OBASANJO: This time the world will not condone military intervention. Nigerians will not condone it. I have gone to prison. Many people have died. And there are now people who believe if it takes dying, they are willing to die. This time a man is taking over who is not a novice. I’ve run a government before. There is no Nigerian who has the international connections and the experience that I have. I am as at home with the military as I am with civilians. It wasn’t like that before. This time there are a lot of things that are different. But I have nothing to say to the skeptical world except, “Look, keep your skepticism. Nigeria will go on. We will achieve. When we achieve, you can wipe off your skepticism.”
What do they stand for? The destruction of Nigeria. And where did they get their own funds from? We know some of these sources, which are sordid. But anybody who knows me knows I fear God and I respect only people who deserve to be respected. I fear no human being.
The most important thing is that whoever is found corrupt does not get away with it. You are caught, you are punished.
National reconciliation is a vital political action that must precede the economic and the social. Because we must have political stability. Most of the other things we may want to do may be difficult, if not impossible. And then of course I have faith. My faith is in God. If you are worried about my making reference to God, I can’t help you on that. Because I believe in God. I believe he has kept me alive. He is my provider and my guide. That’s my background, that’s my faith and that’s the way I go.
Maybe it was a bit sharpened. But I was born a Baptist and brought up a Baptist, and I nearly went to seminary. It’s not a road-to-Damascus-conversion sort of thing.
Food first, education second. We must be able to feed ourselves. Agricultural production will get priority attention. There are facets that we can tackle immediately when we come in–for example, the issue of fertilizer. But there are others that we may not be able to tackle for quite some time.
title: " God Is A Nigerian " ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-16” author: “Lisa Perkins”
MASLAND: To outsiders Nigeria has long seemed to be in permanent “transition” to democracy. Why should people believe that this time it’s for real? OBASANJO: This time the world will not condone military intervention. Nigerians will not condone it. I have gone to prison. Many people have died. And there are now people who believe if it takes dying, they are willing to die. This time a man is taking over who is not a novice. I’ve run government before. There is no Nigerian who has the international connections and the experience that I have. I am as at home with the military as I am with civilians. It wasn’t like that before. But I have nothing to say to the skeptical world except, “Look, keep your skepticism. Nigeria will go on. We will achieve. When we achieve, you can wipe off your skepticism.”
Your political opponents accused you of being a stand-in for northern Nigerian interests represented by hugely wealthy former generals, whom you will in return protect. What do they stand for? The destruction of Nigeria. And where did they get their own funds from? We know some of these sources, which are sordid. Sordid. And they don’t see anything wrong with that. But anybody who knows me knows I fear God and I respect only people who deserve to be respected. I fear no human being.
What will you do to address the increasingly violent protest by indigenous people in the Niger delta over their own poverty and environmental damage caused by oil drilling? I will meet some of their demands, because I realize their situation stemmed partly out of neglect and lack of development. But I will not negotiate out of intimidation or threat.
How do you address the sectarian impulse on the part of your own group, Yorubas, in the southwest? They have no cause to be separatists. We have true federalism. They have six states. They will have their allocation of funds. They will do with them as they like. Now what is their fair share? [The late dictator Sani] Abacha was an aberration. I was put in jail for doing nothing wrong. Shall I then take that out on the rest of the country, to destroy the country? I will not allow others to do that.
Foreign reserves have dropped this year by nearly half to $4 billion. And recently a group of offshore-drilling leases have been given to Nigerian firms allegedly controlled by top-ranking generals. Are you concerned? Naturally. I don’t know why the outgoing government has allowed it to be that way. Whatever excuses they have given don’t add up.
Some people see the oil leases as a kind of retirement plan for people who might be dangerous to the new administration. Until I get there, I don’t know. I have to look into the books.
Will you pursue offshore bank accounts said to be held by former members of military governments? We will launch investigations provided we are not using good money to chase the bad. It would be irresponsible not to look for whatever you can get.
How do you address the problem of corruption in the future? The most important thing is that whoever is found corrupt does not get away with it. You are caught, you are punished.
In your postelection appearances you often invoke God. “God is a Nigerian,” you told the rally here last night. Is this an effort to strike a theme of national reconciliation rather than hitting specific policies and programs? National reconciliation is a vital political action that must precede the economic and the social. Because we must have political stability. Most of the other things we may want to do may be difficult, if not impossible. And then of course I have faith. I believe in God. I believe he has kept me alive. He is my provider and my guide. That’s my background, that’s my faith and that’s the way I go.
Did prison focus your faith? Maybe it was a bit sharpened. But I was born a Baptist and brought up a Baptist, and I nearly went to seminary. It’s not a road-to-Damascus-conversion sort of thing.
You have held back on announcing specific programs prior to your inauguration. But I hear people in your circle are using the phrase “food first.” Food first, education second. We must be able to feed ourselves. Agricultural production will get priority attention. There are facets that we can tackle immediately when we come in–for example, the issue of fertilizer. But there are others that we may not be able to tackle for quite some time.
