I did everything possible to reject becoming PDP candidate – Obasanjo

Former Nigeria president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has claimed that “he did not run after power, but power ran after him.”

According to him, he did everything possible to reject becoming the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 1999 general elections.

Obasanjo made these remarks at a symposium held to celebrate his 85th birthday, organised by the Kegite Club at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta.

The event had renowned journalists, Dr. Yemi Faroumbi and Dr. Festus Adedayo as well as one other speaker, Kolawole Kazeem, who spoke on the theme: “Depreciating Cultural Values and Virtue in the Era of Social Media: Causes, Challenges, and Solutions”.

Obasanjo, while reacting to Faroumbi who described him as someone who at no time ran after power, in his presentation, submitted that by his military training, soldiering and politics do not go together.

Farounbi in the lecture had said Obasanjo rejected the call for him to become the Head of State in 1976, after the coup that claimed the lives of General Murtala Muhammed and some other military officers.

He said “I also know that he did everything possible to reject becoming the candidate of PDP and ultimately the president in 1999 elections.

“I can say authoritatively because I was involved. He had no interest in pursuing power, but power was interested in pursuing him because of the much-needed cultural values inherent in him.

“He was like David in the Bible. He did not want to be a king, but he had the values of a king. He has demonstrated bravery by killing a bear and lion with bare hands.”