I Never Asked Buhari Not To Contest In 2019 – Obasanjo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has denied advising President Muhammadu Buhari against seeking a re-election in 2019, stressing that democracy gives Buhari the right to offer himself for election when next presidential election will hold.

Obasanjo, who was reacting to media report that he had advised the president against seeking another term in office, noted that it is left for Nigerians to decide whether or not to vote for Buhari should he run in 2019.

A former Chief Press Secretary to Obasanjo, Alex Nwokedi, was reported by an online publication to have warned President Buhari, on behalf of his former principal, not to seek re-election in 2019.

But in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former president said he did not, at any time, authorise Alex Nwokedi to speak for him on any issue.

He described the report as false and sheer imagination of the author, adding that the last time he had any form of communication with Alex Nwokedi was three years ago.

“My belief is that democracy allowed for anybody including President Buhari for that matter to contest any election and it is the prerogative rights of Nigerians to vote or not to vote for them.

“I have not communicated with Alex in the last three years, so how a story could be credited to me, when I did not authorise such or communicate with him in the last three years?

“I condemn in the highest manner the story and those behind it. And for those behind it, they are simply enemies of democracy and freedom of expression,” the statement read.