The campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday arrived Ogun State visiting prominent people in the state including traditional rulers and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Obasanjo, who only Monday met with President Goodluck Jonathan in presence of two prominent pastors, over their continued rift, asked Buhari to ensure that he appoints men and women of unique and unquestionable character if he eventually emerges the President in the election that would hold on 14th February.
Obasanjo, who said it was easy to find such people in political parties and in every other areas, added that such people would further give credibility to his government and ensure development and progress of any nation.
Obasanjo also confirmed that Buhari made no personal gains as head of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) while he spoke on the panel of inquiry report on the PTF under Buhari adding that the report was no longer important since it had exonerated Buhari.
This is the first time Obasanjo would publicly speak of the report, which the spokesman of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had claimed indicted Buhari and that at the appropriate time, he would expose such issues.
Reminding the APC stalwarts that he was still a card-carrying member of the PDP, Obasanjo, who told the APC members that he decided to shelve every other engagements he had for the day just to honour Buhari, added that he decided to remain functional only at the ward level adding that when it comes to issues, Nigeria came first before any political party.
He urged Buhari to continue with his issue-based campaigns and how to solve them and not resort to insulting candidates of other political parties
“Let me say that for those of you that are campaigning all over, it is better you tell the people what you will do for them, campaign based on issues and not on frivolity or abusive languages,” Obasanjo said.
Commenting, Buhari said he visited Obasanjo to seek his blessing before he would embark on a campaign in the state.
“I have come with my running mate who is also your son from Ogun to solicit your support and blessings in our journey,” Buhari said.
“You know this country far better than any other person and we believe that with your wealth of experience and support, APC will do better than what this government is doing.
“The issue of insecurity, unemployment, economic slide, corruption and others will be tackled with all sincerity and we promise to move this country to what you dreamt it will be.
“Your Excellency under whom I served the most lucrative appointment of the Minister of Petroleum Resources for three and a quarter years before he sent me on course, when I set about the programme of going round the states, somebody had the temerity to ask me that when I come to Ogun State, shall I call on Chief Olusegun Obasanjo?
“I don’t think I answered the man. I just looked the other way. I think that I should not come here (Abeokuta) in whatever capacity without calling to pay my respect.
“Sir, it’s a fact that you know more than all we know about the problem that we are in. But what we will do is try to convince you to believe us that we are going to do better.
“We expect your understanding and support, although you insist in remaining in PDP. I have reached a certain degree of frustration in my attempt for you to try to shift a bit but you have refused.
Briefly, we have been going around three fundamental issues – security, economy, corruption. This vicious circle is what the APC is determined to break. Without security, there is no way the country can settle down not to talk of living in it.”
