At this year’s CORA Book Trek at the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) anchored by Thecla Wilkie via webinar, the former Ogun State Governor and veteran journalist, Chief Olusegun Osoba, was a guest author. Osoba, who read from his autobiography Battlelines, during the interaction, speaks on why Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd) remains a close friend despite the June 12 annulment, the need to reform the judicial system, demilitarisation of partisan politics, why journalists are owed salaries, and why he will remain a reporter in life and death, among other issues, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.
Looking at the legal system then and now, do you think it is better or worse in terms of administration of justice?
Part of that question you read is the editorial written by The Guardian after Al Mustapha was discharged. Of course, the publisher of The Guardian the late Alex Ibru was a major victim. So, that was the editorial written by The Guardian to reject and to dismiss the conclusion of the court of appeal on Al Mustapha’s case. It was shocking to all of us because the evidence was so overwhelming. And at the lower court, Al Mustapha was sentenced, for the other court to use technicalities and I am not surprised because up till today our judiciary needs to re-examine itself. I’ll give you an example. I read all kinds of judgments, counter-declarations, counter-orders for different segments and it made me very unhappy because I grew up as a judiciary correspondent.
At that time, we used to cover for the likes of Justice J.I.C. Taylor, Onyeama and Udoh Udoma. These were first-class judges and when they made rulings, they made profound rulings. But, modern day judiciary gives me a lot of concern. For example in the 2019 election, I think the election in Akwa Ibom State was rigged. The judgment given was that electronic voting was not in the Electoral Act. With all the voting and the rigging, the court could not take cognizance of that. And so the over-voting in Akwa Ibom was thrown out. The major case was that which was proven beyond reasonable doubt was on technicalities. Same thing happened in Rivers State, on technicalities. I am saying that it would not have happened in the days of J.I.C. Taylor and of Onyeama. That’s why some of them rose to the level of being at the international Court of Justice. Up till today, I am not happy when conflicting rulings are given. A ruling will be given in Abuja, another one will be given in Kano, another in Maiduguiri. Our judiciary is making a little bit of mess of our judicial system.
What are the reforms you desire in the judiciary?
There was a story about three or four months ago where members of the Bench started sponsoring their daughters, sons, nieces and nephews to be appointed judges. It is disgraceful. The system of appointment of judges needs to be reviewed. There must be elements of intellectualism, profound performance in the legal profession. It should be seriously re-examined. It should not be nepotism of the kind we saw a few months ago. We saw in the domain where those who are still on the Bench sponsor their children and relatives to be appointed judges. That is where we lost it. That needs to be looked into. There should be serious reformation by the National Judicial Commission.
What kind of life would we have been living today if Abiola’s election hadn’t been annulled?
We would have for once had a president that was not sponsored by the military, even though he was a friend of the military because the Abiola I knew was a man of independent mind. We would not have had what we have had since. We have had the military virtually imposing or sponsoring president.
In post-Abacha, President Olusegun Obansanjo was a military general. He sponsored/foisted Yar’ Adua on us. He influenced Yar’ Adua and Jonathan. So, I say the election of both Yar’ Adua and Jonathan were influenced by the military general of which Obasanjo was a major player. Now, we are in to President Buhari, even Buhari has his large following. But virtually all the military men saw him as one of them and endorsed him. So, it’s about time we need to elect a thorough civilian of the likes of Abiola. Somebody, who like Abiola, said in Hope 1993, would give hope to we civilians. Let a thorough civilian politician for a change come on board.
But looking at the relationship between Nigeria and the military, it’s a marriage that most observers and analysts would say will never end. What’s your take on that?
It has to end. It is an apex command. Nigeria can only survive in a collegiate system. A situation where we have a genuine and true federalism like we have in Canada, the Australia, America, where the states, even the mayors were telling off Donald Trump. But in Nigeria we have observed the chain of command, which the military has turned us into military government and we have to put an end to over-centralised presidency in Nigeria.
Is Babangida your friend?
Close friend, a very close friend. I will never deny that because Babangida and I painted Lagos red in our younger days. I used to take them around the whole of Lagos. I was their master on the social scene. I cannot deny our friendship, though we disagreed seriously on the issue of June 12.
He annulled a free and fair election and threw Nigeria into chaos, yet there is no place in the book where you blamed him. Why?
You see, it is unfortunate that June 12 virtually became a serious albatross for General Ibrahim Babangida. His creation of a two-party system was a master stroke. His performance in office was great. Even the late Baba Obafemi Awolowo told me that under no circumstance would he ever criticise Babangida. And he didn’t. Why? Because Babangida was the one who released all his colleagues who were jailed. So, there was no serious or major indictment or reason. And Babangida was a man in terms of performance. For example, take Abuja and the Aso Rock Villa that he built.
Unfortunately, June 12 was an albatross for him. I wouldn’t deny him as my friend. He is. But, he made a major mistake made under pressure, which is unfortunate. We do not know the inner situation that led to the annulment.
Your doggedness as a journalist then and what the practice is now, any comparison?
A good reporter must have a wide range of contacts and they must have confidence in you. You must be incorruptible. You must develop contacts and win their confidence. A good reporter must have reliable contacts.
Considering journalists’ working conditions during your time and today as well as non-payment of salaries, what disappoints you?
Social media operators are not journalists. They are not trained, and they don’t subscribe to our codes of conduct. They are blackmailers. Many of the bloggers are blackmailers. Main stream media should join in the online business. We must update our stories. But, Premium Times is an exception. We must not leave the info-tech to the untrained bloggers. We, too, must go in there and be info-tech savvy.
Publishers are unable to pay salaries because the media houses are overstaffed. We should have less staff to pay well and as at when due.
Shouldn’t politics be part time?
Politics is not a profession. It is only a way to serve. The name I made is not because I was a governor. The friends I cherished today are those from my days as a journalist. But, I am not ashamed to be a politician. I remain a reporter both in life and death.
