Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday revealed that he would write another explosive letter on burning national issues, but said it will take a little while.
Obasanjo also said that the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) was making an appreciable progress in mobilising Nigerians ahead of 2019, saying over 3,000,000 people, including himself, had so far registered as members.
Obasanjo, who is the chief promoter of CNM, said the movement would make an inroad into the grassroots across the country, reiterating that he would pull out if CNM morphs into a political party or sponsor persons for elective offices in future general elections.
The Octogenarian spoke at Victoria Island, Lagos, while fielding questions from women at the 14th annual lecture of the Women in Management, Business and Public Service(WimBiz), a non – governmental organization, themed ‘Press for Progress: Women in Politics and Nation Building.’
He noted that women have not done enough for themselves to take reasonable positions in the nation’s political space, stressing that they also should be adequately prepared, first put their feet right and be willing to pay the necessary price to witness the desired change.
He noted that there is no tradition or culture that encourages subjugation of women in Nigeria, but blamed the shortchanging of womenfolk in the scheme of things on “male chauvinism mentality and selfishness of men.”
According to him, nobody would concede a space to the other person unless it is fought for and won.
Obasanjo said experience had continued to show that when women are put in positions of responsibility, they do better and preached that they should be incorporated into all strata of leadership for nation building.
He explained that in his time as a young Nigerian, people had more opportunities but less facilities to take advantage of such opportunities contrary to what obtained today where Nigerians have more facilities but less opportunities to function or embrace.
He urged Nigerian women to take cue from America and prepare for politics, saying if being a woman alone was what it takes to succeed in political ambition, Hilary Clinton would be emerged the United States President today.
“If only womanhood was enough to get Mrs Hilary Clinton would have made it to the White House but she had a man(Donald Trump) who did what he could do to get to power.
”I don’t want or expect women to climb palm trees to harvest bunch of palm fruits. If anybody says he wants to see my mother climb palm trees, I will take a second look at that person but women must do what it takes to succeed in Nigerian political space.
“To you women, do not allow any body to build your world for you. Build your world for yourself. Yes, women need encouragement but they must do enough for themselves,” Obasanjo said
