Despite the fact that his father is an avowed supporter of the presidential ambition of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid got a boost on Monday when Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, stormed the United States to galvanize Nigerians to support Buhari for the Feb. 16 presidential election.
Obasanjo, who heads the Buhari Youth Organization (BYO), said he was in the United States to solicit support for Buhari’s re-election among Nigerian in the diaspora and other members of the international community. He explained that his support for the re-election of the president was due to his focus on youth empowerment and securing the future of the country for the Nigerian youth.
Obasanjo said while in the United States, he participated in several activities aimed to project the positive image of the administration and Nigeria to the international community. “I participated at the United Nations International Day for Education, promoted by the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the Nigerian Government.
“Education is one of the tenets of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, focusing on youth empowerment, youth participation and securing a better future for our generation and the generations to come. “I also participated at the Nigerian American Business Forum where I met with many Nigerian professionals and their American counterparts. I went to Atlanta to visit our sister organisations there and to inaugurate many of our organisations. “I also went to Detroit where we inaugurated some of the organisations. We also have many Buhari support organisations in New York as well.
“We have Buharists in the United States and all over the world. So I am here to encourage them and to support them in every way we can,” he said. He said his support for Buhari was because he stood out among other presidential candidates because of his determination to bequeath a secured future for the youth of Nigeria.
“President Buhari has opened up the space for the youth of the country to participate politically, economically, and all other areas of the economy. “Recently, there was the women and youth campaign wing that was inaugurated by the president, which showed that he wants to ensure that the youth and the women have a strong voice in his re-election campaign.
“We believe that by doing that, Mr. President wants us to be part of his administration going forward. Mr. President is one who has made us believe again in our country, who has made us proud of our country. At the international stage, we are not being looked upon like a pariah nation. So I believe for Nigerians at home and Nigerians in the diaspora, they have seen that Mr. President is the best candidate.”
Mr. Haruna Madisca, Organizing Secretary of The Buhari Youth Organization, also said Buhari was a man of integrity and the fear of God, which Nigeria needed at this time. He said Nigerians could not trust Atiku, saying his plan to sell the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) if elected was questionable. He added that Buhari had provided enabling environment for small businesses to thrive.
Madisca, who is President, Goron Oil and Gas Limited, said through the NNPC Renewable Energy Department, there is a $25 million investment in cassava in Kogi that would be producing 40,000 litres of bio-ethanol per day. “The investment start-up on a turnkey basis is $25 million. The plant will employ over 2,500 people on a full time basis,” he said, saying such investment was at risk should NNPC be sold to private investors.