I am truly grateful to God that I had the uncommon privilege of having a front-row view of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as he made a series of sacrifices for Nigeria when he returned to power as a democratically elected President of Nigeria in 1999. For the few years I served as his Special Assistant on Public Affairs, I was perpetually amazed (and dazed sometimes) at his uncommon intelligence, tenacity, work ethic and of course his intense and unalloyed love for Nigeria.
The nation’s interest trumped, shaped and guided every decision or move he made as President. No aide, minister or other official of the Obasanjo government would dare contemplate bringing any matter that did not put national interest ahead of any other considerations for the President’s approval. He loathed mediocrity and primordial sentiments. He resented all forms and shades of nepotism. With Obasanjo, it must be what is best for Nigeria and he would always ensure that the most qualified person was picked to do any task at all times. In fact, I recall that on a number of occasions, President Obasanjo would bluntly tell either a minister or an aide that he or she was not appointed because he liked the person but because he or she was the best for the job.
It is no wonder that Obasanjo would always recall with nostalgia the glorious era of NNSL and Nigerian Airways. “When I was in office as Military Head of State, 19 brand new ships were specially built for Nigeria and we did not take delivery of some of them until I left office in 1979. When I came back in 1999, NNSL had been liquidated with all 19 ships and the five already in existence gone,” Obasanjo once told us at a meeting. Also, he readily recalls that while he was leaving office in 1979, Nigeria Airways had 32 aircraft in its fleet but on his return to power 20 years after, the National Carrier had just one aircraft that barely flew. Of course, Nigeria Airways has since been liquidated.
Obasanjo became the toast of the world and deservedly earned the status of a globally acclaimed statesman when as military Head of State, he conducted free and fair elections that ushered in democratically elected leaders into all the three tiers of government in Nigeria and voluntarily handed over to the nation’s first Executive President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1979 and retired to his now famous Ota Farm in his home state of Ogun.
Obasanjo’s glittering record as President from 1999 to 2007 is well documented for posterity to judge. However a few achievements stand out and deserve generous mention as we celebrate Obasanjo who turns 80 this month. The infractions of the successive military administrations, particularly the regime of General Sani Abacha had made Nigeria a pariah state at the time Obasanjo assumed office in May 1999. To bring Nigeria back to reckoning in the comity of nations, Obasanjo embarked on intensive diplomatic shuttle.
His efforts paid off handsomely and in a matter of months Nigeria returned to global reckoning. Being an international colossus himself, Obasanjo played key roles in the repositioning of the African Union, including helping to establish the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), designed to promote democracy and good governance. From the outset of his administration, Chief Obasanjo consistently supported the deepening of regional cooperation through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Co-prosperity Alliance Zone incorporating Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo. With Nigeria’s image looming large internationally, it did not come to many as a surprise when Obasanjo at different times was either elected, nominated or appointed to serve as chairman of the Group of 77, chairman of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and chairman of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee.
With Nigeria now fully opened to the world, Direct Foreign Investments began pouring in, the most compelling being the huge investments that brought about the revolution in the telecommunications sector. We have Obasanjo to thank for access to telephony and high-speed data services being enjoyed by millions of Nigerians today.
With the cooperation of the then relatively young National Assembly, Obasanjo enacted the enabling laws that led to the establishment of two highly revered anti-corruption agencies: the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). These anti-corruption bodies as well as the Code of Conduct Bureau were given sweeping powers by President Obasanjo to move against corrupt persons and institutions. In a matter of months, EFCC in particular under the indefatigable Nuhu Ribadu was already recording timely prosecution and convictions and the world generously applauded Nigeria.
Equally bent on buoying the nation’s economy, Obasanjo sought to decisively stem the restiveness in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Again, working with the National Assembly, President Obasanjo introduced an executive bill that led to the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In spite of the persisting complexities and contradictions in the Niger Delta, the NDDC remains a beacon of hope in the region. Nigeria has Obasanjo to thank for this.
With his eyes set on the next generation, President Obasanjo, in a move that confounded even his worst critics, secured an $18 billion debt relief from the Paris and London clubs and Nigeria was free of debt!
For most of Obasanjo’s eight years in office, the naira stayed firm and stable against other international currencies, particularly the United States’ Dollar. When President Obasanjo was leaving office in 2007, Nigeria’s foreign reserve stood at a staggering $43 billion. Statisticians are also in agreement that when President Obasanjo left office in 2007, the nation’s GDP had grown from 3% to 7%.
As President, Baba listened to wise counsel from even the least of his aides. He over-indulged us some times though. I can vividly recall two occasions that Chief Obasanjo’s humility dazed me. The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi had, as usual, lampooned him in an interview that was widely published in the national newspapers. Infuriated by Chief Fawehinmi’s choice of words (not the criticism) in the interview, President Obasanjo called me and insisted that I should reply Fawehinmi and in fact suggested a few strong words that should be in the reply. Of course I did not say no to Mr. President but I took my time and waited until he brightened up and returned to his usual jocular mood. I quietly approached him and begged him to rescind his order that the Presidency replies Gani Fawehinmi in the words he suggested. He asked me why I did not want the reply issued. Picking my words carefully, I reminded the President of the numerous wars Fawehinmi fought on behalf all political prisoners including him during the dark era of military regimes. “Is that why he should be abusing me all the time?” Baba queried; but he graciously rescinded the instruction he gave me to reply Chief Fawehinmi.
A similar incident played out when President Obasanjo felt Col. Dangiwa Umar (retd) was harsh and unfair to him in an interview and wanted a harsh reply. Again I prevailed on him that like Gani, Umar made huge sacrifices and even lost his commission in the Army during the struggle to achieve democratic rule in the country and I further reminded him that Umar was a thorn in the flesh of the Abacha junta that unjustly jailed him. Baba rocked his head from left to the right, and right to the left, a few times and said “Okey, don’t reply him. “
Despite being from Zaria in Kaduna State, as President Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, he treated me like a son and held nothing back from me. I continue to draw bountifully from those lessons I learned from him. I am truly grateful to him.
•Sani is Special Adviser to the Governor of Kaduna State on Political Matters and Intergovernmental Relations.
