Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has explained in details why he went to President Muhammadu Buhari at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to exchange pleasantries and take photographs with him.
Obasanjo, who was believed to be engaged in a face-off with Buhari before the AU Summit with the open letter he sent to the President, offered the explanation in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, after he registered as a member of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement.
He said he was not in any way fighting with Buhari but only expressed his views on developments in the country.
He said his letter to the President not only contained the areas of his weaknesses but also highlighted where he had succeeded.
Obasanjo said: “Last week, I issued a statement which I did not do lightly or frivolously but out of deep concern for the situation of our country.
“I wonder why some Nigerians were worried why I had to pay respect to the Nigerian President at Addis Ababa.
“That’s my own upbringing as a well born and bred Yoruba boy.
“That doesn’t mean that what I have said about the President, was said out of bitterness and hatred.
“It is evident that the President has performed, in some areas, good enough.
“In other areas not good and a proper advice was given which he may take and he may not take.
“I didn’t do that out of malice or out of ‘bad belle.’
“I did it out of my respect for that office and my interest, and I hope, in your interest and the interest of Buhari in Nigeria.
“I went to him just before the beginning of the opening of the AU summit.
“I had gone round to greet some few other Presidents.
“Should I ignore him?
“So, I went to my President, greeted him and we joked before General Abdulsalami (Abubakar) said we should have a group photograph.
“I had wanted him (Buhari) to stand in the middle before he said I am the most senior and the photograph went viral on the social media.”
