How I Picked Yar’Adua As My Successor – Obasanjo

How I Picked Yar’Adua As My Successor – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has clarified why he supported the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as his successor in 2007, despite Yar’Adua’s health challenges at the time.

Yar’Adua succeeded Obasanjo in 2007 after a controversial election.

However, his presidency was marked by persistent health problems, including a long-standing kidney ailment, which led to his extended absences from the country for medical treatment.

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Obasanjo, in an interview with The Cable, explained that his endorsement of Yar’Adua as his successor was based on a selection process led by a committee headed by the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu, former governor of Ondo State.

The former president stated that the committee considered many names and performed an extensive assessment of the potential candidates. Yar’Adua emerged as their top choice.

The committee’s primary reason for endorsing Yar’Adua was his perceived integrity and the belief that he would not engage in corrupt practices as president.

Obasanjo acknowledged that Yar’Adua’s health issues were raised during the selection process, and he sought the opinion of a medical expert. He shared Yar’Adua’s medical reports with the expert while maintaining confidentiality.

The medical expert concluded that Yar’Adua was fit for office after undergoing a kidney transplant.

Obasanjo denied allegations that he knew Yar’Adua was going to die and still supported him for the presidency, emphasizing that such claims were false.