Buhari’s U.S. Visit Mediocre – Obasanjo Fumes

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari for his “mediocre” performance during his latest trip to the United States.

Mr Obasanjo said Mr Buhari missed another opportunity to display his mettle as a thoroughbred leader and instead undermined Nigeria’s interest in at least three segments of national development.

The former president said this while responding to a spurious news report claiming he had made a U-turn and now supports Mr Buhari for the second term.

The fake news said Mr Obasanjo disclosed his intention to support Mr Buhari when he received some labour union leaders on May Day, adding that he took the decision because of Mr Buhari’s “superlative” performance during his appearance with President Donald Trump on Monday. The hoax has been circulating on some mushroom blogs across the Internet.

While debunking the news in a Wednesday afternoon statement issued by Kehinde Adeyemi, his official spokesperson in Abeokuta, Mr Obasanjo said Mr Buhari’s performance further highlighted his “mediocrity” and distanced himself from those singing the praises of the president over it.

Mr Obasanjo said he stood by his January 23 statement in which he strongly condemned Mr Buhari for his poor handling of national issues, unchecked killings of citizens and warned him not to run for the second term.

Mr Buhari, however, responded by listing some of his achievements as president and went on to declare his intention to run for reelection last month.

In an interview this week with the Voice of America, Mr Buhari described Mr Obasanjo’s January 23 statement as “insults” which he ordinarily would not have dignified with a response but for his information minister who prevailed on him.

“That is why the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, had to respond to the letter of insults released by Mr Obasanjo,” the president said while responding to a question about his criticism of Nigerian youth as lazy.

“We spoke about it and I asked him not to respond but he refused and said he will just respond by stating the situation we met the country, where it is now and what was done in between and the monies we are getting,” he added.

It has come to the attention of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that some elements in the Muhammadu Buhari camp and or support group are desperate to secure a second term, fair or foul. In this desperation, everything is fair, including telling libellous lies against persons and institutions, instead of addressing the fundamental issues of statecraft and economic management.