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As congratulatory messages poured in for President Muhammadu Buhari over his re-election, the conspicuous silence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been deafening. After failing to deliver his polling unit in Abeokuta to Atiku Abubakar, the PDP candidate that he staked so much upon, including risking God’s wrath, Obasanjo has not been seen in public.
Telephone calls made to OBJ’s Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, were not picked while text messages sent to him for reaction after INEC proclaimed Buhari victorious were neither replied nor acknowledged. Rather Baba has remained slumped into the “mute” mode since Feb 23, after voting in Abeokuta and advising winners in the election to show magnanimity in victory, saying losers should also accept defeat.
“In any competition, there will always be winners and losers. That is what anybody in any competition must be prepared for as a good sportsman. Whoever that wins should show magnanimity. If I lose, I will also bow down graciously. That is what any competition is all about. “If your purpose of going for any competition is that you must win at all costs, then that is no longer a competition…”
Obasanjo had hoped his endorsement would enable Atiku defeat Buhari. The former President, who believes he could swing election to any aspirant, has noticeably kept off the public radar, holed in his expansive mansion on the hilltop in Ota, Abeokuta, capital of Ogun state.
Obasanjo was quite vocal in the build-up to the election and campaigned against Buhari’s re-election with a series of caustic and malicious letters. He also tried to create a third force and a coalition of groups to dethrone Buhari, but none showed any promise. Then in an amazing and absurd turn, he endorsed Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, whom he had once accused and condemned over corruption claims.
He had told Nigerians that he had forgiven Atiku and supported his presidential bid so that God would not forgive him (Obasanjo). But for all Obasanjo’s vitriol against Buhari, the presidency repeatedly asked Nigerians to ignore Obasanjo, saying Buhari’s performance in office would earn him re-election
