I Have No Plan To Float Any Political Party - Obasanjo

ABEOKUTA - A former Nigeria's President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has denied report of planning to float a new party ahead of the 2023 general election in Nigeria, adding that the said report was unfounded and entirely untrue.

Chief Obasanjo stressed that, the widespread rumour was sponsored by some people who wanted to drag him into their political game.

The former president while reacting in a statement on Monday by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi declared that he has no plan to float a new political party now or in near future.

Obasanjo, who is currently in Kabul, Afghanistan, as a guest of President Ashraf Ghani has declared that this report, written by one, Soni Daniel, is false, adding that the fabricated story hardly comes as a surprise because he has, for some time now, observed with bewilderment the efforts by some people to drag him into their political games.

According to him, "the attention of former President of Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has been drawn to unfounded report published in the Vanguard Newspaper with the headline: “New Party Ahead of 2023: Obasanjo picks 3ex-govs as coordinators, meeting July 13” and dated July 4, 2021.

“In my part of the world, when you say goodnight in a place, you do not go back there and say good evening. The one who reported that may need to visit Yaba Left. And those who believe it can believe that their mothers are men”, Obasanjo emphasised

“I’m done with partisan politics but by my position in Nigeria and in Africa and without being immodest and indeed in the world my door must be opened and it is open to any individual or group of individuals who want to seek my opinion, view or advice on any issue or matter and I will respond to the best of my ability, without being part of that individual or group”., he added

"If anything, Chief Obasanjo’s political party today is the party of Nigerians facing insecurity, unemployment, hunger, poverty, and various other challenging issues. It is the party of Nigeria which must be saved, kept wholesomely united in peace, security, equity, development and progress", he stated.

Obasanjo therefore, warned those trying to use backdoor in dragging him into partisan politics to desist, and respect his choice as role as a statesman focusing on providing counsel support and solutions wherever possible.

"Let those who want to use the back door to force Chief Obasanjo to return to partisan politics respect his choice to remain a non-partisan statesman. On his part, the former President will continue to perform his role as a statesman focused on providing counsel, support, or solutions wherever possible in Nigeria, Africa and indeed the world".