By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—Former  President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied warning President Muhammadu Buhari against seeking re-election in 2019.

Buhari and Obasanjo

Reacting to a report credited to his former Chief Press Secretary, Alex Nwokedi, in an on-line publication: Post Nigeria, on Saturday, Obasanjo described it as completely false and destructive.

The former president, in a statement issued by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi in Abeokuta, yesterday, said there has been no communication between him and Nwokedi in the last three years, even as he wondered why such news would be attributed to him, as published by the on-line publication.

His words: “My belief is that democracy allowed for anybody, including President Buhari, for that matter, to contest any election and it is the prerogative of Nigerians to vote or not to vote for them. I have not communicated with Alex in the last three years, so how could a story be credited to me, when I did not authorize such or communicate with him in the last three years?”

Refuting the reports, he said: “Nobody, not even me can advise my children not to seek for elective post. It is part of freedom of democracy.

“I condemn in the highest manner the story and those behind it. And for those behind it, they are simply enemies of democracy and freedom of expression.”

The former president said he is still committed to the peace and progress of the country’s democratic development, which he assures would bring relief in no distance future, with the people’s patience and understanding.