Obasanjo stated this in a speech entitled “The Nigerian Dream’’ he delivered at the grand finale of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign in Abuja.
“Our duties, responsibilities and obligations to our country as citizens, and indeed, as leaders must go side by side with our rights and demands. There must be certain values and virtues that must go concomitantly with our dream,” he said.
Quoting the famous philosopher, Thomas Paine, the former president added: “My country is the world. For me, my country I hold dear.” He elaborated on his Nigerian dream, saying: “I see a Nigerian dream of land of unity in diversity, equal opportunity, land of freedom and choices,
“Land of prosperity, fairness, peace and justice, land of love, care and harmony among its people, a land respected internationally and playing its rightful role within the comity of nations. And a land where no one is oppressed, discriminated against, enslaved or disadvantaged.”
Obasanjo recalled with nostalgia his post-secondary school era: “When I left secondary school in the mid-50s, there was only one university in Nigeria. Today, there are 117 universities, a greatly enhanced opportunity that must be matched by accessibility and employment opportunity. “This is an attainable dream and as a political party, we have dreamed and have set about actualising our Nigerian dream.’’
Referring to the PDP constitution, he said the party should be praised for being the only one that had enshrined the federal character, zoning and rotation in its constitution and in practice.
Obasanjo said: “I do not know who will be president of the country after Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. But with PDP policy and practice, I can reasonably guess from where, in terms of section of the country the successor to Jonathan will come from and no internal democracy or competition will be destroyed.
“The recent resort to sentiments and emotions of religion and regionalism is self-serving, unpatriotic and mischievous, to say the least. “It is also preying on dangerous emotive issues that can ignite uncontrollable passion and can destabilise, if not destroy our country. This is being oblivious of the sacrifices others have made in the past for unity, stability and democracy in Nigeria in giving up their lives, shedding their blood, and in going to prison.’’
Obasanjo stated that he personally had been involved in the two scenarios, adding, “`I am ready to do the third if it will serve the best interest of the Nigerian dream.’’
Speaking further, he said the declaration by President Jonathan to be a one-term President was a statement of sacrifice and statesmanship. “There is a press report that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has already taken a unique and unprecedented step of declaring that he would only want to be a one-term President. If so, whether we know it or not, that is a sacrifice and it is statesmanlike.
“Rather than vilify and pull him down, we, as a party, should applaud and commend him and Nigerians should reward and venerate him. He has taken the first good step,’’ the former President said.
“Let us encourage him to take more good steps by voting him in with a landslide victory as the fourth elected President of Nigeria on the basis of our common Nigerian identity and for the purpose of actualising Nigerian dream,’’ Obasanjo said.
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