In a tell-all interview with Frisky Lar, former President Olusegun Obansanjo bared his mind on different issues from his personal life, his presidency and the problems bedeviling Nigeria.
Relaxed, chatty and obviously in his element, Obasanjo commented on his love for exercise, particularly Squash and how the game has helped him stay healthy.
The former president spoke on the different minority ethnic groups in Nigeria and the need for a president from a minor group, while noting that he does not have any regret for putting ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in the Presidency, Obasanjo however said that Jonathan “abused and misused” his position, which is why Nigerians voted him out.
On President Muhammadu Buhari’s numerous foreign trips, Obasanjo stated that the travels were necessary as President Buhari needs to make friends in the international community, which will help boost the image of Nigerians abroad.
He further called for strengthening of anti-corruption institutions in the country.
“PDP as a party is dead,” says Obasanjo, who had last year retired from partisan politics after tearing up his PDP membership card.
Speaking on Biafra, Obasanjo noted that the agitation for Biafra doesn’t worry him as the agitation is an attempt in futility.
“Our economy is bad and when you have a bad economy people start agitating. I do not see Biafra as a cause, I see it as a platform that they can use to get their voices heard by the authorities,” Obasanjo said.
Not one to mince words or shy away from outright criticism, Obasanjo described the Nigerian press and media as ‘stupid’.
Continuing his string of condemnations, the former President said that it was absurd for people to link him to the Abacha loot, describing such people as “idiots”.
According to the 79 year old former president, the Abacha loot recovered when he served as president from 1999-2007 were handed to the then Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and so all questions about the recovered look should be directed at them.
“They said the money recovered from Abacha, I should account for it. What stupidity! The man who asked for it, the man who gave the judgement or who answered them are all stupid, with due respect. I don’t keep account, all Abacha loots were sent to Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and every bit of it was reported to Minister of Finance. My job was to write where we can get help to recover the money. Every penny that comes out of it went to CBN, so if they want to know what happened to the money, they should call CBN governor or call the Minister of Finance. But again, it shows ignorance, total ignorance, which is lacking and you wonder, are these people educated? They can also approach the man who helped us in recovering process to give the list of money recovered and where he took it.” he said
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