Obasanjo says there’s hope for Nigeria, reveals he’ll commit suicide if…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has Friday reaffirmed his believe in the Nigerian project, observing that there is hope for the country notwithstanding the present odds.

He declared that had the country lost hope of becoming a great nation in the future, he would have committed suicide.

The erstwhile President, who described himself as ‘incurable optimist’ in Nigeria’s chances of walking its way to greatness soon, however noted that he would not keep quiet when things are not going right in the country.

He stated that his recent outbursts on the state of the nation were geared towards spurring concerned citizens of the country to take action on how to chart a new course for the development of the country.

Fielding questions from students of the Ijaw National Academy (INA) Kaiama at the school auditorium who gathered as part of activities lined up for his two day working visit to Bayelsa, Obasanjo said in spite of the economic and political challenges confronting the country, there is great hope for Nigeria.

According to him, “If Nigeria does not have hope I would find a rope and commit suicide immediately because then what am I living for? I am an incurable optimist in Nigeria. Nigeria has hope. There are many things we should have done as we should have done them.

“There is no doubt about that. But that does not mean Nigeria does not have hope.  Look, hope is what drives any human being. A person without hope is like a person without life. How can I therefore say that Nigeria has no hope? Nigeria has hope and you are part of the hope of Nigeria. You asking me that question heightens my conviction that Nigeria has hope.

“This country in spite of our difficulties, we have hope. I just came back from Rome and while there I asked the Ambassador what are his major problems and he told me that there are 1600 Nigerians in Italian prisons, that is a problem but we shouldn’t because of that say that there is no hope for Nigeria. No, I won’t say that. I would say that we have a problem that we have to address and if we don’t address that problem we are postponing the evil day. That doesn’t mean that Nigeria has no hope. Never lose hope. If you lose hope you lose everything. Great hope because of you and great hope because I would not keep my mouth shut when I see things or anything wrong in Nigeria”

Obasanjo who had governed Nigeria as a Head of State and as a Civilian President noted that he has no regret whatsoever serving the country in those capacities, claiming that he gave his best during his reign.

“Is there anything I would have wanted to do with the resources that I had, with the knowledge that I had when I was in government, with facilities that I had that I did not do? I would say no. Now If I had more resources there are things I would have done differently. But with what I had at the time that I had at my disposal and some of the people who worked with me are here, I did all the things I believe are humanly possible for me to do. Now mind you, I did not say that I was perfect, I would never say that, only God is perfect. I did not have any regret when I was in government”