Middle Class Gradually Being Wiped Out – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday drew similarities between the present state of the nation and the era of the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, saying it was at both periods the middle class was wiped out.
He, however, assured visitors to his home in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital that “tough times don’t last, but tough people do”.
The late Gen. Abacha was Nigeria’s Head of State between 1993 and 1998.
Obasanjo made this known when he hosted a delegation of the Nigerian Market/Traders’ Council, led by its National President, Yeye Osho.
The former President told the delegation of a recent short messaging service (SMS) he got from a Nigerian requesting for financial assistance, to buttress his argument that the nation’s middle class was gradually disappearing.
The delegation of about 150 persons, including the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson, had representatives from the 36 states.
It sought Obasanjo’s elderly counselling on the direction to take in the 2015 general elections.
The former President read the message from his mobile phone’s message inbox to the delegation.
Obasanjo said: “As for me, we don’t know where we are going yet, may God show us the way. The way that will take this country and make it a great country, and when, for me ooo, I understand and (if) I see the way, I will tell you. I pray that God will show me the way. May God show you the way.
“Tough times do not last forever. When tough times come, tough people get going. We will keep going and we will survive this tough time.
“I told him (the SMS sender) that we have experienced this period in time of Abacha. All the middle class were completely destroyed”.
The former president said he was surprised that such people couldn’t afford even basic necessities befitting their status.
He said: “I was surprised the day a Colonel in the Army complained to me that he and his family could not afford to buy a car.
“A friend of mine, Dr. Okoro, is a doctor and his wife is also a doctor. They have a daughter, who is also a doctor. Among the three of them, they could not afford a new car. They had to go to Saudi Arabia. I pray we will not have such a time in Nigeria again.
“We all have contributions to make and should not leave our responsibility to others. If we fail to participate in things that are meaningfully positive for this country, you will be a victim and we all become victims”.
In her remark, Yeye Osho recalled that the council supported Obasanjo during his eight-year administration.
She added: “We had tremendous support from you when you were in government. As such, we deem it necessary, and as a mark of respect, to find out on which direction we are going”. (Information Nigeria)
