoy the presidency."
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Yorubas are the most selfish elite clicks in Nigeria. These useless alarmists do not know that we are tired of the false hegemony of the Ogun state in Yoruba land. Let them sink alone because Obasanjo used Yoruba's slot which Abraham Adesanya's daughter, Soyinka's daughter served and benefited by extension Okunroumu must have benefited from them and Obasanjo as well. Please stop this useless ungratefulness to your town's man. Yorubas are tired of Ogun state. Enough !
ReplyDeleteThe main problm of this country started frm yoruba people if they want to plan coup then they wl use yoruba at the end hausa wl use them as bitrayer till today yoruba no get sense atall...all we want is money and and what we do is politics of bitternes and slefishness (yoruba)
ReplyDeleteIf he no win na ur baba come win......yoruba mumu no be small
ReplyDeleteDon't you have the impression that the Yoruba are selfish, self centered, and alarmists. The race has an added advantage than most other tribes in Nigeria, because of their early exposure to western education. They are matured both in politics and accommodation within their own environment. I agree that the Egbas, increasingly, have taken advantage of other Yoruba by manipulating political opportunities to their kin and immediate family. I am sure, this trend will end, now that education has permeated the nooks and cradle of Yoruba land. People should learn from the generosity and open handedness of the Yoruba for adhering to one Nigeria principle over the years. Nigeria should emulate the demeanor of the Yoruba in order to move Nigeria forward to greater heights.
ReplyDelete