Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo arrived in Senegal on Tuesday saying that he would not rule out intervening to mediate over “undesirable” events as protests again rocked the capital ahead of weekend polls.
Africa’s top envoy is the head of a joint mission between the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), but the opposition hopes he will talk President Abdoulaye Wade out of seeking a highly disputed third term in Sunday’s election.
“The mandate we have is of election observation, but because of the situation that is on the ground we will not say that we are observing elections and where the need arises that we should do something to be proactive and prevent what is preventable, that we will fail to do so,” Obasanjo said.
The former Nigerian leader later added that part of his mission entailed preventing “what is undesirable and unwanted” as fresh clashes erupted in downtown Dakar between police and opposition protesters.
An ECOWAS statement said Obasanjo’s mission was “to engage all the political stakeholders in Senegal with a view to promoting dialogue and ensuring peaceful, fair and transparent elections.”
Wade’s critics have recalled that he was among the African leaders who pressured Obasanjo not to seek a third term in 2007 elections when he attempted to change the constitution to do so. His plan was thwarted in parliament.
Source: Vanguardnews
Obasanjo, who appered not to recall Wade’s urging, said that if it was true “maybe he can best advise himself.”
Asked what message he had for the country’s leaders from the African Union, Obasanjo said: “This country is a very beautiful country, and nothing should be done to destroy it.”
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