Posted by By CHRIS ANUCHA on
A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Osun State, Chief Abiola Ogundokun has appealed to former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and presidential candidate of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) General Muhammadu Buhari, to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship and allow President Musa Yar'Adua concentrate on providing good governance to the country.
A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Osun State, Chief Abiola Ogundokun has appealed to former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and presidential candidate of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) General Muhammadu Buhari, to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship and allow President Musa Yar'Adua concentrate on providing good governance to the country.
The PDP top notcher and publisher of Conscience International magazine made the appeal in Osogbo, Osun State, while briefing newsmen.
Ogundokun explained that the president had proved through his exemplary leadership that Nigeria had been put on the path of progress, adding, 'we are solidly behind him."
He added: 'He has elevated the rule of law and soon, we shall begin to see the manifestation of his seven-point agenda for development."
The Otun Balogun of Iwoland criticized what he called the vilification of political leaders at the slightest opportunity, thereby exposing the country to ridicule by the outside world. 'It is quite disheartening to note that Nigerians have not seen or have chosen to close their eyes to the growing number of agents of western imperialists among us. We have closed our eyes to the fact that the imperialists are daily sharpening their skills to keep our country in perpetual slavery," he said.
Ogundokun accused the former colonial masters, especially, the West of being behind the woes that had bedeviled the nation since after independence.
He traced the 'pull him down syndrome" in the country's polity, to the cronies of the West whose activities he said, led to the humiliation or killing of past political leaders.
'These activities are still continuing today. Or how do you explain the current media campaign against former president Olusegun Obasanjo? So many Nigerians became rich, famous and popular beyond their actual capabilities, through their knowledge of and working with Chief Obasanjo. However, when they lost out in the configuration of things, they began to destroy his legacy by mounting campaigns against his person," Chief Ogundokun said.
The politician condemned what he perceived as media war against the former president, submitting that, 'by this singular act of media sludge on the person of Chief Obasanjo, we have unwittingly cast question marks on ourselves both as individuals and as a people."
He explained that part of the criticism against Obasanjo was that his anti-corruption war was selective but solicited the patience of Nigerians as according to him, cases of corruption can not be brought to the courts in one fell swoop. 'Besides, should we not give him credit for even being the first Nigerian leader to institute a fight against corruption"?
On the performance of Osun State Government under Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Ogundokun described the governor as a symbol of good governance. He said the leadership of the governor was a blessing not just because of his performance but because of his level of respect for others, good human relations and kindness.
He commended Oyinlola for bringing the obaship tussle in Iwoland, which he said had lingered for decades, to an end. He described the governor as an achiever and a man of peace who had given verve to his practical peace initiatives.