“When we get to certain point in our lives, you are responsible for the decisions you take. With all due respect, my father is my father and will remain my father despite our political differences. At the end of the day, this election will end. Does that stop him being my father? Are you saying we cannot sit down and have dinner together and discuss issues?
Olujonwo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo has explained why he is supporting President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office.
Olujonwo said his decision to support the President has not created any rift between him and his father, saying in supporting the President, he was only looking at the future of Nigerian youths.
The younger Obasanjo, who spoke at a media interactive session organised by the APC Press Corps, said despite supporting different Presidential candidates, the Obasanjo family remained one united and loving family.He said: “When we get to certain point in our lives, you are responsible for the decisions you take. With all due respect, my father is my father and will remain my father despite our political differences. At the end of the day, this election will end. Does that stop him being my father? Are you saying we cannot sit down and have dinner together and discuss issues?
“As a nation, we need to progress mentally and quit looking at politics as a do or die or as something that separates us. Politics is meant to unite us. We can disagree to agree; we can have genuine argument. You see things from my point of view, I see things from your point of view and we see how we can work together.
“That is the type of politics we are trying to promote and the message we are trying to send across. We are looking to promote certain values in politics. That is why we are in politics. It is very important that we rise above religion, ethnicity and primordial sentiments for the interest of this nation as a whole.
“Politics is not a battle, it is not war. We should stop looking at it from the stand point of who is superior. I have an ideology and an opinion, my father has his and we are not in conflict, we are still a family, a loving family with my dad.”
On whether his father has tried to influence his decision since announcing his decision to support President Buhari, he said: “I am as an individual and as an adult. I am here as someone who believe in this Government. This Government is diversifying the economy from an oil based economy and has made agriculture fashionable.
“Today, people talk about farming and no longer look at it in a degrading manner. People now look at the value chain when you talk about farming. For me, it is all about the impact that this government has made. As a nation, we must look beyond oil and think outside the box by looking at other areas which is what this Government has come to do.
“Nigeria is a nation blessed in several ways and not just oil and this government is promoting youth involvement in all sectors. As a young man, I am looking at future and I believe in this Government and I am supporting Mr. President. So, I cannot speak for my father.
“Everybody’s parent wanted them to be one thing or the other, probably different from what they are today. But at certain stage in our lives, we choose our part. That does not amount to disrespecting your parents.”
On why he is supporting the President, he said “We believe that by promoting the ideology of Mr. President, we are also promoting his achievement. We will be putting the fact forward and allow the electorates decide what is best for them.
“A lot has been going on in the social media. But at the end of the day, it is the grass root that matters. One of the things the President faced when he came into office was the security challenges in this country. Several local governments were under Boko Haram.
“We will always have security challenges, but it is important that we have a leader who is sincere, trustworthy and make sure that our resources are applied towards fighting for this nation. You can see that from the successes we have recorded, Me President has done a tremendous Job within a short time.”
