Despite a court order stopping the publication of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest book, MY WATCH, the former leader went ahead with the public presentation of the book yesterday at the Ikeja Country Club, Ikeja, Lagos.
The book, containing obvious critical views of its author about individuals, institutions and events in the country, was ordered not to be published after a former associate of the Obasanjo, Buruji Kashamu approached the court.
Obasanjo and Kashamu have been at each other’s throat over statements credited to the former president about Kashamu and his alleged drug running past and pending drug related cases in the US.
But speaking on the court order stopping the publication of the book, Obasanjo told the audience at the book launch that he would “never be part of illegality”, explaining that the court order had sought to stop the publication of the book when it had already been published.
Reports say several thousand printed copies of the book have already gone into circulation while the electronic version, which is not within the jurisdiction of Nigerian courts, will be released online soon.
However, reacting to the book’s launch, Buruji Kashamu said Obasanjo’s action has again confirmed his knack for lawlessness and arbitrariness.
In a statement, Kashamu said: “Everybody knows that good governance is based on the rule of law, due process and respect for constituted authority. It beats my imagination that this man can be sermonising about good governance when he shamelessly advertises all the elements of bad governance.
“In short, he is bad governance personified. He is the worst advertisement for the product he is trying to advertise – good governance. He has shown that he does not have respect for the judiciary, and that he is above the law.”
Continuing, Buruji hinted on his readiness to press charges against the former president, saying he had instructed his lawyers to press criminal contempt charges against him and all those who assisted him in flouting the orders of the court.
He added: “I will ensure that they are all dragged before the court, and particularly, Obasanjo, without his cap, to show why he should not be punished for criminal contempt.
“By his unruly conduct, Chief Obasanjo has shown for the umpteenth time that he is indecent and uncivilised. Certainly, President Goodluck Jonathan and his predecessor, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and others he criticised in the controversial book, which I am reliably informed he did not write, are made of a sterner stuff than him. They are true democrats and gentlemen to the core.”
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