Eko Hot Blog reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who ruled Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, has said that he picked Umaru Yar’Adua as his successor despite knowing that he was ill because he believed that Yar’Adua was the best person for the job.
Obasanjo made the statement in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service. He said that he had consulted with a number of doctors and they had all told him that Yar’Adua was fit to be president.
“I consulted with a number of doctors and they all told me that Yar’Adua was fit to be president,” Obasanjo said. “I also consulted with a number of people who knew Yar’Adua well and they all told me that he was a good man who would make a good president.”
Obasanjo said that he knew that Yar’Adua was not in perfect health, but he believed that he was strong enough to be president.
“I knew that Yar’Adua was not in perfect health, but I believed that he was strong enough to be president,” Obasanjo said. “He had a good heart and he was a good man.”
Obasanjo is a controversial figure in Nigerian politics. He was first elected president in 1999 after the end of military rule in Nigeria. He was re-elected in 2003.
Obasanjo’s decision to pick Yar’Adua as his successor has been controversial. Some people have accused Obasanjo of being responsible for Yar’Adua’s death.
However, Obasanjo has defended his decision, saying that he did what he thought was best for Nigeria.
“I did what I thought was best for Nigeria,” Obasanjo said. “I picked the best person for the job, even though I knew he was not in perfect health.”
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