Obasanjo caused some of Nigeria’s problems — Afenifere

National Publicity Secretary of the
Afenifere Renewal Group, Mr. Kunle
Famoriyo
Pan-Yoruba association, Afenifere Renewal
Group, has said former President Olusegun
Obasanjo created some of the challenges
bedeviling the country.
In an electronic mail to our correspondent, the
group’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo,
said though the ex-president shared the blame,
the administration of President Goodluck
Jonathan was responsible for the extent of
insecurity, economic crisis and corruption in the
country.
He said, “With the security of the country at
the lowest abysmal region and unbridled
corruption eating daily into the fabric of our
society, you can smell nepotism all over the
place.
“The reign of impunity and terror can be found
in President Jonathan’s administration. Even as
former President Olusegun Obasanjo created
part of the problems confronting Nigeria today,
his reign cannot be compared with the clueless
Jonathan administration that some people are
trying to market to us in Yorubaland.
“We are no fools. President Jonathan has been
able to run Nigeria aground economically; he
should not be painted as a performing
president.”
Jonathan, two weeks ago, had visited the
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State
for a summit of Yoruba leaders convened by a
Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Mr.
Olabode George.
As a result of the President’s visit, students of
the institution had reportedly protested the
alleged interruption of their examination,
claiming Jonathan’s presence subjected them to
unfavourable conditions, as commercial buses
were not allowed to convey them to the
campus by security agents.
Famoriyo claimed that Jonathan could not be
regarded as an advocate of Yoruba
advancement and development, adding that
those who “stage-managed the Jonathan
endorsement” in Ile-Ife had never been known
to be in the vanguard of Yoruba developmental
struggle.
“Were Gen. Alani Akinrinade and Mr. Wale
Oshun at the Ife Summit? The translation of
democracy for us in Yorubaland is a struggle for
development. We know the political tendency
that cares for our advancement.
“We know the people who still have the milk of
humanity flowing in them and whose body
language empathises with the people. Jonathan
should ride his bicycle to somewhere else in
Bayelsa State,” Famoriyo said.
According to the Afenifere spokesperson, the
fact that there is no clear-cut ideological base
for Nigerian politics presently does not mean
that the Yoruba are blind, or that they don’t
know who is working and fighting for their
interest.