By; NIYI OGUNGBOLA, Abeokuta
The former President,chief Olusegun Obasanjo has registered as a member of the newly formed Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) saying, that if the instruments used for the nation-building since independent failed Nigerians must rethink and retool.
Chief Obasanjo stated this shortly after his registration as member of the Coalition in company of former governor of Osun state,Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and that of Cross river State Donal Duke at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) sectariat ,Okelewo,Abeokuta ,Ogun state
According to him, “the Coalition for Nigeria Movement is proposed as the new direction to mobilize Nigeria population for unity,cooperation,development,
“In these regards, special attention must be given to youths and women, who in most cases, have been victims and underlings” Obasnjo stated..
He expressed joy that Nigerians of like minds have launched Coalition for Nigeria Movement saying, among other things CNM will do are raising standards of political leadership and governance.
“Let ,e emphasise important area, programme, priorities ,or processes for improved attention. To start with, we seem to have taken nation-building for granted. Nation-building must be given attention to give every citizen a feeling of belonging and a stake in his or her country. For instance, the federal character principle,as espoused in our constitution, was to guide the leadership to search for competent holder of major offices to be distributed within the entire nation and avoid the concentration in a few ethnic hands or geographic places as we currently
have in the leadership of our security apparatus.
“To avoid such non-integrative situation, we have National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission, both institutions which must raise alarm or call for correction of actions by the executive that violates the sprit of our constitution. In like manner, the spate of violence, criminality,organised crime,insurgency and terrorism have not received sufficient proactive ameliorative responses through transformational leadership-a determined leadership that brings cohesion and wholwsomenwss to the polity Nobody and no group should feel excluded in his OE her country.Inclusion and popular participation must be visibly pursued in terms of politics, the economy and our overall social life” Obasanjo stated.
Obasanjo further said that the movement is not about personality or personalities but is about platform and system because the nation system has not given what Nigerians needed hence , there must be a new platform from bottom-up.
According to him, the movement’s base is the grassroots and the people-all the people saying when the platform is formed and the new system is put in place, the Movement may decide to sponsor or support candidates or transform itself into political machine.
“It is necessary to make it clear that this movement does not regard itself as a third force. It sees itself as a popular movement that can accommodate all Nigerians irrespective of their political interest or affiliations and with will propel Nigeria forward.Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians to be made right and the Coalition with others of the same view and like minds will leave no stone unturned to actualise God-given potentials of our country. The Movement will spearhead process,programme,policies and priorities to make Nigeria a great country playing Ata expected roles within West Africa and the world.” Obasanjo stressed
He concluded saying that Nigerian youth will be emboldened,empowered have employment,and play meaningful and responsible roles in the leadership and governance of the country in all ramifications.
To him,with the formation of the CNM Nigerian women will have dignity, responsibility and equal consideration with men in the affairs of Nigeria.