In May 1999, when President Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office in a new democratic era inundated with a blaze of unspeakable goodwill around the world, not many Nigerians thought, eight years after, he would coin for himself the loathsome distinction of being one of the most corrupt leaders to have ever graced power. Indeed, Obasanjo’s legacy trades on his gross inability to convert the goodwill into dividends for the Nigerian people who had hoped for some succor in his reign; and this, I am afraid, is the paradox of his misrule in the last eight years.

Perhaps, in May 1999, he had the best of intentions for the Nigerian nation, perhaps, he believed in his ability to turn the fortunes of the country; perhaps, he was soused in the notion of being the long awaited messiah, the Mandela of Nigeria, from prison to glory. But somewhere along the journey, the demons of avarice and rapacious undertakings held him hostage. I was made a believer in the promise of Obasanjo when, as an invited guest, I heard him speak on October 31, 1999 on the campus of Wilberforce University in Xania, Ohio where he promised after receiving an honorary doctoral degree, that it would not be business as usual in Nigeria; that he would stamp out corruption and return Nigerian to its former glory. Even I, a perennial skeptic, was impressed and the applaud that greeted such definitive declaration in the packed basketball arena was deafening. But the painful passage of months and years were to reveal otherwise much to the collective chagrin of Nigerians. At last, Obasanjo, was not better than the worst of the tribe of politicians and leaders that has stripped Nigeria of its sprite and shine.

Even more irking was the reckless brandishing of the name of the Lord in his assiduous wont to loot the state. As smooth as the evil genius, Babangida, Obasanjo systematically fleeced Nigeria while claiming to prosecute crime and corruption and shouting "praise the Lord". What manner of prosecute and what manner of hypocrisy? Obasanjo told us all that he was a born again Christian, tamed by his prison experience that jolted him to the side of the Lord. He told of his prison experience that humbled him and refocused his lenses on the path of humanity; we believed and accepted him as the leader of the largest black nation in the world.

But what most did not reckon was the fact that he had since become a Pharisee, a Christian by day and an egomaniacal treasury looter by night, a reckless and mindless murderer of the people’s dreams, hopes and aspirations. There is no luckier man than Obasanjo in the history of the nation to make a difference and imprint his name in the annals of history as the redeemer of an ailing nation, the straw that saved the drowning man. But as revealed in the twilight of his failed administration, courtesy of his tussle with Abubakar Atiku, his vice, Obasanjo, like ghoulish Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha, was knee-deep in corruption. How then can he be a born again Christian, can a man serve two masters? Does he not know that the “Soul that sinneth it shall die?” In plain English, the "Soul that chop-th money it shall quench."

Obasanjo is yet to explain how he came about the billions that are fueling his Otta Farm into a world acclaimed agricultural wonder of modern technology that is making world-class agricultural universities green with envy. The equipments on the ground in that farm, we are told, are worth millions of dollars of modern machineries of the highest quality. This, on the hills of his confession of just having N20, 000 ($200) to his name in May 1999 when he assumed office. Broke and poorer than a church rat in 1999, eight short years at the helm have completely transformed him into a black Bill Gates.

If indeed, he was above board as president, how then he is able to purchase a private jet worth $36 million just after eight years in office. We know how much he earned officially, do we not? Do we need the services of able mathematicians to tell us that his salary of N3 million plus per year, fell well short of the maintenance fee of such a princely purchase. How then? The answer is beginning to be apparent to Nigerians who had hitherto beholden the farmer in good stead while in office, thinking he was holier than thou with his piety and deferment to God on state matters. Nigerians are beginning to realize that Obasanjo’s level of graft surpasses that of Babangida and Abacha collectively, the later whose family he prosecuted for corruption.

Through numerous bosky deals such as the PTF and the NNPC N500 million scandals that would even make the likes of the devil wax in utter ashamed, we have come to know how the former general looted Nigeria like his “predecessors” Babangida and Abacha. Seeing Obasanjo’s alarming and utterly disheartening level of graft, we must ask; what moral grounds did he have to prosecute Tafa Balogun, Diepreye Alamieseiyegha, Joshua Dariye and a host of others that ran afoul of his immutable machine? What conscience? It is apparent that the EFCC was used to level the score against his political enemies, but perhaps, it is time to focus the searchlight on his administration.

Let the Otta farmer tell the nation where his son, Muyiwa, the only child of the late First Lady, Stella, a fresh law graduate without a job (as of the purchase) got the funds to purchase a choice apartment in New York City worth more than $500,000. Obasanjo is yet to tell Nigerians how much he has given to Andrew Young’s so-called public relations firm that was supposed to launder Nigeria’s image in the international community. Certainly, a soothsayer is not needed to tell Nigerians that their image in the international community continues to be smeared even by countries that have benefited grossly from the largesse of this depressed nation. Andrew Young’s public relations firm has milked Nigeria without regards, taking in more than $100,000 a month in fees for doing nothing– how much was Obasanjo’s share in this image-laundering venture?

Obasanjo, like Charles Taylor of Liberia, ought to stand trial for the human rights abuses so manifest during his administration. How many Nigerians were raped and murdered by his troops in Odi, Bayelsa State in an orgy of carnage? How many were raped and murdered on his orders in Benue? How many have lost their lives because of his incompetence in allowing Sharia to flourish or ammunition to be stored recklessly in military warehouses located in residential areas? We have just learned via the utterances of Asari-Dokubo of the self acclaimed born again Christian’s role in the hostage taking crisis in Rivers State aided by his sidekick, Peter Odili, who has the dubious distinction as the most corrupt governor Nigerian has even had.

This cannot be a surprising disclosure coming against the perturbing backdrop of his aiding and abetting of violence, kidnapping, rigging in the highest order in Anambra. Here was a leader entrusted with the delicate task of ensuring peace, law and order in the land being the sole medium of disharmony, mayhem and chaos. If anyone is in doubt, he should listen to the newly enthroned Olubadan who accused the former president and his co-traveler, a shameless old man who called himself a chief of the people, or is it of thugs, Lamido Adedibu, as being the main source of violence in Oyo.

Obasanjo ought to be tried for his excesses and the multitude of sins he has committed against the Nigerian nation in the same manner Taylor is being tried in the international arena. It is indeed a curious endeavor to learn that he recently took an exam in divinity to become vast in Theology, a phenomenon that should condemn him aplenty for his numerous sins. Why would a man variously accused of sundry corruption and crimes against humanity be studying divinity, for what purpose? In the most laughable claim, Obasanjo calls himself the father of modern Nigeria; indeed, the father of modern corruption whose place is with the Babangidas and Abachas in the Nigerian Hall of Shame.

Author can be reached at alalibo@gmail.com. Article also published at http://www.newnigerianpolitics.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 In May 1999, when President Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office in a new democr...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 20.08.2007 02:47

Mikky jaga  Villager

# 2 The hypocrisy of OBJ is what stands him out among his thieving colleagues. While Babangida will steal and allow the "goodnews" to go round, OBJ limits the looting of the treasury to only himself, his close allies and family members. Abacha is even better, he steals, allows his family to steal but did not pretend to be holier than anybody else. But OBJ, "Born Again", built church in Aso Rock, has permanent residence in Redeemed's camp ground, studies theology and calls on the name of God at every opportunity, yet has huge clouds hanging on his life and finances. He is even the first to call people corrupt and tries to put them in jail. My God! What a great hypocrite!!! The only personality that can beat OBJ in his hypocrisy is the Devil himself, for he transforms himself to the angel of light when it suits his purpose. Posted by Mikky jaga| 20.08.2007 05:46

planet1899  Villager

# 3 This is a classic example of the kettle calling the pot black. OBJ shall be judged. Posted by planet1899| 20.08.2007 07:59

Kabikala  Villager

# 4 OBJ is the father of modern hypocrisy! Both IBB and Abacha never pretended to fight corruption so it was easy to know where they stood. Posted by Kabikala| 21.08.2007 13:02

Profegee  Villager

# 5 OBJ's sins will surely find him out. Even if he's not brought behind bars for all the obvious atrocities perpetrated by his administration, I believe that he's tainted and battered and would have wished he never went beyong a single term that ended in 2003. Barely three months after his exit from the presidency, all his self-centered structures are being demolished by the servant-leader Yar'Adua. What goes around surely must come around. Posted by Profegee| 22.08.2007 08:05