Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo was conspicuously absent at Wednesday launch of his new pet project, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CN) that aims at unseating President Muhammadu Buhari next year.
Obasanjo in his last week’s ‘Special Statement’ to President Buhari titled ‘The Way Out: A clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria movement’ Urged the president not vie for a second term over alleged poor performance and nepotism.
The much publicized event held at the Yar’adua Centre, in Abuja, where hundreds of notable politicians including serving governors and national assembly members among others were said to have indicated interest to participate, turned out to be something else as only two former governors were present.
The ex-governors were Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State and Donald Duke of Cross River State.
But hundreds of youth clad in the movement’s vests and face caps besieged the venue of the event.
Oyinlola, a staunch supporter of Obasanjo said in his speech today that they could not rule out the possibility of transforming the movement into a political party if the need be.
“We’re not a political party, at least, for now,” he said, but quickly added that it would be difficult to make electoral fortunes as envisaged by Obasanjo without a formidable platform in the form of a political party.
“We recognise the facts that by the dictates of the Constitution, you can only contest on the platform of a political party,” he added, a development that made many people at the event to suspect that the movement might likely end up as a political party.
Obasanjo had in his statement discredited both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“President Buhari needs a dignified and honourable dismount from the horse. He needs to have time to reflect, refurbish physically and recoup and after appropriate rest, once again, join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the side line for the good of the country. His place in history is already assured,” Obasanjo said.
Meanwhile, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is expected to launch Coalition for Nigeria Movement, on Thursday (today), in Abeokuta, the state capital.
This development was confirmed by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, in a text message made available to newsmen that the ex-president would launch the state chapter of the movement at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
He said, “The registration of members for the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), Ogun State chapter begins tomorrow, Thursday, February 1, 2018.
“It will hold at the lwe -Iroyin House, Press Centre, Oke Ilewo Abeokuta.”
