My Watch: What does Baba Iyabo want? -By Edozie Okeiyi

Nigeria is a unique place in the World by all standards. It is a place where anything is possible. It is a place so naturally endowed with abundant natural and human resources that we have practically all ‘brands’ of human beings; some exemplary in conduct, while some are only masters in pointing accusing fingers but quite hypocritical in real life. While it is normal to have these classifications in a normal habitation, what is, however, worrisome is that we presently have a situation where an individual who had eight years to lead by example and failed woefully, is now working tirelessly to unsettle his Successors who are working hard to fix the mess he created. What an irony!

In 1999 after nearly two decades of military rule, Nigeria was ushered into the fourth attempt at democratic rule. The beneficiary of this new dispensation was Olusegun Obasanjo. Many People heaved a sigh of relief that the ex-General, who had just come out of Prison, was going to replicate Mandela in Nigeria. Most people thought because he had undergone the Prison experience just like Mandela, he would lead like a statesman devoid of bitterness, pettiness and rancor. How wrong we were! Instead of replicating Mandela, he rather attempted unsuccessfully to replicate Mugabe. He had the opportunity to be like Mandela but blew it on the altar of hypocrisy.

It is against this background that I find his vituperations quite disturbing. How can one be preaching a gospel he never practised when he had the opportunity? What good governance did he practice while in office? What are his legacies? Hypocrisy simply means preaching what you don’t or never practiced. Mr. Obasanjo should examine his face in the mirror before he points his fingers at others.

It is indisputable that Nigeria is passing through a difficult and challenging time. It is a well known fact that we are undergoing series of security challenges. It therefore demands that Leaders be statesmanlike in comments and actions. The current ranting of OBJ totally falls below the standard expected of a former President. His motives are quite questionable. Could it be the usual cry of a godfather who has been dumped by his anointed Son? Could it be patriotism? This is most unlikely!

In one of his usual ranting, he even accused the entire National Assembly of being corrupt. Although it is true that corruption is endemic in our Society, it does not, however, justify labeling the entire institution of Parliament as corrupt. During his time everyone witnessed his type of ‘transparency.’ Everyone saw the desperate attempt made to remove Hon Ghali Umar Na’Abba from his position. It was, indeed, a national embarrassment when members of the Federal House of Representatives displayed the lorry load of money offered them to impeach the then Speaker Na’Abba. So did he just realize today that the National Assembly was corrupt? Did he not contribute to the problem in the National Assembly today? He actually planted the seed of this problem when he in 1999, prevented the popular candidate Okadigbo from emerging as the Leader of the National Assembly, and installed Enwerem as the Senate President. That was the root of the crisis in the National Assembly which set the tone for future executive interferences. He had the worst relationship with the Legislature in our history, and had a cat and mouse relationship with his Vice President. He is certainly not a democrat and, therefore, has no moral compass to navigate in the territory of transparency. The fact he continues to pour his venomous ranting unchallenged is attributable to the fact we have a President who is the very opposite of him, especially in terms of tolerance and liberality. Baba Iyabo would definitely not tolerate such ranting from a former head of state had he been the President. He should thank his stars that President Jonathan is generally calm and liberal, and not a vindictive person like him.

If the truth must be told, suffice it to say that the foundation of over 90% of the present mess we have was rooted in the Obasanjo administration. Let us examine just a few of them just for illustrations.

The issue of sharia and the security challenges it created. Obasanjo never addressed this volatile issue for fear of being labeled a bigot. He conveniently ignored the threats and openly boasted everywhere that Sharia would die a natural death. His approach was too lackadaisical for a President. Today he is still alive to see the consequences of his negligence of duty.

Secondly his ill fated attempt to perpetuate himself in power which is commonly known as the third term gambit. This inordinate ambition to remain in power beyond the Constitutionally enshrined 8 years led to a desperate attempt to amend the Constitution and compromise our democratic institutions. It was alleged that billions of tax payers’ money was wasted in this abortive attempt. Although he has always denied this, his daughter Iyabo has however corroborated this well known fact that indeed he harbored this illicit ambition to do a ‘MUGABE’ and desperately attempted but failed to actualize this.

The greatest injustice Mr. Obasanjo did to Nigeria was the alleged imposition of a sick Yar’Adua on Nigeria. Having failed to actualise his 3rd term gambit, Yar’Adua was the last joker he played. Although he denied ever knowing that Yar’Adua was terminally sick, many analysts continue to allege that he indeed knew of Yar’Adua health problems and merely tried to use him to achieve the third term through the back door. His daughter Iyabo has also buttressed the story that he indeed knew about the health conditions of Yar’Adua. The demise of Yar’Adua generated so much tension and led to a chain of reactions which are not yet resolved till date.

What about his crude approach to Law enforcement? Can anyone forget how he ordered the military action in ODI which led to the massacre of an entire town? What about Zaki Biam? The list is endless.

Under his regime, politically motivated assassinations were the order of the day. Till today nobody knows who killed Bola Ige, who killed Marshall Harry, who killed Dikibo, Okadigbo and so forth. I still remember the case of Anambra State in 2004 where a sitting governor was abducted by touts loyal to him allegedly with his connivance.

I don’t want the reader to be bored regarding elections held under his watch. The fact that he described an election as a do or die affair sums it up. Political opponents had no space to operate. Elections held under his supervision could shame a banana republic.

What is the point being made? The message I am sending across is that Nigeria has many problems which most of them were inherited from Obasanjo’s administration. The least he can do is to support and send his views across to the current President. All this ranting only exposes his hypocrisy. He had the opportunity to fix Nigeria for over eleven years. Did he build roads and bridges that have been closed by Jonathan? How can one be shamelessly preaching a gospel that is strange to him? Can someone tell baba Iyabo he has no moral justification to question this administration. If he had followed the example of Mandela Nigeria would have been different. He contributed greatly to the present mess. Each time he throws a dart at the present administration, I always expect him to make a comparative analysis but he doesn’t. I would love him to highlight his achievements for the eight years he was in charge. Leaders who accomplished while in office won’t need to be shouting for relevance when they leave office. Their records of achievements and accomplishments would always speak for them. But when there are no achievements to celebrate, it would be better to maintain a dignified silence.

The recent autobiography he launched even without exercising patience to thrash out all legal impediments, in my opinion is the final self inflicted nail on his already battered reputation. The claims are simply idiotic. He sought to make a hero out of himself and tried to discredit others. The most laughable claim is the suggestion that the Presidency influenced his daughter Iyabo to write the open letter against him last December. If, indeed, the Presidency could influence his biological daughter, a former senator for that matter, to write against him, then it means that he has failed as a man. Iyabo going by her antecedents is a fully grown lady who speaks her mind without minding whose ox is gored. Charity begins at home. If a man cannot practise integrity in his own household, he has no basis to preach same to others. He is simply a family certified hypocrite. I do hope he doesn’t push Iyabo to publish the second volume of the open letter. Baba Iyabo should bury his head in shame. He needs to practise integrity before he can preach it. This book has finally exposed the scale of hypocrisy in OBJ. Nigerians can read between the lines and see the mischief that underpins his story. The timing is also questionable. One doesn’t have to be a genius so see that the publication of this book is linked to his latest role of a Navigator for the 2015 Elections.

In the Yoruba pre-colonial political system, when a king is presented with an empty calabash by the senior chiefs, the King would be left with two options, either to commit suicide or go away on exile. I have read the open letter Iyabo wrote to her Dad Mr. Obasanjo a couple of times. That letter amounts to an open presentation of calabash by Iyabo to her dad. As a Christian I won’t advise Mr. Obasanjo to commit suicide. I would rather advise Mr. Obasanjo to either go on a dignified ‘exile’ of silence or assume his recent job of a navigator officially. That way each time he speaks it would be clear and evident to all that he is doing so as the navigator, not as a statesman.

God bless Nigeria….