Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that many foreign nations are concerned about the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, expressing optimism that nothing stops the elections as scheduled.
The former President revealed that he had been to Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire within the week, adding that the countries leaderships were concerned about the elections.
He however said Nigeria as a nation can not be as less concerned as the foreign nations.
Obasanjo stated this against the backdrop of the call by a section of Nigerians for the postponement of the elections.
The call for the postponement was further intensified by the scarcity of redesigned Naira notes and fuel across the country.
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The former President express the concern while hosting the members of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the African Democratic Congress, ADC at his penthouse residence located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.
The BoT members were led by their Chairman, Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmed, the national chairman of the party, Prof. Ralph Okey Nwosu and the former Presidential aspirant of the party, Chukwuka Monye.
Obasanjo noted that Nigeria is in an interesting period and urged Nigerians to take the elections with all the seriousness it deserve, saying “We cannot take it (election) any less important than those people” (international community).
Obasanjo said Nigerians must strives towards giving their best and ensure that the forthcoming general elections holds.
Obasanjo said, “We are in an interesting period in Nigeria. In less than three weeks, we will be going to the poll…., well, I hope nothing will intervene against that. In less than three weeks, we will be electing a leader that will pilot the affairs of Nigeria for the next four years from May.
“And all of us in Nigeria, again, as I have said to you, early this morning, I have been in Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire from the beginning of the week, from Sunday and they are as concerned what happens in Nigeria as every Nigerian should be.
“Last night before I left Abidjan, President Ouattara (Alassane) was telling me the position in West Africa that, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are vying for and he said to me, well we are putting it on hold until after Nigeria’s election.
“So, even for them, Nigeria’s election is of importance. And I believe that for us who are directly involved, we cannot take any less important than those people.
“Your party (ADC) is one significant parties in existence in this country and your voice matter, therefore, I understand why you are here and we are here also as a family, we all in Nigeria we are a family, Nigeria family and therefore when we gather together we can also talk and discuss as members of the same family – Nigeria family for what is of concern to Nigeria.”
