Fayose condemns 'self-serving' ex-President over Buhari criticism

Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has told former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to take his own advise and stop meddling in Nigerias politics after his public criticism of President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

In a statement released by Obasanjo on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, he issued a scathing review of President Buhari's performance and advised him to not contest for reelection in 2019 for the sake of his health and the country's progress.

In a response issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose hit out at Obasanjo for actively contributing to the campaign of Buhari that saw him defeat former president, Goodluck Jonathan, in 2015.

While he admitted that Obasanjo made accurate points in his statement, Fayose said the former president is undeserving of pointing any fingers because of the role he played in getting him elected.

He said Obasanjo was only attempting to cover up his part in misleading the Nigerian electorate and advised the former president to take a back seat like he has advised Buhari.

He said, "President Buhari should heed ex-President Obasanjo’s advice and go home and rest. President Buhari has overstayed his welcome.

"Obasanjo himself should heed his own advice to Buhari by also going home to rest. Both Obasanjo and Buhari are analogue in this digital age and have expired.

"Damning as the Obasanjo letter was and although it makes some sense, the writer is not deserving of the letter.

"He was the leader of those who deceived Nigerians and lied to the international community to support Buhari.

"Nigerians have already made up their minds to show Buhari the exit next year with or without Obasanjo's self-serving letter.

"So Obasanjo should not take the credit. He should not reap where he has not sown. We have been hearing of Obasanjo since we were in the primary school.

"It is time for him to vacate the public political space. When Nigerians hear him speak nowadays, they hiss."

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Obasanjo's attack on Buhari

In Tuesday's 13-page statement titled, "The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement", the former president made his feelings about Buhari's administration known by poking at its most pointed failures that have become a consistent source of anguish for many Nigerians.

Obasanjo faulted the president for exhibiting nepotic interest in his dealings as the nation's Commander-in-Chief and dividing the country as a result.

The former president advised Buhari to step down after the end of his tenure in 2019 and decline to seek re-election because he doesn't appear to possess the ability to move the country any further than he already has.

He said, "President Buhari needs a dignified and honourable dismount from the horse. He needs to have time to reflect, refurbish physically and recoup and after appropriate rest, once again, join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the sideline for the good of the country.

"President Buhari does not necessarily need to heed my advice. But whether or not he heeds it, Nigeria needs to move on and move forward."

Buhari's reelection status

While the president has refused to officially declare his intention to seek reelection in 2019, he has flirted around the topic in recent months.

While meeting with the Nigerian community in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire in November 2017, the president explained that he was accompanied to the meeting by two state governors because it will "be another vote for me in the future."

Also, while speaking during a two-day visit to Kano State a week later, the president said he's confident of winning reelection particularly due to the crowd turnout.

"I am overwhelmed by the sea of people I see, and by what I see today, if elections are contested I will no doubt win it," he said.

Hours after media reports indicated that Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi had been reappointed as Buhari's national campaign coordinator on January 3, 2018, the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, told journalists in the State House that the campaign for Buhari's reelection has officially taken off in the southwest region.