Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
A
political scientist and speaker at the 39th public lecture on “Bullet
versus Ballot: Interrogating Nigeria’s 4th Republic Electoral’s
Consultations,” Prof. Adekunle Amuwo, said former President Olusegun
Obasanjo failed Nigeria during his tenure.
The lecture was organised by the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.
Amuwo, who claimed he had full knowledge
of how Obasanjo emerged the President of the country in 1999, said that
the former President’s rule was the genesis of the level of corruption
currently being experienced in the country.
While saying the Peoples Democratic
Party had not moved Nigeria forward for an inch, he described Jonathan’s
rule as the legacy Obasanjo left behind.
Describing the current political
situation as crucial and critical in the history of the country, he
urged the electorate to change the fortune of the country by choosing
the ‘ballot’ rather than the ‘bullet.’
He said, “We are in a democracy run by
professional non-democrats — men and women who have the financial muscle
to ‘outmuscle’ the electorate and the rest of the country because about
70 per cent of the population of Nigeria is poor.
“In 2001, Obasanjo promised Nigeria
would enjoy 24/7 power supply, but he failed. His election in 1999 was
massively flawed. He just had to win and Olu Falae had to lose.
“He represented the Western powers and
Africa and did a lot for the two groups by providing an enabling
business environment for them to thrive. But he did little for Nigeria.
“He had all the powers to tame the monster of corruption in the country, but he did not do anything.
“Things have become so bad that the
United States now threatens that if we don’t compose ourselves, they
would not give us visas. It’s ridiculous.”
Stating that no reforms had been taking
place since President Goodluck Jonathan emerged the country’s leader,
Amuwo said there is structural violence against the electorate.
“Nigeria can recover. However, the ballot should be used to do this instead of the bullet,” he said.
Some scholars had, at a consultative
meeting of media scholars and practitioners on the 2015 general
elections, said the security of lives and property of the electorate was
important for its success.
Speaking on behalf of the Chancellor,
Covenant University and founder of the Living Faith Chapel, the
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Ayo, said the programme was aimed at
reshaping the destiny of the country in the forthcoming elections.
“This will hopefully play a major role
to improve the existing security situation in the country before, during
and after the elections,” he said.
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