The Federal Government says former President Olusegun Obasanjo may have been too busy to be fully availed of developments in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s efforts in revamping the economy.
Information Minister Lai Mohammed, who addressed State House reporters yesterday after the cabinet meeting, was reacting to a statement by Obasanjo on Tuesday advising Buhari against seeking reelection in 2019.
The minister said Obasanjo is a patriot and he has always proven so, thanking him for commending Buhari’s administration on the anti-corruption war and the fight against insurgency.
"We appreciate what he said concerning the Administration’s performance in two out of the three key issues that formed the plank of its campaign: Fighting corruption and tackling insurgency. Specifically, the former President said President Buhari must be given credit for his achievement so far in these two areas. We thank him for this.
"Apparently, the former President believes that the Administration does not deserve a pass mark in the area of the economy, which is the third of our three-pronged campaign promises. We have no doubt that in the face of massive challenges in this area, this administration has availed itself creditably.
"We believe that Chief Obasanjo, because of his very busy schedule, may not have been fully availed of developments in the government’s efforts to revamp the economy, which was battered by the consequences of over-dependence on a commodity as well as unprecedented pillaging of the treasury.
"Today, most of the indices by which an economy is measured are looking up. Permit me to say, however, that Nigeria would not have exited recession through a mere order or if the Administration had not made use of good Nigerians who could help," the minister said.
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