"MY ROLE IN NIGERIAN POLITICS IS TO RAISE ALARM" - OBJ

Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former president, has stated his role in the nation’s politics.

The former president quitted partisan politics in the country when he dumped the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) tearing his membership card in the process.

Prior to the 2015 general election, he pitched his tent with Muhammadu Buhari, then opposition candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The APC flag-bearer after the endorsement of the former president won the election but the duo has fell out politically due to the second term ambition of the president.

Last year, the former president advised Mr Buhari to shelve his re-election bid due to alleged incompetence. The president has since dumped the advise in a trash can and went on to actualize his ambition.

Despite his acclaimed stance, Obasanjo has publicly endorsed Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the PDP to battle it out with the president.

Addressing Yabaji Sani, presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and his team when they paid him a visit on Thursday at Abeokuta, Mr Obasanjo said his role in the country’s politics is to raise alarm when events turn around in the way they ought not be.

“It is undemocratic, the attitude of some politicians who heat up the polity by undermining and denigrating other Nigerians through thuggery and harassment of innocent citizens,” Obasanjo was quoted in a statement by Pam Ibrahim, Director of Media and Publicity of Sani’s Campaign team, as saying.

“My role in Nigerian politics would be that of a watchman who is expected to be vigilant and raise an alarm whenever it is necessary,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Mr Sani while urging Nigerians to vote for him and his party said he is in the race because of bad leadership of previous administration particularly in the areas of security.

“We are in a country where the security of citizens is no longer guaranteed giving the crime rate we experience on a daily basis, especially insurgency, armed robbery and kidnappings across the country”, he said.