By Adesoji Adeniyi
Former Chairman of Nigerite Nigeria Limited, an associate company of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Dr. Yemi Oladimeji, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be smart in dealing with individuals, groups and countries outside Nigeria, who are visiting the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja to felicitate with him and to offer help to Nigeria.
He said it’s important that Tinubu protect and put the interest of Nigeria and the black people first before that of these “multitude of guests, particularly the ones outside Africa.”
Oladimeji, a Fellow, American Society of Nephrology, and a United States-based Associate Professor of Medicine, in a statement signed and made available to Does2Leak, said: “I watched and followed with keen interest events that led to your emergence as the candidate and standard bearer of your party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The unfolding events characterized by high level lobbying, bridge building and theatrics before, during and after the APC primary election in Abuja, have proved you are really smart and that you are well equiped and prepared for the tasks ahead.
“You effectively manouvered your way through all land mines and deployed so much diplomacy and political sagacity to become the President and Head of Government of the African nation with highest concentration of black people in the world. For these and for your brilliant and outstanding performance as two-term governor of Lagos State, you have really won my admiration and you are worthy of my support.”
According to him, Tinubu is smart but should be smarter in dealing with “these nations and groups outside Nigeria and Africa.”
He said Tinubu should never derail from his core development agenda for Nigeria and Africa, insisting that the principle of Nigeria first before any other considerations must guide and guard his steps.
Oladimeji, who is also the Chief Medical Officer of the Community Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Abuja, an initiative designed to discourage medical tourism among Nigerian citizens, said Tinubu should know that the individuals, groups and nations, visiting him have hopes, dreams and aspirations different from Nigeria and Africa, and therefore, should always hold close to his chest, the interest of Nigeria.
His words: “Some of these big nations when they see an African country with good leadership, they will find a way to frustrate and bring down its government. I know their mission, they don’t have good plans for Africa. I have an opportunity of over four decades outside Nigeria. I know how the advanced nations operate, many of them don’t have good plans for African countries.
“They know Tinubu will make Nigeria great and they are now looking for ways to frustrate his government. Some of those visiting him will come as friends with beautiful and strategic development plans in order to have an early closeness to him and later cripple his administration’s performance.
“Some of these guests are linked to the advanced nations’ secret police services and are working for them to forster their fixed and irreplaceable agenda that are inimical to the progress and economic prosperity of the less developed nations.
“I want this to be clear to Mr. President that he has a golden opportunity to defend and be committed to the interest of Africa because Nigeria, as a leader in the African continent and for black people in diaspora, has great responsibilities.
“Nigeria must be cautious and be thorough in analysing and knowing its interest at all times. We can’t afford to fall into the trap of any group or nation. We should always think of Nigeria’s survival.
“I want Nigeria to take a note from how countries like India, China and some oriental nations have lately charted their ways to become forces to be reckoned with in the world technological, socio-econmic and political order.”
Oladimeji, a one time Osun State governorship aspirant on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), asked Tinubu to look inward and lead with African strategies, which borders more on self reliance, selective cooperation and adoption, adding that now is the golden opportunity for Nigeria to get it right so that other African nations can get it right too.
Acknowledging that Tinubu has achieved what his fore runners, the Nigeria’s once leading political figure and late sage, Obafemi Awolowo; and the winner of the annuled June 12, 1993 Presidential election, late MKO Abiola; could not achieve by ascending national power, he reminded him that “attaining power is not enough but what you achieve with it is far more important.”
He advised Mr. President to always draw his strength from the philosophies of great African and black leaders, including the first President-General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League, Marcus Garvey; Ghana’s first Prime Minister, Kwame Nkrumah; Awolowo, and a host of others.
