The pan-Nigeria Baba and Arch-Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) on Nigeria’s political health, the incomparable and inimitable President (Gen.) Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the Ebora Owu and Civil War hero, appears to have got more than he bargained for from another far-less-known Baba, Pa Deji Fasuan, who a news report by The Nation introduced as the Jagunmolu of Ado-Ekiti. What an insult!
Baba Obasanjo, who should know (infact who knows everything) has given his final verdict on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s well publicised indifference to Muslim-Muslim ticket, even if the whole thing was taken out of the context of an interview. What Buhari said was that having picked two Igbo Roman Catholics as running mates at his earlier attempts at the Nigerian presidency, with no positive effect, he really did not know what Nigerians wanted.
But Baba, the oracle, has told Buhari to quickly perish the idea — Muslim-Muslim ticket? Nigeria of today will have none of such nonsense! The propriety of the self-acclaimed father of modern Nigeria involving himself in a religious controversy aside, Chief Fasuan, the Jagunmolu, was not at all impressed.
Hear the old man blaze: “Olusegun Obasanjo has mounted the rostrum again, climbing the pulpit. The pontiff has again foisted on the nation his well-known political theology!” Hot — and irreverent, if Pa Fasuan himself was not an old man!
And a bit of piquant history: “Obasanjo has forgotten his role in picking leaders and foisting governments on our nation. In retrospect, his actions were informed by malice, favouritism and self-interest. In Nigerian interest,” the old man further roared, “it is difficult to distinguish self-serving admonitions from those of national interest and fidelity. We have many problems facing our nation for anyone to bother about his neighbour’s religion.”
Well, some bitter and punching truth, if laced with the romantic wish that people don’t bother about their neighbours’ faith. Maybe in the Southwest, but even then, with the latest Jonathanian divisive religious onslaught, even that cannot be taken as given.
But the Jagunmolu is not done yet: “Let no leader,” he warned, “however self-serving and self-conscious he is, direct us to any dug-in positions. We have heard a lot of pontificating from yesteryear people (ouch, that hurts! Ebora Owu, yesteryear people?), who have, by their action or inaction in office, put us where we are today.”
Now, that was awesome! Is Baba Iyabo diving for cover?
Then, the Jagumolu’s wish and hope: “What this country needs is competence, commitment, integrity and capability (ironically buzz words that would tumble out of the mouth of the “pontificating” Obasanjo!). If these attributes are found in the present leadership, let it continue. On the other hand, if the electorate can trust a Buhari/Fashola ticket, let it be.”
The Jagunmolu has rested his case! But that is hardly the last word on the matter.
At the end of the day, it could well be a sharp disagreement in opinions between two senior citizens — one a former military ruler and two-term elected president, the other a distinguished Nigerian patriot and proud son of Ekiti.
Still it is a fitting battle of elders, when the Jagunmolu squares up with the Ebora Owu, on hot political stuff!
