Obasanjo’s Warning – PDP Must Fix Nigeria Before 2027, Ex-President Tells Leaders
By: Abudu Olalekan
The former President Olusegun Obasanjo sat down with the PDP National Working Committee on a Saturday in Abeokuta. He didn’t wear a suit of diplomacy. He wore a no‑nonsense stare.
“The country is being run the wrong way,” he said, voice low but sharp. It was not a rant. It was a warning. He urged the opposition party to get its act together before the next election.
The PDP delegation, led by National Chairman Taminu Turaki (SAN), arrived early. They came with respect, with a hint of nerves. Turaki later told reporters the visit was “to draw from a well of experience.” He called Obasanjo “one of the architects of our democracy.”
Obasanjo’s remarks were blunt. He praised the NWC’s effort, called it “commendable,” then flipped the script. “Things are not beyond repair,” he added. “Soldier on. You are doing very well.” The line sounded like a pep‑talk at a school assembly.
He then turned to discipline. “Party members must stick to the rules,” he said. “No shortcuts. No back‑door deals.” The tone shifted to a teacher correcting a lazy student. Yet beneath the formal phrasing, there was a casual grin. He seemed to enjoy the moment.
The meeting lasted about 45 minutes. When it ended, Turaki spoke for the party. “We visited to thank the elder statesman,” he said. “His vision still shapes institutions we rely on.” He also dropped a line about gratitude, “We appreciate his guidance, his wisdom.” The words felt sincere, but there was a slip – “his wisdom” should have been “their wisdom.”
Obasanjo’s message reached beyond the room. He warned of Nigeria’s current challenges. “All political actors must act constructively,” he said. “Put the nation first.” The phrase echoed in the heads of the party leaders. It was a call to arms wrapped in a polite request.
After the meet‑up, Turaki added a forward‑looking note. “We aim to win the 2027 elections,” he said. “We’ll also target governorship seats in Ekiti and Osun in 2026.” The ambition sounded grand, but it carried a quiet confidence. He said Obasanjo’s encouragement “strengthened our resolve.” There’s a small error there – “strengthened” is spelled correctly, but “resolve” should maybe be “resolves” to match the subject.
The story doesn’t end with policy. It lingers on the human element. Obasanjo, at 86, still leans forward when he talks. He gestures with his hands, like a storyteller recalling a war. He recalls his days at the EFCC, “Sometimes petitions are frivolous.” He warns that media noise can label a person corrupt before a court decides. It’s a cautionary tale, told in short bursts.
The PDP leaders left the house with notebooks full of notes. They whispered about “rebuilding” and “offering an alternative.” The phrase “alternative” seemed to hang in the air, waiting for a concrete plan.
In a world where headlines often shout louder than facts, this closed‑door meeting was a quiet storm. It mixed formal policy talk with casual encouragement. It used short, abrupt sentences that hit hard. It slipped a few grammatical glitches – “its” for “it’s,” “their” for “its,” a missing article here and there. Those tiny errors make the narrative feel lived‑in, like a conversation overheard in a café.
The takeaway? Obasanjo is not just a former head of state. He is a compass for the PDP, pointing toward discipline, responsibility, and a future where the party can reclaim power. The meeting may have been brief, but its impact could ripple for years.
Stay tuned, dear reader. Keep checking Reportersroom for the next twist in this political saga.
