Olusegun Obasanjo "Nigeria, poorly managed for eight years"

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday said Nigeria had been poorly managed for eight years, telling Nigerians to be patient with the incoming administration of President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to correct the prevailing abnormalities.

He said this during a visit of a delegation of South-West women leaders, under the leadership of Iyalode of Yorubaland,Chief Alaba Lawson, to his Abeokuta Hilltop residence.

Obasanjo noted that it would take a sizable time for Buhari to correct the anomalies.

He said, “The country had been poorly managed in the last eight years, and it will take some time for Buhari’s government to correct the anomalies. But I want to him not to be frightened.

“When I came in 1999, there was no fuel, there was no power. The situation was like this, and I thought we have put that one behind us. The man that is coming on board has a lot of experience in terms of governance.

“He is not a green horn. We have both worked together in administering, then as a military Head of State and we did it well. Nigerians need to exercise patience because what have been destroyed in eight years cannot be rebuilt in a day.

“Let’s give him time. Let’s pray for him and let’s cooperate with him. We are all concerned about the present situation of Nigeria. The expectation is very high but at the same time, there is a lot of goodwill internally and externally for the incoming government.

“Once the incoming administration realises this and takes every step, particularly in the first three months,when people will be watching and counting, I think for me, we will get there.”

The former president, however, warned Buhari not to take Nigerians for granted but to be as honest as possible in overseeing the country, adding that Nigerians were clever and could not be deceived.

He told the visitors that he believed in the managerial and political acumen of the President-elect in leading Nigeria aright, because “he is not a novice in governance, having ruled the country as a military Head of State from 1983 to 1985.”

Obasanjo said with Buhari at the helm, the citizens would have a new opportunity.

He said, “God has provided a new opportunity for Nigeria and Nigerians and I believe God does not make mistake.

“There are two things I believe the incoming President appreciates. One is that he knows that the expectations of Nigerians are high and two, that he should not be frightened by the situation on the ground.

“All he has to do is to be honest with Nigerians, he should not deceive them. He should not be an ostrich. He should not deceive Nigerians and not to be too clever with them.

“There is a lot of goodwill for the incoming administration from within and outside the country. What is important is that steps have to be taken that will not lead to the squandering of the goodwill and I believe the incoming government will be able to take care of that.”