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| Obasanjo |
During the official unveiling of Raila Odinga as the candidate for the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) in Nairobi, Kenya, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo added a touch of humor to the event.
On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, Kenyan President William Ruto invited Obasanjo to the podium to address the gathering. As Obasanjo approached, Ruto signaled for a protocol officer to bring a step board to the podium, presumably to help Obasanjo reach the microphone.
However, Obasanjo playfully resisted the assistance. He first tried to push the board away with his leg, and when that didn't work, he bent down to push it with his hand. This light-hearted moment elicited laughter from President Ruto and the audience.
Undeterred, Obasanjo cleared his throat and quipped, "I am not as short as you think I am," before proceeding to address the guests. The event was part of Raila Odinga's campaign to seek support for his AUC chairmanship bid ahead of the February election.
The dramatic move by the former president threw the audience into a moment of laughter.
Odinga was the prime minister of Kenya between 2008 and 2013.
The election into the AUC senior leadership is expected to take place in February 2025 during the African Union summit.
The eastern region of the continent is expected to submit candidates for the role of chairperson in line with the inter-regional rotation of leadership.
In his address, Obasanjo said Odinga is not only a candidate for Kenya but for the entire East African community.
He said Africa needs Odinga’s leadership in this critical moment of wars and conflicts in the world.
“We need a person at this critical stage of our development in Africa. The present situation of the world where we have a fractured world, a world riddled with conflicts and wars,” Obasanjo said.
The former president said Africa needs an AU visa, which will reduce the number of visas required to travel around the continent.
Obasanjo said the continent must come together to collectively solve its problems for shared prosperity.
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