'Why Obasanjo May Not Hand over in 2007'
By Olawale Olaleye
Senate Committee Chair-man on Industry, Senator Kolawole Ogunwale, has said that while President Olusegun Obasanjo may not be nurturing the ambition of seeking a third term in office as claimed in some quarters, the prevailing restiveness in some parts of the country might make it difficult for the president to handover if it persists till 2007.
Ogunwale, a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Osun Central who spoke exclusively with THISDAY, said that to destroy Nigeria as a corporate entity will be very difficult for any individual because Ojukwu who tried it found out that he could not go through it.
I don't think the unrest can break Nigeria up. But I just pray that the unrest does not escalate to a serious problem that will not allow us the opportunity of transiting in year 2007 because nobody handsover during crisis," Ogunwale explained.
While appealing to militant groups, particularly those from the Niger-Delta region of the country to sheath their swords and dialogue in the interest of peace, the senator however reminded them that their actions may constitute a threat to national security if such persists beyond necessary and may forestall another dispensation envisaged to berth by 2007.
According to him, it is clear President Olusegun Obasanjo nurtures no such ambition as rumoured in some parts of the country. He said having been there as a military Head of State and twice as civilian president, there was nothing that will want to make him not to go except such constitutes serious threat to the security and unity of the nation.
"Restiveness is everywhere. This is not the first unrest in the Niger-Delta. I could remember there was a doctor executed by the late Gen. Sani Abacha and there was another doctor in EAS airline that crashed in Epe. All of them are activists. So, also, there is another activist now who said he would bomb everywhere if government does not leave them alone."
The lawmaker however warned leaders in the South-south region of the country not to think resources was the only thing that could make a country stand along, moreso when there "can be work-over from the high sea and that is the end of it. Instead of aligning with their brothers to manage their resources with them, some foreigners would now manage their resources for them and they can't do nothing."
He said should such situation arise, it would be as a result of conquering and not by negotiation. "What we are doing in Nigeria now is negotiation but if any part should partition themselves and leave and they are conquered from the waters, that is all. They will be held hostage, they will be enslaved and that would be the end of it."
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