Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has on Thursday declared that he would write another letter of national interest at the appropriate time, just as he also disclosed that 3million Nigerians have so far registered with the Coalition Movement of Nigeria, (CMN).
Obasanjo made this known while speaking at the 14th Annual Lecture of Women in Management, Business and Public Service, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, with a call on need by citizens to ensure they have their voter cards ahead of 2019 elections.
The former president stressed that the coalition in conjuction with other movements is the way out of the nation political problem, emphasizing that, the movement would make an inroad into the grassroots across the country, and quickly pointed out that he would pull out if CNM morphs into a political party or sponsor persons for elective offices in future general elections.
Obasanjo also encouraged women to be active participants in the next political dispensation, stressing that they should be ready to support next phase for the country to achieve, emphasizing that women must have a place in 2019.
The former President who was a guest speaker on the theme, ‘Press for Progress: Women in Politics and Nation Building’, said, he was ready to give adequate and full support to women towards playing relevant roles in the country.
Obasanjo while lamenting that no women has attained the position of a Governor, Senate President or any other top positions in the country administration, declared that it was high time for them to take reasonable positions in the nation’s political space.
He also stressed that they (women) should also be adequately prepared, by first putting their feet right and be willing to pay the necessary price to witness the desired change, noting that there is no tradition or culture that encourages subjugation of women in Nigeria.
Obasanjo blamed the shortchanging of womenfolk in the scheme of things on “male chauvinism mentality and selfishness of men’, and educated the women that, they should realize the fact that nobody would concede a space to the other person unless it is fought for and won.
The former President said experience had continued to show that when women are put in positions of responsibility, they do better and preached that they should be incorporated into all strata of leadership for nation building. “If only womanhood was enough to get Mrs Hilary Clinton would have made it to the White House but she had a man(Donald Trump) who did what he could do to get to power.
He said, “I don’t want or expect women to climb palm trees to harvest bunch of palm fruits. If anybody says he wants to see my mother climb palm trees, I will take a second look at that person but women must do what it takes to succeed in Nigerian political space’.
“To you women, do not allow any body to build your world for you. Build your world for yourself. Yes, women need encouragement but they must do enough for themselves,” Obasanjo said
He explained that in his time as a young Nigerian, people had more opportunities but less facilities to take advantage of such opportunities contrary to what obtained today where Nigerians have more facilities but less opportunities to function or embrace.
He urged Nigerian women to take cue from America and prepare for politics, saying if being a woman alone was what it takes to succeed in political ambition, Mrs Hilary Clinton would be emerged the United States President today.
