I never threatened to break up Nigeria if Buhari rigs election — Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied a statement credited to him that he would fight to divide Nigeria if President Muhammadu Buhari rigs the February 16 presidential election.

Mr Obasanjo made the denial through a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Thursday.

He said as a Nigerian who fought for the unity of Nigeria and “spit part of my blood in the war front. I am a strong believer in non-divisibility of Nigeria…”

“I read a couple of days ago in the social media a statement ascribed to me that if Buhari rigs the election, I will fight to divide Nigeria. Those who know me will know that such a statement will never come from me,” he said.

Mr Akinyemi said Mr Obasanjo spoke at the public presentation of a book, “Politics As Dashed Hopes in Nigeria”, written by Auwalu Anwar at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

According to his spokesperson, Mr Obasanjo said he could understand “the frustration and feeling of despondency by Nigerians who watch seemingly, helplessly as Nigeria is being destructively and divisively administered.

“Melancholic despondency is no option for us at any time. I believe Nigerians will fight back not to divide the country but rather to unite it in democracy and good governance and God, the Creator of Nigeria, will be on the side of such valiant Nigerians to get us out as He has got us out in the past.

“I fought for the unity of Nigeria and I spit part of my blood in the war front. I am a strong believer in non-divisibility of Nigeria, as Nigeria divided diminishes each of us who proudly call ourselves Nigerians,” Mr Obasanjo said.

– Premium Times