On Obasanjo's Mordacious Eulogy
On Obasanjo's Mordacious Eulogy
Regarding
Obasanjo's latest faux pas, it is of no surprise to some of us who are aware of
his capabilities. This piece is primarily for the sake of posterity and to
enlighten a generation that may not be aware of Obasanjo's antecedents.
Though I
am not much of a traditionalist, I do respect some Yoruba traditions,
particularly respecting elders. However, one aspect I have always found
problematic is the conferring of respect to elders who do not seem to deserve
respect.
Olusegun
Obasanjo may mean different things to different people, but to me he is a
megalomaniac who suffers from a grave messiah complex.
Prior to
Nigeria's misadventure with our semblance of democracy in 1999, Obasanjo was in
the mix of the political machinations.
It must
be emphatically acknowledged that the events of 1993 birthed 1999. Following
the free and fair election of June 12, 1993 and the subsequent illegal
annulment by Ibrahim Babangida, a protracted struggle ensued, which culminated
in the ouster of the military.
Unfortunately,
Africa lost one of its illustrious sons and the President-elect of Nigeria
Chief M.K.O Abiola on July 7th 1998. This was a death with huge implications
for the future of Nigeria. The immediate reaction of the military junta was to
avert the potential disintegration of the country.
Enter
Obasanjo! The military establishment; which was mainly controlled by the
Northern political kingmakers, recruited Obasanjo to douse the tension in the
country. This was a deliberate attempt to pacify the Yoruba in particular,
because Abiola and Obasanjo were both Yoruba from Abeokuta, and had a long
history dating back to their high school days.
However,
in typical Obasanjo fashion, he never entertained the thought of Abiola being
the 'messiah' Nigeria needed, and implied he was more befitting of such a
messianic role. For someone like Obasanjo, it is either him or no one
else; if he is not the one playing the 'divine' role of saviour or taking the
glory for perceived public acts of good, then it cannot be anyone else.
As a
matter of fact, the 1999 election was already predetermined in favour of
Obasanjo; the handpicked PDP candidate. It must be noted that the Yoruba
generally did not vote for Obasanjo in the 1999 presidential election. Apart
from not having any political clout, he was seen as a military stooge and
betrayer. Nonetheless, Obasanjo was sworn-in as president on May 29th 1999 (an
anomalous date which will later be redressed).
Due to
his style of governance, Obasanjo faced imminent impeachment by the national
assembly in 2002. Notably, the prominent bloc that spearheaded his political
survival were the Yoruba. Senators and Governors under the AD (Alliance for
Democracy) put their political and personal differences with Obasanjo aside and
rallied support for him at the national assembly. People like Senator Olabiyi
Durojaiye worked assiduously from within the national assembly to actualize
anti-impeachment plans.
Alas,
Obasanjo was saved and he survived the impeachment imbroglio. Unbeknownst to
them, Obasanjo was going to pay them back the best way he knew how -
betrayal!
One of
my issues with Obasanjo is his ignoble role in the gradual extirpation of
Omoluabi politics in Western Nigeria - Yorubaland.
Since
his 'anointed' emergence in 1999, Obasanjo felt slighted that as president of
Nigeria, his political party (PDP) did not control the Western States,
particularly his home state - Ogun. The 2003 general elections gave
Obasanjo the perfect opportunity to fix this supposed political albatross.
After all, charity does begin at home! The implications of Obasanjo's
short-sightedness are far-reaching and reprehensible.
I will
cite Ogun State as an example because I was privy to some events of 2003. I was
at the residence of the former Governor of Ogun State Chief Olusegun Osoba,
when he left to have a courtesy breakfast with Obasanjo before the
election. Knowing how principled Chief Osoba is, he wouldn't join the PDP
under any circumstance, so the arrangement was for a seeming alliance that
would have the electorate vote PDP in the presidential and vote AD in the
gubernatorial elections respectively.
A
complicated arrangement which turned out to be a well-orchestrated subterfuge
intended to sack all AD governors and decimate the political structure of
Western Nigeria. There were effectively no elections in the Western States - it
was a military coup. Obasanjo used military force to enthrone his PDP
minions across the Western States, except in Lagos where Tinubu literally
fought fire with fire!
I
returned to Lagos from Ogun State, specifically Ikoyi, and remember what I
witnessed at the Eti-Osa Local Government office on Glover Road. Love or loathe
Tinubu, he withstood the firepower of Obasanjo in 2003 and became the
celebrated lone survivor.
Following
the 2003 elections, the AD lost prominent members of the national assembly from
Western Nigeria. At the gubernatorial level, people like Gbenga Daniel of the
PDP emerged victorious against Chief Olusegun Osoba in Ogun State. Osun State
witnessed Chief Adebisi Akande losing out to Olagunsoye Oyinlola. In Oyo State,
Lam Adesina lost to Rashid Ladoja; which paved the way for someone like
Alao-Akala to later emerge as governor. In Ondo State, Chief Adebayo Adefarati
lost to Olusegun Agagu and later paved the way for Olusegun Mimiko to emerge as
governor. A character like Ayo Fayose emerged victorious against Niyi Adebayo
in Ekiti. Incidentally, Obasanjo and Fayose are still at loggerheads to date,
and the latter once publicly asked for a refund for the donation he made as
governor to Obasanjo's presidential library. That's Obasanjo's legacy.
Undoubtedly,
2003 saw the emergence of some despicable and unscrupulous fellows that
pervaded the political sphere. Overnight, nonentities with questionable
backgrounds became prominent politicos and kingmakers, and morality in politics
was being eroded.
An
unfortunate consequence of the era signalled the death knell to morality
politics and the entrenchment of moneybag politics in the Western region.
Generally, people stopped questioning the source of wealth of potential
political office holders. Also, those with questionable backgrounds who somehow
made it politically became an inspiration to a segment of society who were
previously frowned upon. This sociopolitical manifestation sent the wrong
signals to the populace and we are still suffering the consequences of
amorality.
Obasanjo
had the ambition of controlling the political structure of the Western region
at any cost, even if it came with dire consequences. Furthermore, it has always
been Obasanjo's wish to be revered in the Western region like Chief Obafemi
Awolowo and nationally honoured like Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
GCFR.
Specifically
on June 12, Obasanjo was the main political beneficiary of the demise of
Nigeria's President-elect M.K.O Abiola, but he tried everything within his
means to suppress that date and wished he could erase Abiola from the annals of
history.
As fate
would have it, the icon Obasanjo refused to honour during his 8 year
presidential tenure, was honoured by a president of Northern origin - Muhammadu
Buhari. The May 29th date chosen by Obasanjo has been overridden by June 12th;
a national holiday that will haunt Obasanjo for the rest of his life!
Following
the death of Esho Jinadu aka Buruji Kashamu, there have been condemnations
about Obasanjo's alleged 'condolence' statement. Some people have chosen to
give Obasanjo the benefit of doubt and labelled the statement fake news;
probably because they can't fathom why he spoke ill of the dead.
Regardless,
the case of Buruji Kashamu is a very interesting one, because it underscores
Obasanjo's penchant for hypocrisy and vainglorious tendencies. Even after a
man's demise, he has to steal the spotlight. Obasanjo was a direct political
beneficiary of Kashamu's Omo Ilu movement in Ogun State, until their
contretemps. But, that should not come as a surprise, because that is the
Obasanjo modus operandi.
According
to Obasanjo, Kashamu evaded the law during his lifetime but could not evade
death, which is rather ironic, because Obasanjo himself is yet to face justice
for the alleged squandering of "US$16 Billion" on power projects.
Ideally,
people like Obasanjo - who contributed in large measure to Nigeria's current
predicament - shouldn't be making braggadocious statements at will. People of
his ilk should be at least remorseful for the ignominious role played in
Nigeria's quandary.
© M.B.O
2020
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