Obasanjo Likens Travails Under Jonathan’s Govt to that of Abacha’s Era

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has likened the present state of the economy to the one witnessed under the military junta headed by the late General Sani Abacha.

The former president, who addressed a group of traders who were on a courtesy visit to his Abeokuta residence however urged people to take solace in the fact that tough times don’t last but only tough ones do.

The delegation of about 150 persons (including the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson) from across the 36 states of the federation had come to seek direction from the former President regarding the 2015 general elections.

“We had tremendous support from you when you were in government. As such, we deem it necessary and as a mark of respect to come and find out on which direction we are going. He had told us to wait and we shall pass the message to our members throughout the country, that Baba is yet to decide,”

But Obasanjo, responding to their enquiry said: ” As for me, we don’t know where we are going yet, may God show us the way. The way that will take this country and make it a great country, and when, for me ooo, I understand and (if) I see the way, I will tell you, I pray that God will show me the way, may God show you the way.

The former president who shocked the delegation by scrolling through his handheld phone’s sms inbox, and read a Save Our Soul message he said he received from a Nigerian requesting for financial assistance, said the sms indicates a country where the the middle-class is fast disappearing.

“I told him (the SMS sender) that we have experienced this period in time of Abacha, all the middle class were completely destroyed.”

Obasanjo also recalled the experiences a soldier and family of doctors well known to him to buttress his conviction that tough times are here for real, saying he was surprised that such people could afford even basic necessities befitting their status.

He said: “I was surprised the day a Colonel in the Army came to me complaining that he and his family could not afford to buy a car.

“A friend of mine, Dr. Okoro, a medical Doctor, his wife was also a medical Doctor and they have daughter too, who is also a medical Doctor, between the three of them, they could not afford a new car, they had to go to Saudi Arabia but, I pray we will not have such a time in Nigeria.

“We all have contribution to make and should not leave our responsibility on other for us to do. If we fail to participate in things that are meaningfully positive for this country, you will be a victim and we all become victims.”