STILL THE STINGING, BUT LARGELY SUBDUED OBASANJO By Duro Onabule Former president Olusegun Obasanjo still stings like a bee (Muhammed Ali will not complain) but these days, your man, Obasanjo, is slightly more circumspect. A while ago, he was at his game, if not at his best when he, once again descended on Aso Rock more heavily than he did when the late General Sani Abacha was in charge. On that occasion, the saving grace thereafter was the sudden death of General Abacha while Obasanjo was serving a prison sentence for an alleged coup plot. Obasanjo’s second in-command during his tenure at Dodan Barracks Lagos, as a military ruler, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, was less fortunate as he died in prison while similarly serving jail sentence for another alleged coup plot. Obviously, in a personal reminder of his near-fatal experience under General Abacha, it should be understandable if ex-president Obasanjo, this time, in taking on President Goodluck Jonathan, was cautious to accompany his (warranted?) aggression with a bold face, more of a pre-emptive strike that at his age, fear, abuse, intimidation or even death would not to deter him. This, certainly, is a different Obasanjo, who now cares a damn to clear his track, an unintended psychological boost for Goodluck Jonathan, who did not miss the chance to flaunt treason trial in an attempt to tame his very important critic. Nigerian constitution confers on the President of the Federal Republic, such enormous powers, which an easily be mis-used for self-serving purposes even in a democratic setting if, so far, any semblance of such democracy can be cited. Anyway, Obasanjo himself as an elected president, hung treason tags on his major critics/irritants like OPC leader, Frederick Faseun, Niger-Delta militant, Asari Dokubo and MASSOB leader, Raphael Uwazurike, who were detained in prison on holden charges, which never came up for years until one after another, each was released. Therefore, even if the treason trial is not feasible, Jonathan can still make Obasanjo taste the same dose prescribed for Dokubo, Faseun and Uwazurike. That was why Obasanjo cheated out that he was prepared for the worst. Facing political reality, despite his constitutional powers, President Jonathan is too precarious to venture such shakara. This is not withstanding the verbal debris Obasanjo, with his famous letter, caused at Aso Rock. While clearing or attempting to clear the mess, Jonathan has exposed himself for unnecessary panic, employing series of clearly disreputable tactics, in a way, without the necessary credibility, owing to the anonymity of virtually all the sources. The loyalty of anybody, defending Jonathan should be easily on display. After all, the thrust of the showdown against Obasanjo is on his hypocrisy. Why then should any group or person be too cowardly to come into the open? Obasanjo’s major concern in this controversy is mainly personal – his preferred candidates in particular areas were not selected, he wants his party, the PDP, to remain in power and more importantly, he wants to preserve his authoritarian tendency of imposing who will rule Nigeria, especially this time, to be seen as returning power to the North. In the latter case, it is an example of trying to steal their clothes while North is swimming. Without Obasanjo, there have been re-alignment of forces, not only in the North but also in the South to make the 2015 presidential elections predictable, if not rigged. Or what was the idea that “I (Obasanjo) gave Nigeria Shehu Shagari, Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan”? When in 1979, Obasanjo gave Shagari to Nigeria, he (Obasanjo) conducted the elections. Again when Umaru Yar’Adua became president in 2007, Obasanjo also conducted the elections and, of course, the same Obasanjo destabilised the PDP to retain Jonathan in office in 2011. For once, Nigerians want to choose their leader in 2015 and whoever is going to win or lose should emerge without anybody’s imposition or subversion. There is no denying the fact that over the years, at least, before General Abacha jailed him, Obasanjo emerged some sort of political oracle with deadly pronouncements as and when he wished. Nigerians cannot now complain, as he (Obasanjo) did not emerge from nowhere. Anytime he made inciting speeches against leaders from up country, Obasanjo was cheered on, even when he was singing the farewell dirge on a very ill President Yar’Adua. Now, Southerners, especially Niger Deltans, know how it hurt when Shagari, Buhari, Babangida, Abacha and Yar’Adua were on the receiving end of Obasanjo’s tongue. And no matter how irresponsible, indecorous, unstatesmanlike, subversive (as he was variously adjectivised by Aso Rock), the fact remains that aspects of Obasanjo’s observations cannot be ignored or dismissed. Many Nigerians (including this column) had regularly highlighted the disturbing situation in the country. This is moreso as the message as delivered by Obasanjo remains frightening right from the headline “before it is too late.” For what to happen? The answer was provided. Bloodshed, chaos or even implied disintegration of Nigeria all of which Jonathan was advised to avoid. With such warning, Obasanjo is simply staking his reputation more like an oracle. The onus is, therefore, not on Obasanjo to vindicate himself. Rather, the onus is on President Jonathan not to vindicate Obasanjo whose seemingly curse is now blowing in the wind. Oracles are not necessarily sacrosanct but the safest way to escape their curses is self-preservation. There is this annual cult festival, Agemo, in Ijebu area of Ogun State. At the risk of death, females generally must remain in-doors while males observe certain rules like not daring to drive vehicles along the routes of Agemo cult. Nigeria’s well-known non-conformist, the late Tai Solarin, the educationist, driving his vehicle, ran into the Agemo masquerades and was believed to have been cursed. Ever self-confident, Solarin consoled himself that only naturists, who overspeed run the risk of fatal accidents. Solarin accordingly stuck to his reasonable limit of less than sixty miles, even when traveling outside the state. He lived for the next over forty years. That is the lesson for President Jonathan. What are those decisions that can plunge Nigeria into bloodshed or can disintegrate Nigeria under his current leadership or as observed by Obasanjo? Jonathan must engage in very serious reflection. No human being is perfect and a second opinion is not entirely valueless all the time. Some other areas of Obasanjo’s criticisms are arguable. For example, he faulted Jonathan for supporting rival parties in some states like Edo and Anambra in the gubernatorial elections. The president must not get involved in the domestic politics of state elections. But for Edo elections in particular, Obasanjo, rather than Jonathan, should be queried by the PDP. Jonathan went on campaigns for the PDP candidates. On the other hand, Obasanjo went on a clandestine visit to Edo and held a secret meeting with the then ACN (and now APC) governor, Adams Oshiomhole, as widely reported in the media. The aim was to give tacit support for Oshiomhole’s victory or Tony Anenih’s political image would be restored if PDP candidate won the race. Should Obasanjo turn round to blame Jonathan for that? In any case, it is generally acknowledged (even till now) that Adams Oshiomhole has emerged an outstanding successor to a former PDP governor of the state, Edo. Anambra? Obasanjo’s clear interest is Andy Uba, who could not win the party’s nomination. A major criticism of the party is against lack of internal democracy. If a candidate lost in the nomination race or the primaries, should he be imposed by President Jonathan? As for Lagos State, it is most unlikely that Jonathan will ever dream of winning the state for his party. It is a question of performance and PDP has a Herculean task, dislodging APC in Lagos State. And if Jonathan negotiated with Bola Tinubu for the 2011 presidential elections and the votes were delivered (especially by Tinubu) for Obasanjo’s PDP through Jonathan, shouldn’t every PDP top shot be happy? Rather unconsciously, Obasanjo has awarded the glory for Jonathan’s victory in Lagos State in the 2011 presidential elections to whom it belonged, Bola Tinubu. Rather curiously, Obasanjo, this time offered to share the acclamation for his criticism of Jonathan with two former Heads of State, former President Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, to whom he sent copies of the letter he wrote to President Goodluck. The main reason, according to Obasanjo, was that the two former heads of states had also been expressing concern on the situation with him. On the other hand, Obasanjo might have been playing safe in case (as General Abacha did,) Jonathan was to pick him (Obasanjo) up. In which case, the other two, as accomplices, would not escape. Meanwhile, President Jonathan is maintaining an untenable silence on two very serious allegations made by General Obasanjo. These two allegations have nothing to do with the internal struggle for power in the PDP. Is it true that Jonathan is involving the late General Abacha’s former Chief Security Officer, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha in politics towards 2015 so soon after the man’s acquittal of a political murder trial? Moreso, as a payback for getting him released? A very serious allegation. Mustapha is out of the country and has been reported to be eager to return to Nigeria to defend himself. Even then, President Jonathan must also defend himself. Even then, President Jonathan must also defend himself and not at his own choosing. A major arm of government, the judiciary, now has its reputation maligned. Rightly or wrongly? To avoid anarchy, the judiciary is the final arbiter in society. And once a judgment is pronounced, everybody complies. After a marathon trial, an appeal court set Major Al Mustapha free of murder charges. It is, therefore, unfair to be labeling him a murderer, as Obasanjo did. The law is an ass even if through some technicality. An American athlete, O.J. Simpson, was tried and acquitted for the murder of his ex-wife and her friend. The case generated world-wide interest and nobody, indeed no ex-American president, since referred to him as a murderer. The same argument can be made for Buruji Kashamu, one of Obasanjo’s former political associates. Cleared by a British court against an extradition request by United States, the man further tried to clear his name in a Nigerian court but was told not to bother himself since there was no extradition request by any country against him. That is the law and it is wrong to label him a drug baron. Emergence of Ijaw nationalism or even nepotism under Goodluck Jonathan? We must face the facts. The man must face the facts. The man must shine his face and look into the complaints. But then, who has ever ruled Nigeria and escaped being criticised for favouring his part of the country? Perhaps, only Obasanjo and this was never (on the two tenures) because of anything nationalistic in him. Instead, for some unknown and unexplained reason(s), Obasanjo sustains a war on Yorubaland. One irony is that the very Ijaw man being criticised for developing Ijaw nation, is the same man, constructing and repairing roads in Yorubaland, Obasanjo neglected throughout his eight years in power at Abuja. Lagos–Ibadan–Ogbomoso–Ilorin Road. Or even Ota Road. “I have not told anybody I am contesting.” Who was speaking? Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006 and Goodluck Jonathan in 2013. Jonathan cannot make up his mind to contest or not to context in 2015. Whatever the consequences of his contesting or not contesting will be borne by him and his wife. All those prevailing on him to contest or not to contest have vested interests. He must take his final decision with his wife. He must not forget that he vowed only last year that he would leave office, as the most celebrated Nigerian leader in history. Paffcomm paffcomm
Posted on: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 06:08:36 +0000
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