Posted by From LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
President Olusegun Obasanjo is determined to keep Nigerians guessing as to who will take over the reigns of power from next year as.....
President Olusegun Obasanjo is determined to keep Nigerians guessing as to who will take over the reigns of power from next year as he has chosen to maintain silence in that regard for now.
He said in Abuja on Monday that he would maintain that position until the party's primaries had been concluded, pointing out the decision was in line with the laid down procedure of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He spoke on this when he received the chairman of Ogoni Traditional Council, King Godwin Giniwa, who led a large delegation of Ogoni men and women to solicit his support for the presidential aspirations of Governor Peter Odili.
The president told his guests that even if his mouth was forced open with a knife, nobody would have an inkling of who he wants his predecessor to be in 2007.
"I must also be careful not to be seen to be biased; not to be seen to be prejudiced. In fact, I have said that I must be so careful that even if you open my mouth with a knife, you will not see anything; you will not hear anything, nor will you know anything. And that remains my decision", he stated.
Saying he understood the wish of the Ogoni people, he, however, advised that "you must understand that your wish may not be also similar to the wish of other people and there may also be other competitors. For us, we must create a level-playing field for everybody to participate and feel he has been treated fairly and transparently.
"As the leader of the party, I must be careful not be seen to be biased, partial and prejudiced and that remains my position," he added.
While underscoring the imperative of sustaining the peace currently prevailing in Ogoniland, he noted that what must follow next were the issues of clearing the "mess of oil pollution which Shell has agreed to pay for" and sustainable development in Ogoniland and other communities in the Niger-Delta.
He revealed that his intention was to involve the United Nations Environmental Protection Agency to actually take care of oil spillage, pointing out that the peace in Ogoniland must be strengthened through "sustainable socio-economic development underpinned by law of Rivers State"
Describing his May 20, 2006 visit to Ogoniland as "symbolic, decisive, reconciliatory and peaceful", he noted that it "laid the foundation for a reunited, reconciled, harmonious and peaceful Ogoni people" and commended Governor Odili and Rev. Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the facilitator, for their contributions towards reconciliation in the community.
The president had also, in his reaction to the assurance of Governor Odili that the programme for sustainable development in Ogoniland would be unfolded in the next three weeks, asked for monthly reports beginning from next month on the programme, just as he noted that the request made by the delegation for the creation of Ogoni State and more local government councils in the area were legislative acts which he would not oppose.
Governor Odili had earlier thanked President Obasanjo for his historic May visit to Ogoniland, describing him as "a true brother of the Ogonis who held out a hand of hope" to the community.
Speaking on behalf of his people, King Giniwa, thanked the president for appointing sons and daughters of the community to prominent positions in the Federal Government and "giving voice to his voiceless people."