Ahead of the 2023 general elections in the country, former president Olusegun Obasanjo has argued that it is entirely his prerogative to support whosoever he wants, warning that nobody can threaten him over his choice.
It has been speculated that Obasanjo is lending his support to the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
The first overt indication that Obasanjo favours Obi to succeed Buhari was at a public event, where he vacated his seat for the former governor of Anambra State, declaring his job done, a gesture that many discerning described as symbolic.
Commenting on the alleged threat by some faceless persons, Obasanjo said he had shed blood and gone to prison; hence nobody could threaten him about his choice of a presidential candidate.
Obasanjo made this known at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Secretariat in Enugu.
Obasanjo had visited the Secretariat in the company of Afenifere’s leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Obi to pay condolence over the death of First Republic Aviation Minister, Mbazulike Amaechi.
Obasanjo said: “I have shed my blood for this country. I have gone to prison for this country.
“So, what are you going to frighten or threaten me with? The only thing that my senior brother (Adebanjo) hasn’t done is that he hasn’t shed his blood but he has gone to prison but we will leave that aside.”
He said Nigeria’s problem is more national than ethnic, regretting that Nigeria is yet to have a leader with the right type of character.
“The problem we have in our hands in Nigeria is not ethnic. It is national. And for me, the most important thing in a leader is character.
“If I put my hand on someone, it means that comparing with the other, I see that there is a merit that will be of benefit to Nigeria,” he said.