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Tag: Obasanjo

Jonathan, Northern governors meet Obasanjo

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday morning paid an emergency visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State for a closed- door meeting.

The President and his retinue of convoy arrived at exactly 11:52am and drove into Obasanjo’s expanse compound and the gate was immediately closed on other visitors while security was also beefed up outside and along the windy road leading to the ex-president’s home.

Jonathan was originally billed to visit Dr. Reuben Abati, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in Asero area of Abeokuta to identify with him over the death of the mother, Madam Maria Taiwo Abati, but decided to see the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees.

The Nation gathered that the northern governors were already in Abeokuta and locked in a closed- door meeting with Obasanjo when Jonathan entered the compound.

July 20, 2013
Obasanjo missed chance to develop Nigeria, says Alabi-Isama

Nigeria would have been fully democratised had former President Olusegun Obasanjo not squandered the opportunity to bequeath a good constitution and political system for the country, Brig.-Gen. Godwin Alabi-Isama (rtd) has said.

The civil war veteran said Obasanjo left a legacy of insecurity and an ineffective policing system for the country he ruled as a military Head of State and civilian president.

Alabi-Isama spoke yesterday on Lagos-based Television Continental (TVC) monitored by The Nation.

The topic of the day on the two-hour programme was: Do We Need a New Book on the Nigerian Civil War? It reviewed Alabi-Isama’s book on the civil war, titled: Tragedy of Victory: On-the-Spot Account of Nigerian Civil War.

The programme was anchored by veteran broadcaster Yori Folarin.

Contrary to the belief among some politicians that Obasanjo did his best to keep the nation united, Alabi-Isama said the former President’s tenure in a civilian government was a “monumental tragedy”.

The retired soldier said the former President lacked the wherewithal to make the changes needed to put Nigeria on a progressive track.

He said: “That is left for the entire country and some politicians to say that, that man (Obasanjo) did very well. I don’t believe he did very well because he had the destiny, the opportunity to make this country great by putting the best constitution in place, by putting the best politics in place and by repairing the police and justice system, which would have brought peace. If there is peace, there will be growth and people will be happy. But these things were not there when Obasanjo left.”

The civil war veteran also dismissed the notion that Obasanjo’s efforts led to the end of the 30-month war.

Alabi-Isama said the battle had been won by Nigerian troops commanded by Gen. Benjamin Adekunle before Obasanjo left his base to receive the instrument of surrender from the Biafran forces.

“People normally condemn what somebody else has done and that is what he (Obasanjo) did when we were fighting the war. For six months, he condemned what Adekunle had done and he didn’t put anything in place. (Gen. Alani) Akinrinade got annoyed, called his officers and finished the war in 23 days, instead of the 30 days we had planned. So, he called Obasanjo and told him: Oga mo ti pari ogun (Sir, I have won the war); awon olote (enemies) have surrendered to me’. And then, Obasanjo was trying to go there (to receive Biafra’s instrument of surrender), but he could not find the place; he got lost.”

Alabi-Isama, who described the seceding Biafran soldiers as the best in the Nigerian Army, said one of the events that signalled the end of the civil war was when the Igbo in one of the captured cities discovered that Nigerian soldiers were friendly against the propaganda of Biafran soldiers that they would rape and kill their women.

He said: “The propaganda the Biafran side sold to Igbo people was that we would rape their women and kill civilians. But when they realised that we were feeding people, Gen. Adekunle carrying babies and we were looking after them, the whole town came back and they deserted Biafra. That was the beginning of the end of Biafra.”

The retired soldier urged Nigerians not to dwell in the past so that they do not lose sight of the future by making same mistakes again.

Alabi-Isama also debunked late Prof Chinua Achebe’s claims in his last book: There Was a Country. He said the book contains only what the late author was told and learnt.

“I don’t want a revolt but to tell Nigerians the truth they deserve to know because I was an active participant.

“Though it was 40 years ago, I remember every tiny detail vividly. I was there and saw it all. We moved and advanced from state to state on foot. I was there on the war front from the beginning till the end.

“When we captured Biafran soldiers, we retained them and equipped them. They did very well and because they found us friendly, nobody killed anybody. They were not looking for slogans but security. So, it was not everyone in Biafra that believed in Biafra.

“I am not carnivorous. But we soldiers fed on the flesh of human carcasses on the ground. With that, we were able to feed ourselves and other natives and drank palm wine. Those who starved were those who left their homes. Those in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, who stayed back home gave us garri, cow and other foods.”

He added that the war would not have lasted as long as it did but for some of the decisions Obasanjo took when he assumed duty as the Marine Commander.

The Tragedy of Victory will be launched on Thursday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos. The over 600-page book contains 450 pictures and 35 war maps.

July 16, 2013
Blundering General: Obasanjo replies Alabi-Isama

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday fired back at another civil war hero, Brig.-Gen. Godwin Alabi-Isama.

Gen. Alabi-Isama in an interview in The Nation on Sunday to promote his memoir, described Obasanjo as a blundering General in his review of Obasanjo’s role during the civil war.

At yesterday’s Afe Babalola event, Obasanjo said: “Some people call me General of blunders. If I commit a blunder and successfully ended the civil war that is good. If I commit a blunder and I monitored transition from military to civil rule, if I commit a blunder and after 20 years and spending three years in prison, I was persuaded to come and contest the election, great blunder. Spending eight years as Nigeria’s President is another great blunder.”

But Gen. Alabi-Isama said in a telephone interview last night: “Obasanjo missed the point again. I am not a politician. The politicians in the country will judge his stewardship. I am just a military personnel. It is unnecessary to twist the story.

“The story in my book is on the spot account of my stewardship as a Chief of Staff of the Third Marine Commando and Sector Commander.

“I am saying that his blunders include running away from the enemy and he was shot in the bottom. He lost over a thousand men in one hour of battle.”

July 10, 2013
Afe Babalola’s appointment as UNILAG pro-chancellor successful mistake, says Obasanjo

•Jonathan, Ajimobi, Fayemi, Mimiko, others pay tributes to legal giant

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday described the appointment of Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) as the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) during his tenure as a successful mistake.

He spoke at the 50th anniversary of Aare Babalola’s qualification as a lawyer, held at the Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Chief Obasanjo confessed that the mistake he made by appointing Babalola had turned out to be a successful mistake.

According to him, when he was looking for somebody for UNILAG pro-chancellor, “and I picked Afe Babalola, some people said it was a mistake.”

“I made a great mistake in appointing him, but today I have the opportunity to say it was a successful mistake”.

Obasanjo, who chaired the event, said: “It was unfortunate that people go through life without making any impact, but when Afe Babalola took over as the pro-chancellor, what happened was mistake upon mistake.”

He said the first mistake was that the university became the first in the country, and the Vice-Chancellor became the best in Nigeria.

The former President said Afe Babalola also became the best pro-chancellor, adding that the mother of all the mistakes was that following Afe Babalola’s exposure and involvement as a pro-chancellor, he established Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).

Responding to Brig.-Gen- Alabi-Isama’s interview in The Nation on Sunday, he said: “Aare Babalola used the opportunity he had as a Pro-Chancellor of UNILAG to build one of the best and a model university in Nigeria. If you want to compile the mistakes I made in life that would be another mistake.

“Some people call me General of blunders. If I commit a blunder and successfully ended the civil war that is good. If I commit a blunder and I monitored transition from military to civil rule, if I commit a blunder and after 20 years and spending three years in prison, I was persuaded to come and contest the election, great blunder. Spending eight years as Nigeria’s President is another great blunder.”

Gen. Alabi-Isama had said in the interview: “Obasanjo missed the point again. I am not a politician. The politicians in the country will judge his stewardship. I am just a military personnel. It is unnecessary to twist the story.

“The story in my book is on the spot account of my stewardship as a Chief of Staff of the Third Marine Commando and Sector Commander.

“I am saying that his blunders include running away from the enemy and he was shot in the bottom. He lost over a thousand men in one hour of battle.”

Delivering the anniversary lecture, titled: ‘The Future of Law in Nigeria’, the former President of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, said Nigeria could only attain greatness with a great legal system.

He said the path to greatness was through a reliable, efficient, trustworthy and value-driven legal system.

Said he: “We deceive ourselves with the notion that our legal system is as healthy as it should be and delude ourselves that we can be a great nation without a great legal system.”

Justice Ayoola went on: “Our concern should be how to make law work and rekindle the spirit of respect for law and the rule of law.”

President Goodluck Jonathan described Afe Babalola as one of the greatest legal icons Nigeria has ever had, adding that he deserved to be celebrated because he has lived a life of dogged determination.

President Jonathan, who was represented by the Solicitor- General of the Federation, Mr. Abdulahi Ahmed Gulag, said: “He is a man of humility and uncommon generosity. He has served Nigeria well and has continued to uphold its image. He has remained a pillar of support for true democracy and has also established a legacy for sustainable education with the founding of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).”

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi described Babalola as the father of the nation and an epitome of excellence.

He said: “Baba Afe Babalola stood for hard work and perfection. You are a leader and a fisher of men. Those you have produced as lawyers in this country are lawyers of repute and outstanding character.”

Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi said Babalola represented the best of Ekiti people, stressing that he is a workaholic, who always protects the interests of the masses.

“The grace that God has given him is worthy of celebration. He taught us what humility and brilliance with hard work is. He teaches the core values to a successful life. You are a pathfinder. You have perfected many lives.”

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko said:” We are here to celebrate one of Nigeria’s best, who stood for true justice. We are proud of his accomplishments and exemplary lifestyle. You have made a great mark in your profession and contributed to the rule of law in Nigeria.”

Other dignitaries at the event included the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Caleb Olubolade; former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni; former President of the World Court, Prince Bola Ajibola; an industrialist, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; Olugbo of Ugboland; Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan; the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Aladesanmi Adejuyigbe; the Ohiloyi of Igberaland, Alhaji Ado Ibraheem and retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Moronkeji Omolaja.

Other Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) present are: Wole Olanipekun, Akin Olujimi, Folake Solanke, Gboyega Awolomo, Yusuff Alli, among others.

Appreciating the dignitaries, Aare Babalola described Chief Obasanjo as a determined person, who is hard to change.

He added: “He is a hard working man, a lover of this country because he suffered in his field to bring peace to Nigeria. He is a lover of this country but many people do not believe that.

“I thank President Jonathan for honouring me with a high representative, and other well-wishers, who have made this occasion successful.”

Clarifying the reason for establishing ABUAD in Ado-Ekiti, Afe Babalola said the former Ekiti State Governor Oni and Ewi of Ado-Ekiti were responsible for it.

“Although Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala promised to give me acres of land in Ibadan, Oni told me that he would give me land, electricity and water, but I’m regretting it today because the promises were not fulfilled,” Afe Babalola said.

He attributed his success to his late teachers, his parents and family, who stood by him and encouraged him.

July 10, 2013
Obasanjo canvasses agric-business for Africa

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on African leaders to attract more youths and women into agriculture to increase food production.

He made the call in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital on Monday at a Development Round Table for Partnership to end Hunger in Africa.

Obasanjo said the private sector and other stakeholders must play key roles to make the proposal to work and succeed.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the roundtable session was moderated by Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina.

The African Union, Food and Agricultural Organisation and the Lula Institute convened the meeting with the theme “Unified approach to end hunger in Africa by 2025.”

Obasanjo said for Africa to eradicate hunger and poverty, “agric-business must replace farming.’’

He explained that the sector needed more financing, modern equipment, research and business approach to increase food production.

He said such an approach would yield the required dividends with only a few hectares of land that would add value to Africa’s staple foods.

“The fight against hunger must involve every stakeholder, including the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

“This effort should not be left to the governments alone; it should include the traditional institutions, the CSOs, the private sector as well as religious leaders and everybody, “the former Nigerian leader said at the forum.

Former President of Ghana, Mr. John Kufuor said there was need for research to modify and add value to food production on the continent.

July 2, 2013
Obasanjo splits S’West PDP ahead of mini – convention

As various interest groups prepare to field their favoured candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party’s special convention, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s interest is poised to divide the South-West chapter of the party

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for a special national convention to replace about 20 of its national officers, who vacated their positions last week, strong indication has emerged that the southwest chapter of the party may be heading for another round of crises over the vacant positions.

Checks by The Nation revealed that moves by two former governors, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Engineer Segun Oni of Osun and Ekiti states respectively, to return to the National Working Committee of the PDP, may be at the root of the new crisis rocking the party in the zone.

“We are in a quandary over what to do with the office of national secretary, following the declaration of former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, that the office was not vacant. He is a chieftain of the party from the southwest and a former governor at that. His grievances cannot just be ignored.

“There is also the issue of Segun Oni. He is lobbying to be returned to the NWC through the instrumentality of the special congress. He was the Vice Chairman for the southwest before the court ruled otherwise. He has his own people and he must also be heard if lasting peace is to be achieved in the party,” a chieftain of the party told The Nation.

But beyond the aspirations of the two ex-governors, sources within the party said the confusion within the PDP in the zone is caused largely by the insistence of some party leaders that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interest must be collectively protected by the party ahead of the special convention.

“The issue goes beyond Oyinlola and Oni. The real bone of contention has to do with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. A good number of us believe we must not look the other way while some people try to rubbish him within the party. He remains the leader of the PDP in this zone.

“The special convention, as far as we are concerned, is an opportunity to show him we are not against his leadership. We can only do this by returning his men into the NWC at the special convention. We are the leaders of the party and delegates to the convention. Other delegates are our supporters. If we want to honour Obasanjo, we can do it democratically and legally this time,” Hon. Jide Fatunkasi, an executive committee member of the party in Ado Ekiti, said.

The Nation learnt that a strong agitation has been mounted by loyalists of the former President that Oyinlola, Oni and other Obasanjo nominees who were kicked out of the NWC by the court should be returned as elected members from the southwest.

But a section of party chieftains, led by former Governor Ayo Fayose and Chief Buruji Kashamu, are strongly opposed to the plan. According to sources, those opposed to the idea are clamouring that fresh nominations should be made for election into the vacant offices.

“It is true that there is a proposal for party leaders to work for the return of Obasanjo’s loyalists. Those championing it are hinging it on the need for the zone to show solidarity for the former president during the special convention. But a good number of us are opposed to the idea.

“We have already shown solidarity to Baba when we installed him as the grand patron of the party in the zone,” a chieftain of the party in Osun State said.

It would be recalled that in what political observers called a conciliatory move by the Chief Ishola Filani-led zonal caretaker committee of the party, a stakeholders’ forum held in Lagos last week endorsed Obasanjo as the Grand Patron of the PDP in the southwest.

Other party chieftains like Shuaibu Oyedokun, Bode George, Yekini Adeojo, Bode Olajumoke, Jubril Martins-Kuye, Ebenezer Babatope, amongst others, were named as the party’s patrons.

Meanwhile, as arguments and counter arguments raged in the southwest, Chairman of the Special Convention Committee slated for July 20, 2013, Professor Jerry Gana, declared during the week that there must be fresh nominations for all the positions declared vacant.

His declaration further fuelled the crisis in the zone as the pro-Obasanjo factions of the party across the six states of the zone vowed to resist any attempt to replace their displaced men in the NWC.

Consequently, Oyinlola in a letter addressed to the Professor Gana committee submitted that his office was not affected by the INEC report, which frowned at the emergence of certain officers of the party through voice votes as against conduct of proper elections, as stipulated in the party guidelines for congresses and conventions.

Prince Oyinlola further warned the convention committee not to conduct any election to fill his position, as he noted that the judgment of Justice Abdul Kafarati, which removed him from office, was now subject of litigation at the Appeal Court.

But further investigations also revealed that the present leadership of the party in the zone is determined to replace the former Osun State governor and other loyalists of ex-President Obasanjo, irrespective of the threat of fresh intra-party crisis afterwards.

Sources said Oyinlola may be replaced in the NWC with the former organising secretary of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, whose candidacy for the strategic office was being pushed by some party chieftains led by Chiefs Bode George and Buruji Kashamu.

On his part, ex-Governor Segun Oni has vowed to contest for the position of Vice Chairman at the special convention against all odds. He is banking on his popularity amongst the various states’ executive committee members to return to his former position. “Segun Oni will not be cowed. He will contest at the special convention. We are aware of plots to stop some people from returning to the NWC even if the party members want them. But we are not deterred. This is a democracy and we are ready to test our popularity. What we will not condone is any attempt to deny us victory,” an associate of the former Ekiti State governor said.

June 30, 2013
Re: Obasanjo: A patriot or self-serving nationalist?

•I was one among many Nigerians who were so bitter about the arbitrary leadership of Obasanjo when he was in power. Nigeria really needs a strong leader to put things right here, but not in the manner he went about it in his years.

The pedigree of the person he chooses as his anointed godson for whatever political position in the country does not seem to matter to him, provided that such choice has the potential for putting him in the news always, which he loves so much. Of course, his place in the nation’s history is secured. But with his present contradictory socio-political roles, one can only pray that the great man does not end up a bore.

That, however, should not distract from the fact that he is truly a patriotic Nigerian leader, all things considered. The problem with Obasanjo is that he is so controversy-driven and tends to derive pleasure in conducts, whatsoever, that make him to appear all-time relevant, however inadequate the conduct is.

Emmanuel Egwu.

•You have said it as it is. Obasanjo’s opposition should serve as the nudge to return Jonathan in 2015. There is no greater factor in the capitulation of the PDP in the South West than the OBJ persona. And it is all too visible that the region is all the better for it. Other regions would do better by following the example of the South West in putting OBJ in his place.

Kuteyi R.R., Ondo

•Once in a while, we do have such people as OBJ in this world. What we fail to understand about OBJ is that he believes mostly in himself because he loves the entity called Nigeria. He believes less in other people and suspects others. He defended the choice of the late Umaru Yar’Adua and the ascension of President Jonathan has so far stabilised the oneness and polity of Nigeria.

I admire his boldness where others who are expected to talk tough pretend and dilly-dally. His routing for Sule Lamido for 2015 could not have come from the blue.

Lanre Oseni

•Obasanjo is not a patriot. He used his eight-year rule to erase the memory of Awo from our hearts without success. He refused to recognise June 12 and could not point to a single achievement throughout his eight years in office. He is a self-serving nationalist.

Alhaji Adeboye Lawal

•I hate it when you people always unnecessarily hit or talk against this great African leader. It is unfair and that is lack of respect for our elders. Stop twisting his words.

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•Vincent, Obasanjo is a selfish and ruthless man. He is very crafty too. He is the type that asks you to eat well but put your hands in chains. Yar’Adua became an easy prey to his ploy on account of his simplicity. But Jonathan was smarter than Obasanjo, who took the former’s clueless outlook for granted. He is serving OBJ right. But both of them are playing with fire. When it sparks, it will consume them and their co-travellers.

Please correct my earlier impression of Kenneth Kaunda, the former president of Zambia, who I had thought was decent man on account of his book, Zambia Shall Be Free, but was shocked to see you grouping him with Idi Amin and others.

Wole Adediran, Ode Omu, Osun State.

•Let us hope that Obasanjo calling on Sule Lamido as best candidate for president in 2015 is not a hidden agenda to cover up his looting when he was poresident.

Gordon Chika Nnorom

•Ex-President Obasanjo is not a nationalist but a self serving Nigerian. The only African nationalist is Mandela of South Africa. Obasanjo is egoistic, materialistic and selfish. Politically, he is not a democrat but a dictator. He and his successors don’t believe in the rule of law but in the ruse of law.

During his administration, the South-West lacked any meaningful development. Instead, he was busy building an empire for himself. He is still part of the malady befalling the nation. The National Council of State comprising past heads of state should be cancelled because their decisions are not beneficial to the country.

Pastor Odunmbaku.

•Obasanjo has been ruling and not leading the country all this while. He has always kept us in suspense. It is left for us to free ourselves from his bondage by voting out his chosen political son come 2015.

MAO Adigun, Ibadan

•Vincent, I don’t know how old you are. But those of us on the side of the truth will always tell it that OBJ only failed to make Awolowo president after him in 1979 partly because of Awo’s decisions then. Again, with Zik’s entry into the race, there was no way Awo could have won the election. But the Yoruba elite continue to crucify OBJ for Awo’s failure.

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•For Obasanjo to have sworn that a doctor had told him that Yar’Adua had been cured of his illness shows that he is not a sincere person. And then to foist a man who is incompetence personified on the nation weakened by a combination of religious and ethnic animosity and corruption, for whatever reason, is the highest level of treason. He is a man blinded by a vindictive quest to do the nation in simply because the nation rejected his third term bid!

Manjadda, Sokoto

June 22, 2013
June 12: ‘Obasanjo wasted opportunity to redeem Nigeria’

A notable public affairs commentator, Chief Deji Fasuan, has said former President Olusegun Obasanjo failed during his tenure to take a lifetime advantage to set the country on the path of progress and development.

Speaking yesterday at his home in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, about which, between ‘May 29’ and ‘June 12’ should be recognised as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Chief Fasuan said: “It would be more beneficial to shift focus to more fundamental and beneficial issues.”

The octogenarian, who retired as permanent secretary in the old Ondo State, noted that despite what might have happened during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida administration, as the Head of State, Chief Obasanjo could still have used his time to make lasting amends.

He said although Babangida made mistakes during his tenure, providence positioned Obasanjo to do the needful, but he failed to do so.

Chief Fasuan said: “I have a more fundamental view of the tragicomedy in Nigerian history. My view is that irrespective of what happened during Babangida’s administration, and especially during the June 12 election, this country still had the opportunity to rectify the errors, especially during the Obasanjo administration.

“Admitted, Babangida did all the acrobatics and plunged this nation into an avoidable tragedy, our own man, Obasanjo, had the opportunity of a lifetime to rectify things. He failed to do this for personal and ego reasons.”

June 12, 2013
‘Obasanjo’s greatest mistake is failure to honour Abiola’

Ahead of the 20th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, former Minister of Aviation Mr. Femi Fani Kayode has described the failure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to honour the late Chief MKO Abiola as one of his greatest mistakes.

Fani Kayode, who spoke in Lagos, said it was “most unfair” on the part of the former president not to honour Abiola, his wife, the late Kudirat and other pro-democracy activists, who struggled in vain for the actualisation of June 12.

He said: “One of the biggest mistakes that President Obasanjo made; I say this with the greatest respect and affection for him and I will always respect him, but it is only fair to say that one of the greatest mistakes he made was that he did not acknowledge or honour the late Chief Abiola, the late Alhaja Abiola and those, who fought for democracy on the side of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). It is most unfair.

“Many died, many were tortured, many went on exile and so on. These are the people that paid the price for the Obasanjo presidency. He should have honoured him, but he did not. The late President Umaru Yar’Adua did not do so too, and I believe in fairness to President Goodluck Jonathan, he attempted to honour Abiola (albeit) in a wrong way, by naming the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after him, but that was not even enough.”

Fani Kayode said it would be difficult for the country to get it right if it failed to appreciate those who laboured in the past for it.

He also said he recognised June 12 as the Democracy Day ahead of the May 29 declared by the Federal Government.

June 11, 2013
Obasanjo: A patriot or self-serving nationalist?

His status as a statesman is not in doubt. He has led the country for twelve and a half years, first as military head of state and then as an elected president. He would probably still be ruling Nigeria if his third term agenda had not been frustrated by pro-democracy forces. The one that would constitute a subject for debate is Obasanjo’s profile as a genuine patriot or nationalist.

For decades, he had enjoyed the reputation of being the only Nigerian military leader to willingly surrender power to an elected president. On the basis of that act, he was held in high regard by the governments of countries with advanced democratic culture. Leaders of such countries as the USA, UK, France, Germany and Canada were quick to hold him up as a shining example of a black leader who, unlike others like Kamuzu Banda of Malawi, Idi Amin of Uganda, Moamar Ghadaffi of Libya,Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, resisted the temptation to cling to power like the pincers of a lobster.

For this, he enjoyed the confidence and patronage of the international community. No gathering of progressive minds at the international level was deemed complete without Obasanjo. This was in spite of the insistence of many that his decision to hand over to Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1979 was one he had to take willy-nilly, given the circumstances that prevailed at the time. His ascension as the nation’s head of state had been made possible by an aborted coup led by Lt. Col. Buka Dimka, during which Obasanjo’s predecessor, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, was gruesomely assassinated.

Those in the know have since revealed that Obasanjo was more or less forced to step into Murtala’s shoes after the Dimka coup was foiled. He hesitated to assume the seat because he feared that the fate that befell Murtala could also become his lot. And while he grudgingly did, he was very eager to relinquish the position and retire into the safety of his country home in Ota, Ogun State.

This, as well as the allegation that the presidential election Obasanjo presided over in 1979 was designed to favour the northern candidate of the National Party of Nigeria just to appease the region for the death of Murtala Mohammed, remained a matter of conjecture until Obasanjo himself began to justify it in words and deeds, including the do-or-die political philosophy he espoused in the build-up to the 2007 presidential election, in his desperation to see that his favoured candidate, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, became his successor. There lies the crux of the argument of those who hold that Obasanjo’s blind endorsement of presidential candidates from Umaru Yar’Adua to Goodluck Jonathan and now Sule Lamido has been shaped by selfish interest. If his motives were genuinely patriotic, they argue, he would have settled for individuals with better clouts and pedigree than those he has been sticking out his neck for.

At the time he rooted for the late Yar’Adua to become his successor in 2007, it was obvious that he was far from being the best candidate the PDP could produce to lead the country. As one of the journalists the media organisation I was serving posted to Katsina State to monitor the governorship election, I had met Yar’Adua for the first time and was alarmed at his physical condition. Even the blind would know that the man was not endowed with enough health to lead the largest black nation in the world. Upon enquiry, informed residents of Katsina had told me that as a governor, Yar’Adua was more like a visitor to the state, as he spent more time in foreign hospitals than he stayed in Nigeria.

Nor were there landmark achievements that stood him out among the other governors at the time. Besides a few township roads that were rehabilitated in Katsina town, there were no other remarkable deeds his administration could be credited with. I was particularly shocked to find that many Katsina residents were fetching water from the gutter because there were no boreholes to meet their water needs. That was at the twilight of Yar’Adua’s eight years in the saddle. Yet Obasanjo insisted that his successor would be Yar’Adua or no one else!

In the heat of his campaign rallies, Yar’Adua became so frail that he had to be rushed to Germany for medical attention. His condition deteriorated so much that the rumour started flying around that he was dead. Obasanjo himself had to make his famous telephone call across to Yar’Adua in Germany, asking sarcastically: “Umaru, they say you are dead. Are you dead?” Of course, he was not dead at the time. But as events later proved, the president to be was neither hale nor hearty. He died midway into his first term and his death threw the nation into a serious constitutional crisis.

Obasanjo’s choice of Yar’Adua, many have said, was informed purely by an obligation he felt he had to the Yar’Adua family on whose political structure he had ridden to power in 1999. The late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua was not just Obasanjo’s former number two man, he was also his friend and confidant. He had died in the gulag of the late maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, after he was arrested alongside Obasanjo in 1995 for political reasons.

Obasanjo’s choice of Jonathan as Yar’Adua’s running mate in 2007 and the subsequent support he gave the Ijaw man to transform from the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State to governor, acting president and president might not have been informed by the same sentiments. Yet many believe that Obasanjo’s choice of Jonathan was in furtherance of his selfish agenda to remain in power by proxy. He reasoned that Yar’Adua needed a very submissive deputy to avoid the kind of experience Obasanjo himself had with his own deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who at various times stood up to Obasanjo and challenged some of his deeds. Unfortunately, he had to fall out with Jonathan when it became obvious that the godson was no longer willing to be tied to the apron string of the godfather.

Now that the former president is rooting for Governor Sule Lamido to become the president in 2015, the question on the lips of observers is why Lamido of all the presidential materials that abound in the country? Is the Jigawa State governor the best presidential material even in the PDP? Why does Obasanjo root for men with suspect clout or pedigree if his motives are truly patriotic?

June 8, 2013