News

Why I Supported Yar’Adua Despite His Frail Health – Obasanjo

Published

4 years ago

Feb 1, 2021.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has opened up on why he threw his weight behind the materialisation of Musa Yar’Adua’s presidency in 2007 despite being aware of his debilitating pre-existing health challenges.

As gathered by EKO HOT BLOG, Obasanjo was speaking on Sunday in a virtual interview with academic and historian, Toyin Falola, Obasanjo said he was not oblivious of the feeble physical tendencies of Yar’Adua’s but he still supported him to emerge presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.

Many observers, social commentators, political analysts and a segment of the citizenry, have chastised Obasanjo for what they feel was an intentional foisting of a President with severe health issues on the country.

A move they argued had serious consequences for the socioeconomic progress and political stability of the country.

He has also been accused of deliberately supporting weak and feeble minded candidates in order to advance his own selfish interests.

Recall that barely 3 years after his victory at the poll in 2007, Yar’Adua died in office in May 2010 due to kidney failure.

His death created serious political imbroglio and constitutional crisis that almost forced the country over the precipice as the cabal then were reluctant to relinquish power to his vice president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Obasanjo was also a key supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 general election against the then incumbent president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Being a great influencer and thought leader, Obasanjo was able to influence Buhari’s victory.

Buhari also took ill in 2016/2017 leaving his seat almost vacant for medical attention in London.

But the former president said his decision to support Yar’Adua was not spurred by selfish desires but based on advice from medical expert that the late president was medically fit.

Obasanjo disclosed that he had no deliberate intension to support weak candidates as alleged by some Nigerians.

According to him: “Let me tell you the story of Umaru Yar’adua. I knew he was ill and before I put him forward, I asked for his medical report which he sent to me and I sent it to one of the best doctors of our time and a good friend of mine who died only last year –Professor Akinkugbe.

“I said look at it because it is confidential and he said to me that from this report, this man has had a kidney transplant and it is successful, he is no longer under dialysis.

“And if you have a kidney transplant and it is successful, it is as good as if you didn’t have a kidney transplant at all. I accepted that and Umaru Yar’adua contested within the party and he contested within the country and came up.

“Within a couple of days, he came back and reported that he was checked up and he was well”.

Obasanjo expressed hope that God would vindicate him and judge those accusing him of selfishness in his political engagements