Occasion was the unveiling of Raila’s African Union Commission chairmanship candidature at State House,
Obasanjo’s fond recall went back to the 1990s when both individuals met.
ODinga had invited him to come pay respect to his father Jaramogi Oginga in Kisumu.
“At the beginning of the 1990s, Obasanjo began the recall, “you made me come to Kisumu in Kenya in 1995, and I was part of that last honour we did to Jaramogi Odinga. When I returned home to Nigeria, I was accused of coming to Kenya to join the opposition to topple the government of Kenya.
READ ALSO: ‘I Apologise My Son’s Threat To Invade Kenya’“
And I was also accused of planning a coup in Nigeria that landed me in prison,” he said.
“So your invitation for me to come to Kenya in 1995, and my not keeping my mouth shut when I got back home landed me in jail. So knowing you have been a blessing because if I hadn’t gone to jail, maybe I wouldn’t have been the President of Nigeria,” he added.
Focusing on the Kenyan leader, Obasanjo expressed confidence, adding:
“He will make Africa proud, he will make Africa powerful, he will make Africa peaceful, and he will make Africa prosperous. We need it all and you can count on us for support, and you have seen,” he said.
“If we support you and you get there, we have the responsibility to make sure you succeed. We will do our part, we pray to God that you do your part,”
“He is not only a candidate for Kenya but the East African community,” he stated.
Obasanjo added that Africa needs Raila’s leadership at this critical stage of development in the continent when the world is riddled with wars and conflict.
“A war is going on in Europe, and we are suffering from hunger in Africa. We are wallowing in poverty, and we cannot get out of this unless we put our house in order as countries in Africa and as collectively a continent,” the man they fondly call OBJ added.
READ ALSO: Why Obasanjo’s Image Should Be On Redesigned Naira Note – Atiku
With additional reporting from The Star
