Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria is currently experiencing another ‘Abacha era’ as he accused the President of planning to rig the forthcoming elections.
Abacha was a military dictator who ruled Nigeria from 1993 until he died in office in 1998.
Obasanjo made these claims in an open letter titled “Point for Concern and Action” which was distributed to journalists at a press conference held at his house at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
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The former President addressed several issues he had with the current administration. He highlighted the problems he saw and urged Nigerians to action.
Obasanjo had declared his support for his former Vice President and PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar earlier on.
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The Ex-President wrote:
“Today, another Abacha Era is here. The security institutions are being misused to fight all critics and opponents of Buhari and to derail our fledgling democracy. EFCC, Police and Code of Conduct Tribunal are also being equally misused to deal with those Buhari sees as enemies for criticising him or as those who may not do his bidding in manipulating election results. Criticism, choice and being different are inherent trade mark of democracy. If democracy is derailed or aborted, anarchy and authoritarianism will automatically follow.”
“Today, as in the day of Abacha, Nigerians must rise up and do what they did in the time of Abacha. Churches and Mosques prayed. International community stood by us Nigerians. I was a beneficiary and my life was saved. Well-meaning Nigerians took appropriate actions and made sacrifices, some supreme, some less than supreme but God had the final say and He took the ultimate action”
Obasanjo also attacked the President’s character. He continued:
“Buhari has succeeded in deceiving us the first time and we will be fools to allow ourselves to be deceived the second time,”
“Buba Galadima, who knows Buhari very well as a confidant and National Secretary of Congress for Progressive Change,CPC, the Buhari’s party before it joined in forming All Progressives Congress, APC has warned us this time around that no matter what he promises, he cannot change his character and attitude.”
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Touching on the forthcoming elections, the Ex-President wrote:
“…he has blatantly refused to sign the revised electoral bill into law. His henchmen are working round the clock in cahoots with security and election officials to perfect their plan by computing results right from the ward to local government,state and national levels to allot him what will look like a landslide victory irrespective of the true situation for a candidate who might have carried out by proxy presidential debate and campaigns.”
