Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,
on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, declared that his envisioned
Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) is not a third force as being touted, but
a popular movement to accommodate all Nigerians regardless of their political
leanings to propel Nigeria forward.
Obasanjo, who sounded confident that the Movement
would spearhead processes, programmes, policies and priorities to make Nigeria
a great country both in West Africa sub-region and Africa, equally averred that
the group would mobilise membership from all over Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
He noted that though members of the CNM would be free to collectively decide on
whether the Movement becomes a political party or not, however, vowing to
abandon the Movement any day it decides
to go into active partisan-politics.
The former president spoke at the registration and
launching of the CNM at Iwe Irohin Press Centre, Oke Ilewo in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo, who was accompanied by the former
governors of Cross River and Osun States, Donald Duke and Olagunsoye Oyinlola
respectively; two time Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial
candidate, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka; former Minister of State for Defence, Mrs.
Modupe Adelaja, and party stalwarts drawn from both the All Progressives
Congress (APC) and PDP, was afterward decorated with the official emblem of the
Movement by Duke.
Youth organisations, pressure groups, professional
bodies and members of the civil society group were also in attendance at the
event.
Speaking further, the former president who
expressed joy at the launching of the Movement in Abuja last Wednesday, said
his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari last week was not borne out of frivolity
but deep concern for the excruciating situations in the country.
He stated that Nigeria as a country cannot continue
with business as usual, observing that "if the instruments we have used so
far in our nation-building and governance since independence have not served us
well, it is imperative that we should have a rethink and retooling."
Obasanjo, who stressed that Nigeria, like any other
country, has various challenges, emphasised the coalition's readiness to
mobilise Nigerians for peace, unity, security, stability, love, welfare and
well-being of the vulnerable Nigerians, particularly the youths and women, who
according to him, have been victims and underlings.
He mentioned disrespect for the federal character
as espoused in the country's constitution, spate of killings and violence in
virtually every part of Nigeria and the parlous nature of country's economy in
the President Buhari's administration as some of the reasons for the birth of
the coalition.
"Let me emphasise important areas, programmes,
priorities and processes for improved attention. To start with, we seem to have
taken nation-building for granted. Nation-building must be given continued
attention to give every citizen with a feeling of belonging and a stake in his
or her country. For instance, the federal character principle as espoused in
our constitution was to guide the leadership to search for competent holders of
major offices to be distributed within the entire country and avoid
concentration in a few ethnic hands or geographical places as we currently have
in the leadership of our security apparatus.
"To avoid such non-integrative situation, we
have the National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission (FCC), both
institutions which must raise the alarm or call for correction of actions by
the executive that violates the spirit of our constitution. In the like manner,
the spate of violence, criminality, organised crime, insurgency and terrorism
have not received sufficient proactive ameliorative responses through transformational
leadership - a determined leadership that brings cohesion and wholesomeness to
the polity. Nobody and no group should feel excluded in his or her country.
Inclusion and popular participation must be visibly pursued in terms of
politics, the economy and our overall social life," declared Obasanjo.
He, however, noted that through CNM, Nigerian youths
would be emboldened, empowered, have employment and play meaningful and
responsible roles in the leadership and governance of the country in all
ramifications.
The former president added: "Nigerian women
will have dignity, responsibility and equal consideration with men in affairs
of Nigeria. The Movement is a means to an end. The end is Nigeria, unshackled,
united, dynamic, strong, secure, cohesive, stable, and prosperous at home and
respected outside, and as a result, able to play decisive roles assertively in
the comity of nations.
"A Nigeria of hope, aspiration and assurances
which belongs to all with no sacred cow nor sacrificial lamb is what we want.
My Nigeria, your Nigeria and our Nigeria, with enchanting present and secure
and glorious future is what we all want. Join the Movement to build a new
Nigeria that will be in the hands of God."
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