VANGUARD
Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that any conditions that encourage coups in the continent should be avoided as much as possible.
The former President made the submission while speaking with a group of youths under the aegis of ‘Africa for Africa Youth Initiative’, (A4A), at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.
He said, the rising military coups in Africa show that the people are tired of some things in their countries and in need of a liberator.
The former President said, he would not support a coup considering his experience in the hands of former Military dictator, late General Sanni Abacha.
He called on the government of various African countries including Nigeria, to ensure they don’t push the youths to the point of preferring a military takeover with their policies.
He said, “Having suffered in the hands of Abacha, I won’t support a military coup. But if it has to come, what can we do?
“The point is this, do we have conditions that encourage the type of things that are happening, if we don’t have the conditions that encourage them, they may not happen.
“That does not mean it should be encouraged. What it means is that we should make sure that we do everything to prevent coups from happening.
“When you see things that happen in many countries, and I will not exclude Nigeria, then you wonder and don’t forget, don’t forget particularly the youth, they support most of these coups.
“The one in Gabon, the Coup leader was being carried on the head by the youths, not by old wretched men and women like me, but by youths. The youths are looking for liberators, and we must bear that in mind. Why do we have to allow the youth to start looking for liberators beyond the government of the day? Why?”
Obasanjo called on African leaders with a sit-tight mentality to have a change of heart, adding that democracy that works for everyone should be encouraged.
“And if you have been in government for 40 years and you are not tired, maybe you need retirement,” he said.
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