OBASANJO GAMBLES, AGAIN

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is an enigma.  To himself that is.  Nigerians know him only too well.

First, he insists he is a farmer.   Why then does he fail to understand the correlation between what you plant, and what you harvest, between cause and consequence?   I mean, I used to buy a lot of vegetables from his farm.  They were available because he planted and took care of them. 

He says he is a farmer, but why does he not understand there has to be a relationship between what a farmer sells, and what he declares to be his profit.  About two years ago, one of his praise-singers said Temperance Farms make N30 million per month.  Nigerians gasped loudly in disbelief, before they began to laugh. That is a case of cause and consequence, but typically, Obasanjo never noticed.

As a people, we have bought a lot from Obasanjo over the years, including hope.  For three years, between 1976 and 1979, we mistakenly bought his leadership.  We did because we believed that since he claimed to be following the footsteps of his assassinated predecessor, General Murtala Muhammad, he was pursuing the slain leader’s brand of leadership: direct, selfless and honest.  For a while, we were easy to mislead, no pun intended. 

He handed power over to an elected leadership in 1979, still conveying the illusion of a believer in Muhammad’s dream.  It seems now that it was while he was being celebrated around the world as a great African leader that he realized he had made a mistake: he did not want to be a celebrity; he wanted to be in charge.  He wanted to be honoured as THE leader, not as the former leader.  In his view, who else deserved to rule Nigeria but he?

So, he began to dream about taking back what was his.  He talked about Nigeria, pressing all those populist buttons the press likes to hear:  Good governance.  The rule of law.  Accountability.  Free and fair elections. 

He even took it further: he set up the African Leadership Forum (ALF) to provide a structure for discussing these issues.  It was a wonderful idea and the world hailed.  Many poured their funds into the coffers of the ALF. 

Obasanjo’s plan was working.  Intellectually, he was always a dwarf, but few noticed, because he was standing on the heads of established Pan-Africanists and highly-educated and intelligent people who drifted towards the work of the ALF, and world figures who thought that by encouraging him they were investing in the future of Africa.   Thus then, he gave speeches, and wrote books and journals.  Little wonder he wanted to be Secretary-General of the United Nations!

It would take another not-so-wily man to give him his stamped passport back into State House: Sani Abacha.  Once Abacha did Obasanjo the favor of putting him in prison, the stage was set for Obasanjo to return to State House by completing his course on political credibility.  It was the same State House he had bitterly criticized Yakubu Gowon for when he dared suggest he might be willing to lead Nigeria again. [“I asked him,” Obasanjo used to say, proudly, “I asked him, ‘What did he forget in State House that he is going back to get?’”]

In 1979, there he was, returning to State House to peel back the carpets and reopen the attic; apparently, it was okay on his part: the place belonged to him.  Soon enough, Nigerians began to understand that there is only one Obasanjo.  It had taken two helpings to understand him, but we eventually got our full measure of the egotistical man we did not appreciate in uniform.  For Obasanjo, only Obasanjo is good enough, and anything Obasanjo does is good enough.  Any critic is an ingrate who should jump into a lake of fire.

That is why the press would be wrong to be offended by his remarks of last week, to the effect that he does not read Nigerian newspapers, and that they write about him simply to sell copies.  That is just Obasanjo restating that his farm can make N1 million per day.  That is Obasanjo telling the world press, following the students demonstrations engineered by his government in 1978, that what had happened was not students’ crisis, but students’ indiscipline. 

“Shut Up!” : That is Obasanjo yelling at his compatriot in a Nigerian Town Hall meeting in Atlanta in the United States.  “I am not supposed to be here!”: That is Obasanjo threatening to walk out on victims of the Ikeja Cantonment explosions because he was only doing them a favor by his presence.  “CAN, my foot!”:  That is Obasanjo berating officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria. That is Obasanjo leaving his chair in the President’s office to walk across the room and personally throw out a senior State House official.  That is Obasanjo writing to insult the Chairman of his own political party for daring to warn about the devious and dangerous practices of the government.   That is Obasanjo explaining that ballot boxes found in Lamidi Adedebu’s home in Ibadan before the last elections was no issue and that the man should be left alone.  He was not trying to insult anyone; that is just the depth of the man. 

Of greater substance is that the Obasanjo who resents criticism so badly left office three months ago, in a much worse state than he took it in 1999.  With all the human and material resources of the world as well as its goodwill, Obasanjo left Nigerians in regret.  With the chance to build a mountain, he settled for a molehill.  It is Nigerians who should understand that his molehill will grow!

This is a tragedy, but that is the Obasanjo who has ruled Nigeria twice.  He loves to hear his name in praise and in song, but that is it.  In his mind, he is a mythical hero, a god, and it is sacrilegious for anyone to criticize him.   Make no mistake about it, Nigerians, it is not that Obasanjo does not believe in criticism, but it must be criticism of his enemies.  As savior of the people of Nigeria, Nigerians should be grateful to him, and hold praisesinging ceremonies.  Remember: he conquered corruption, whose name is Sani Abacha. 

That, of course, is where Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State comes in.  Very conveniently, for the first time, billionaire Daniel discovered in his fifth year in office how appropriate it is to recognize hardworking citizens…with N100,000.  It was a trick, calculated to enable Obasanjo to embark on the kind of loud self-praise Aso Rock praise-singers used to prepare for him. Who can sing Obasanjo’s praises better than Obasanjo?  That is why we remember none of the people the occasion was meant to acknowledge. 

Obasanjo does not want to be criticized, but he wants to reserve the right to criticize, as Gowon, Muhammadu Buhari, Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha would testify; and as Nigerian organizations and citizens all over the world would testify. 

The truth is that Obasanjo has never had any regard for what anyone else has to say, unless it is in his favour.  He did not serve Nigerians; he used them.  By saying he does not read our newspapers, he really means he does not want to hear what Nigerians think.  And he wants to bait the press into not reporting the full malfeasance of his eight years in office, as it begins to unravel.  He will not get his wish.

There is another truth.  He said he does not read Nigerian newspapers.  That is half the truth.  He does not read, period.  We can confirm this because we know that if he read the foreign press (and understood them) he would know they have an even more unfavourable opinion of him. 

Obasanjo thinks the Nigerian press does not reflect the views of Nigerians, I invite him to demonstrate his popularity by walking one mile on any city street in Nigeria at midday, or shopping for just one hour. 

And he can invite the Times of London and the New York Times to cover his adventure. 

• sonala.olumhense@gmail.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 Obasanjo thinks the Nigerian press does not reflect the views of Nigerians, I invite him to demonstr...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 25.08.2007 22:53

osaeloka  Villager

# 2 Well spoken. Posted by osaeloka| 26.08.2007 02:58

akuluouno  Villager

# 3 Nigeria deserved the Obasanjo they had.:frown::frown: Posted by akuluouno| 26.08.2007 05:34

igwe  Villager

# 4 I wish the former president would take you up on that challenge to, at least prove those who don't like him wrong by showing that Nigerians really like him, except some disgruntled journalists. Posted by igwe| 26.08.2007 06:06

Abraxas  Villager

# 5 Hi, folks! This appears like a very generous eulogy designed to massage whatever is left of that geriatric blighter's ego. I can see the author is a very soft-hearted, though a thoroughly bitten victim of General Okikiolakan Obasanjo's megalomania. Let us humour OBJ. If it was not for Abacha's mistake of not executing .... {I beg-i, leff am for GOD} Muchas gracias. Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III) Posted by Abraxas| 26.08.2007 06:30

Frisky Larr  Villager

# 6 This is a bunch of nonesense that is rather hypocritically taking advantage of sentiments for several other reasons than personal disgruntlement. This is what - I guess - the witer is also accusing OBJ of. The personal attitude of OBJ towards governance that is largely informed by his first northern-dominated/controlled govt. and his days in prison under Abacha is always taken out of context to represent nothing but evil. I regard this as mischief at play. Of course, many ordinary Nigerians will not worship OBJ much like they will never sing the praises of any governor that did not provide good roads and electricity/water. The ordinary folk also knows nothing about leadership style or OBJ's so-called god-like conceitment. This is largely known to those who sought one favor or the other from OBJ and failed and therefore ultimately vowed to enmity like is widely rumoured of Reuben Abati. It is therefore a mystery why and how this author believes that the ordinary folk shares the fanatic and personal hatred-based echo of disgruntlement reflected in the mass media. Dissatisfaction in both ways are based on different reasons and the media do not reflect what the ordinary Nigerian knows. Failure to mobilize a popular uprising against the establishment in the aftermath of the flawed presidential elections should have taught this writer the ultimate boundary of the common bond between the OBJ-critical Press and the Nigerian folks. The conclusion is clear. The mass media in Nigeria does not echo the sentiments of the ordinary Nigerian on the OBJ issue. Play on words or circumstantial manipulations like the writer is attempting to do does not change a thing. Posted by Frisky Larr| 26.08.2007 11:02

Anon  Villager

# 7 I guess the writer threw open a simple enough challenge. If OBJ really wants to test his popularity, he or anyone who knows him can take up that challenge asap. Posted by Anon| 26.08.2007 11:12

Omowa2  Villager

# 8 On another matter please I have been trying to understand the classification of IBB boys Vs Obasanjo boys. I have read in many write-ups about IBB boys and now Obasanjo boys. To my mind those who qualify as Obasanjo boys appear to me as young men from different ethnic groups who have a GREAT passion for the Nigeria project. They want a better Nigeria and are not sure if the dictates of democracy can help a gaint on its knees get up. I thank the almighty for giving Nigeria this new President who like Otedola will win the Baba Go slow award. On the other hand who are the IBB boys? Are they not military politicians who know how to line their pockets? Someone who has a better grasp of Nigerian history should help me with this 'boyistc' classification. Omowa2 Posted by Omowa2| 26.08.2007 18:26

ozoodoo  Villager

# 9 Thank you for another well aimed and on-target delivery. However, please take it softly softly ooooo Else his lickspittle chorus boys will commit suicide out of frustration. Posted by ozoodoo| 26.08.2007 18:48

Abraxas  Villager

# 10 Hi, folks! Make una take time small, read wetin wey dey make my belle sweet, well-well: Muchas gracias. Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III) Obasanjo Again! By Sam Nda-Isaiah. Source: Leadership Nigeria<... At a little past midday on May 29th, Nigerians were happy that at last, they have been rid of their pesky president, Segun Obasanjo, who for at least four of eight years, ruled them without their permission. As is now commonly acknowledged, Obasanjo was the worst thing that ever happened to Africa’s most populous country. To endure a man like that for eight years was an achievement no nation should wish to accomplish twice in its history. It is a testament to the enormity of the former president’s unpopularity that Nigerians were even ready to give someone, who was not really elected a chance just to get rid of him. In fact, many influential Nigerians had to plead with several aggrieved people, who were ready to scuttle the May 29 process, and the only reason many of the aggrieved consented was because they got convinced that Obasanjo could be the ultimate beneficiary of their action, and not the people. In fact, the whole Africa celebrated Obasanjo’s ouster. It was like a plague had given way. But the man keeps talking. Penultimate Sunday, at the occasion of the Ogun State Awards Night in Abeokuta, where Obasanjo was conferred with a "Lifetime Achievement Award," which in plain language was Governor Gbenga Daniel’s way of saying "thank you Baba for rigging the election for me," the former president excoriated Nigerian newspapers, again. Yes, again. He has done this over and over and over again in the past, and there is nothing to be surprised about. Obasanjo doesn’t like the Nigerian media, the people who own them and those who manage them. Again, that should surprise no one. In fact, he doesn’t like human beings. Even his aides of the last eight years have just recently come to discover that their former boss and mentor doesn’t like them. They have now nicknamed him "Baba use and dump." One of his numerous wives once told us that because her husband grew up utterly indigent, wandering about without shoes much of his youth, he cherishes the sight of people in pain and suffering. But he reserves his worst animus for the Nigerian media because they always expose his avarice. They exposed his shameful self-perpetuation bid; they exposed his blind trust in the Transnational Corporation; they exposed his forgery of the 2002 electoral law; they exposed the massive stealing that took place in the NNPC. And they are going to expose more. It was also the media that exposed the former president as a fake statesman and a fake anti-corruption crusader. No crook likes to be exposed, no matter how hard he pretends. In fact, the former president was exposed lying again the umpteenth time when he said he doesn’t read Nigerian newspapers. I know for a fact that he reads LEADERSHIP intently. Those close enough to him told me this. And the editors of The SUN Newspapers also exposed him last week reading the Daily Sun, when their diligent photographers caught him in the act. But maybe he was not really reading the stories and news items. He was probably only interested in their page three girl and was probably memorising the girl’s GSM number so as to get in touch. You know the only thing Baba loves, more than hating Nigerian media people, is "anything in skirt" as they say. But one expects that as a theology student, Obasanjo would bridle his bad manners of constantly lying through his teeth. Is it not strange that a Bible student should be lying? But that’s if you don’t know that lying is like a sport for Nigeria’s former president. He is a known compulsive liar! The Nigerian media would have loved to obliterate the word "Obasanjo" from their systems, and wait for the time the former president would inexorably be visited by his comeuppance for all his crimes against us. But it would be difficult to do so until we know what exactly happened for instance, to the $8 billion he "spent" on power supply, the N500 billion he "spent" on roads, and where the multiple of N50 million he used to bribe each Senator and Reps members for his failed third term bid came from in the last eight years. The Nigerian media would also not leave him until we know who owns the numerous oil blocks that he dished out like candies in the last eight years. Somehow the media suspect that there are also several blind trusts in the ownership of many of the oil blocks. Not that anyone suspects him, but the Nigerian media will just not keep their eyes away from the ball until the deaths of people like Bola Ige and similar assassinations are unravelled. The media are not just being nosey. In doing all these, they are only discharging their responsibilities. The Nigerian constitution, which Obasanjo twice pledged to preserve in the last eight years, but which ofcourse he did only in the breach, actually empowers them to do so. And as Reuben Abati said, even though Obasanjo is out of power today, the media people he disdains are not only still in office, they are actually still in power also. Is Obasanjo not ashamed that his successor started talking about electoral reforms even before he was sworn in? Does that not tell him the kind of person he has been? Let people like Gov. Daniel continue to deceive him, it would not change the truth about him. How many people still visit Obasanjo these days? Indeed, how many people, who only weeks ago were fouling the air with "Baba forever," are still around him? The former president has now become a pariah, a social outcast. Many international organisations of statesmen which he hitherto belonged to have expunged his name from their register. None of them now wants to be seen in his company. Nelson Mandela recently cobbled together a group of statesmen to intervene in the world’s troubled spots. Ordinarily, Obasanjo could have been a natural member of that group, but Mandela knows better than including such a scandalous name in his list. Let Gov. Daniel give him "the best former president of the world award," he only makes himself a laughing stock. The problem with Obasanjo is that he covets attention. He has just discovered that political power is borrowed power and he is no longer in the spotlight. So he keeps talking, so as to remind everyone that he is still around. But he needs to know that he chafes people by opening his mouth every now and then. In other climes, he would by now be hiding his face from public glare with his tail permanently behind his legs. It is hard to believe that the Nigerian people ever raised a man like this to the nation’s presidency. In 1999, I mean. Because in 2003, he stole the elections like a common thief. Obasanjo is bad news. Unfortunately, the media is attracted to bad news. That is why Obasanjo himself would have noticed that lately, the international media have also joined their Nigerian counterparts in exposing him as a fake. Will he then also stop reading the foreign newspapers? Posted by Abraxas| 27.08.2007 01:27