There’s no alternative to democracy – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that there is no alternative to democracy.

Obasanjo, who said this on Friday in Abeokuta when officials of the National Association of Nigerians Students (NANS) and some student union leaders from various institutions of learning paid him a visit, said he almost lost his life to a dictator under a military rule.

The former President said he would support the current democratic dispensation led by President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed.

He said, “I will work for the success of this current dispensation; there is no excuse because there is no alternative to democracy.

“The alternative to democracy is worse than dictatorship. I experienced that. Abacha put me in prison and I was about to be killed. If it was under democracy (democratic rule) that would not happen.”

Obasanjo, who said no matter what the critics of Buhari might say, it was evident that in the last two and half months, Nigerians had started to witness a sign of a country of their dream.

He noted that the country had tottered towards the precipice so many times, but God had not allowed it to tumble.

The ex-president said, “When one takes a look at everything, the most crucial and vital conclusion is that God loves Nigeria.

“The nation has gone toward the precipice many times and Nigeria did not tumble, this shows God is a Nigerian.

“Many had thought after the 2015 general elections. Nigeria will be no more. Some had sent their families abroad. Some know the NADECO route. I don’t know the NADECO route.

“I don’t have anywhere to go. But to the surprise of many of them, God did it in a miraculous way. The election took place, though some did not want it to take place. But let us thank God it took place. We must also thank those who conducted the elections.

“We thank God for peace even after the election. No single individual is a paragon of perfection. There is no Messiah except Jesus Christ. But there are people who still stick out their neck for the good of Nigerians.

“Thank God we have such as a leader now. What we have witnessed in the last two and half months is that our dreams are coming true. We must give unalloyed support to the government.

“Criticisms that are objective and positive are welcome where necessary.”