Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has explained reasons to why he picked late President Musa Yar’Adua as his successor.
Obasanjo received severe backlash for endorsing Yar’Adua to be his successor despite knowing he was ill.
However, the former Head of State said the decision was backed up by assurance from doctors that Yar’Adua, who already had a kidney transplant, would be fit to act as President.
Back in 2006, Obasanjo’s deputy, Abubakar Atiku; and former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili were among leading names who fought for the presidential ticked of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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In interview with TheCable, Obasanjo denied insinuations of deliberately installing up weak candidates for selfish interests and knowing he would die.
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He said;
“I set up a committee headed by Dr Olusegun Agagu, of blessed memory, to search for a successor. They considered many names and did an extensive assessment of all them. They made their recommendation. Umaru was top on the list.
“Their biggest argument in his favour was that he had integrity and would not steal. The issues concerning his health were raised and I gave his medical reports to an expert for an opinion. Umaru’s name was redacted so that the expert would not know who it was and why I was seeking his opinion.
“After assessing the reports, he said the patient appeared to have done a kidney transplant and if that was the case, there was nothing to worry about and he would be as healthy as any other person. That was it. All insinuations that I knew he was going to die and that was why I supported him to be president were false. This is the true story I have told you,” Obasanjo said.
Obasanjo twice led Nigeria; first as military head of state between 1976 and 1979 before being elected civilian president to rule from 1999 to 2007.
His successor, Yar’ Adua, died in office on May 5, 2010 from what was termed acute pericarditis.
