Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he never wanted to be a politician, but he became one by accident.
Obasanjo made the submission while speaking with a group of youths under the aegis of ‘Africa for Africa Youth Initiative’, (A4A), at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta on Tuesday.
The former president explained that the love for his people and humanity made him join politics.
He charged politicians to aspire to go into politics to serve their people.
“Politics is about service, you must give service and nobody is too old or too young or too poor to give service. When we begin to give quality service, then we shall have qualitative governance.
Speaking on the recent coup in some African countries, Obasanjo declared that any conditions that encouraged coups in the continent should be avoided as much as possible.
He said, the rising military coups in Africa showed that the people were tired of some things in their countries and in need of a liberator.
Obasanjo noted that he would not support a coup considering his experience in the hands of former Military dictator, late General Sani Abacha.
He called on the government of various African countries including Nigeria, to ensure they do not push the youths to the point of preferring a military takeover with their policies.
“The point is this, do we have conditions that encourage the type of things that are happening, if we don’t have the conditions that encourage them, they may not happen.
“That does not mean it should be encouraged. What it means is that we should make sure that we do everything to prevent coups from happening.
“When you see things that happen in many countries, and I will not exclude Nigeria, then you wonder and don’t forget, don’t forget particularly the youth, they support most of these coups.
Obasanjo called on African leaders with a sit-tight mentality to have a change of heart, adding that democracy that worked for everyone should be encouraged.
“One, let me make it clear, I do not support a coup because personally, I have been a victim of a coup. Two, the good thing about democracy, if it works and delivers, is that you can sit down and dialogue and debate and discuss.
“But your democracy must take integrity along with it. Your democracy must take honesty along with it. Your democracy must take character along with it.
” Your democracy must take those attributes, God-given attributes, inclusive society, no marginalization, no exclusion, no favouritism.”
Obasanjo also called on African youths to wake up and take leadership positions because the tomorrow they are waiting for may never come.
Meanwhile, the Director of Africa for Africa Youth Initiative, Henry Akasisli, noted that their visit to the former President had rekindled their passion and drive to take the African continent to the next level.
“Our visit to former President Obasanjo has been a major eye opener, we have seen things. It is re-awakening,” he said.
