Olujonwo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo has
explained why he is supporting President Muhammadu Buhari for a
second term in office.
Olujonwo said his decision to support the President has not
created any rift between him and his father, saying in supporting
the President, he was only looking at the future of Nigerian
youths.
The younger Obasanjo, who spoke at a media interactive session
organised by the APC Press Corps, said despite supporting different
Presidential candidates, the Obasanjo family remained one united
and loving family.
He said: “When we get to certain point in our lives, you are
responsible for the decisions you take. With all due respect, my
father is my father and will remain my father despite our political
differences. At the end of the day, this election will end. Does
that stop him being my father? Are you saying we cannot sit down
and have dinner together and discuss issues?
“As a nation, we need to progress mentally and quit looking at
politics as a do or die or as something that separates us. Politics
is meant to unite us. We can disagree to agree; we can have genuine
argument. You see things from my point of view, I see things from
your point of view and we see how we can work together.
“That is the type of politics we are trying to promote and the
message we are trying to send across. We are looking to promote
certain values in politics. That is why we are in politics. It is
very important that we rise above religion, ethnicity and
primordial sentiments for the interest of this nation as a
whole.
“Politics is not a battle, it is not war. We should stop looking
at it from the stand point of who is superior. I have an ideology
and an opinion, my father has his and we are not in conflict, we
are still a family, a loving family with my dad.”
On whether his father has tried to influence his decision since
announcing his decision to support President Buhari, he said: “I am
as an individual and as an adult. I am here as someone who believe
in this Government. This Government is diversifying the economy
from an oil based economy and has made agriculture
fashionable.
“Today, people talk about farming and no longer look at it in a
degrading manner. People now look at the value chain when you talk
about farming. For me, it is all about the impact that this
government has made. As a nation, we must look beyond oil and think
outside the box by looking at other areas which is what this
Government has come to do.
“Nigeria is a nation blessed in several ways and not just oil
and this government is promoting youth involvement in all sectors.
As a young man, I am looking at future and I believe in this
Government and I am supporting Mr. President. So, I cannot speak
for my father.
“Everybody’s parent wanted them to be one thing or the other,
probably different from what they are today. But at certain stage
in our lives, we choose our part. That does not amount to
disrespecting your parents.”
On why he is supporting the President, he said “We believe that
by promoting the ideology of Mr. President, we are also promoting
his achievement. We will be putting the fact forward and allow the
electorates decide what is best for them.
“A lot has been going on in the social media. But at the end of
the day, it is the grass root that matters. One of the things the
President faced when he came into office was the security
challenges in this country. Several local governments were under
Boko Haram.
“We will always have security challenges, but it is important
that we have a leader who is sincere, trustworthy and make sure
that our resources are applied towards fighting for this nation.
You can see that from the successes we have recorded, Me President
has done a tremendous Job within a short time.”