2015: Nigeria still redeemable, Obasanjo insists as PDP govs storm his house to seek support for Jonathan

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reiterated that the current economic and security situations in the country are still redeemable.

Obasanjo made this remark yesterday when about seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors yesterday stormed the Abeokuta, Ogun State, hilltop residence of the former president to persuade him to work for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in next year’s presidential election.

He said that the country could still be salvaged if those involved had genuine concern for the wellbeing of the citizenry.

According to him, his current posture was not to witch-hunt anyone but to find a lasting solution to the nation's many challenges.

"Something can still be done and what are required now are the will and the courage to do something when and how it needs to be done.

"We have discussed most of what I have raised in my own public pronouncement in recent times, which is not to castigate anybody, not to bad-mouth anybody and not to run anybody down.

``But this is out of genuine concern for the situation of this country and that is the same thing that has brought them," he said.

He urged those in government to "put all hands on deck; this task is not for one man and it is not even a task for one group, it is a task that requires all hands on deck".

Reacting, Gov Godwin Akpabio said the government was determined to reposition the country, adding that "no matter what we may face today, we must work together to redeem the situation".

He said the government was willing to consult with other elders to ensure that the country was redeemed.

Also speaking, Gov. Aliyu commended the former president for allowing them to tap from his experience, adding that they were determined to work together for the betterment of the country

Two of the governors, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, arrived Obasanjo’s residence at 12.55 p.m. and swiftly moved into the house without any banters with journalists who were there.

A close aide of Obasanjo had confirmed that all the governors were from the PDP and that they came to persuade Obasanjo not to abandon the party at this crucial moment when his support is highly needed.

The aide also confirmed that Obasanjo was aware of their coming as he had earlier held a meeting with some of his associates on the visit of the PDP governors.

“Throughout last night, Baba Obasanjo met with us to discuss the visit by the PDP governors and the position to take. Baba pointedly told us that he remains a staunch member of PDP and that he was not fighting anybody but cannot accept an indicted fellow to be his leader,” the aide told P.M.NEWS.

It was also gathered that the main purpose of the governors’ visit was to persuade Obasanjo to throw his weight behind the re-election of President Jonathan in 2015 and stop giving tacit support to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in its quest to dislodge the ruling party from the centre.