The media, especially newspapers, online and social media are engulfed by what is now referred to as “famous letter” sent to president Goodluck Jonathan by erstwhile former president now elder statesman, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The ex-president wrote an 18-page letter to President Goodluck Jonathan accusing him of failing Nigerians in his position as the President of the country. The thought provoking and insightful letter, amongst other things accused the president of nepotism, lying about his second term ambition and condoning corruption. The former president also spoke bitterly about the issue of insecurity and how it’s gradually ravaging the entire system.
As expected the letter will generate a lot of comments, and criticisms. Of course it did generate reactions especially from social media and other pundits. More expectedly is response from one of the presidential aide. This time around, the spokesperson to the President Reuben Abati rose to the defense of his boss.
According to Abati, President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed as “most reckless” and “unjustifiable” a fiercely scathing letter he received from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in which Mr. Obasanjo accused him of lying, condoning corruption, and leading Nigeria to the brink of collapse. A statement by the president’s aide, further said the allegations by the former president were “baseless and indecorous.” Abati even go ahead to claim that, “many patriotic, objective and well-meaning Nigerians have already condemned the leaked letter as self-serving, hypocritical, malicious, indecent, and very disrespectful of the highest office in the land.
Many are asking if this same Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was the very president who tried unsuccessfully to perpetuate himself in power through the unpopular third- term project. Nigerians are too advanced to be cowed or forget similar scenarios that were played between between 1999 and 2007 when Obasanjo was President.
Truth be told, given the unenviable manner he conducted the affairs of this country while in office, former President Obasanjo has lost the moral right to offer advice to others on how they should steer the ship of state.
Some writers also argued that that the much touted war against corruption during his administration was a grand plot to crush those who dared to challenge his stlye of governance. Others also pointed out that anti-graft agency were sent after state governors who chose to defer in views or go against President Obasanjo’s ‘order. Other arguments against Obasanjo’s administration were that State Houses of Assembly members, not minding their numbers, could convene a session even in hotels and impeach their governors. The case of state-sponsored thugs that invaded the Anambra state Government House and captured a sitting duly elected governor where no one was arrested or prosecuted, also capture the argument.
Basically, from other reactions of the people especially on twitter, most didn’t doubt the objectivity of the letter. As a matter of fact many lauded the genuineness and credence of the letter. More so, well-meaning Nigerians were even happy that all the criticism is coming from the same man “singlehandedly” enthrone Jonathan as the president of the country. But the main issue critics raised against the former president is that, whether he (Obasanjo) has the moral right to send such letter to the president. This is in the sense that the administration of the ex-president is not far better than this current administration.
But be that as it may, many will say Obasanjo’s administration wasn’t as factional and sectional as Jonathan’s. Furthermore, even though there was corruption in both administrations, it is gradually rising to the level of impunity in this current administration. But come to think of it, who amongst the ex-leaders of this country shares the same ideology with Chief Obasanjo. I mean who amongst them is in good terms with the ex-president.
If you remember at the end of the letter, Obasanjo craved indulgence of the president to please share the contents of the letter with the likes of former heads of state Ibrahim Babangida, and Abdulsalam Abubakar. Obasanjo. I still find it difficult to comprehend the rationale behind this. Perhaps the former president is trying to bring Babangida , which everyone knows they are not in good terms, into the scenario for reasons best known to him. In this vein, the sincerity of the letter can also be questioned in the sense that Obasanjo himself has never been in good terms with virtually all the ex-leaders of the country, especially from President Shehu Shagari to late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua not to take of his regular altercations with general Muhammad Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida. Only General Sani Abacha was able to tame him. His tantrums and banters exchange with Babangida in recent times was never an open secret. More so, the hassle with his former Vice President Atiku Abubakar which has to do with his (OBJ) third term ambition may also star in this scene. The then Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) was sent to scrutinize Atiku and when they failed to find any incriminating document, Obasanjo tried to remove him as Vice President. The courts rejected the idea and ruled that Obasanjo-Atiku ticket is a joint presidency. His ADC was removed and a spy was attached to him to leak all his secrets.
By the time the same person is having problems with different people; you find it difficult to believe the credibility of his own thoughts, except if he is a seer or a saint. Also not forgetting the issues Obasanjo heard with the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua in the early stage of his administration. Pundits may see it as problem of loyalty to the “boss” and thus the same may also go to Jonathan, to the people that think in that direction. No doubt the letter to by Obasanjo was genuine and timely, but that doesn’t dispute the fact that, the animosity within him doesn’t have a large role to play in the way he relates with his successors and predecessors. Arguably, Obasanjo is the most celebrated Nigerian leader, but still don’t have notable allies that openly share the same political notion. Perhaps he is religiously dancing to the famous axiom “Politicians are known to be fair weather people with no permanent friends, but permanent interest.
Moshood Isah Sapele Street, Garki II Abuja moshoodpm@gmail.com
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