OlusegunObasanjo is back on a familiar terrain. One thing you cannot take away from the war tested soldier is that he does not suffer fools for long.
He speaks his mind when it is demanded. He may not be right after all, but he will always say it all the same. That’s the attitude of good statesmanship.
It is common knowledge that Obasanjo has consistently disagreed with every president of Nigeria whether civilian or military; with the exception of Murtala Mohammed and AbdulsalamiAbubakar.
He disagreed with Yakubu Gowon and became the second in command when the man was sacked in a military coup.
After leaving office, he had deep reservations about the manner ShehuShagari and his team managed the economy and the country generally. Before we knew it, a coup took place.
Then MuhammaduBuhari took over and Obasanjo thought the era of undue military dictatorship was over in Nigeria despite his ill-feelings towards the immediate past civilian government.
Within a short time, Ibrahim Babangida took over and introduced the Structural Adjustment Programme(SAP) which demanded that we all must make new holes in our belts. Obasanjo believed SAP should wear a human face.
In addition, Babangida played on the intelligence of the Nigerian people with his deceptive transition programmes. That annoyed Obasanjo to no end. We all know what happened.
When Babangida stepped aside, the man with the mien and temperament of a drunkard took over.
Acts of uncontrollable bloodthirstiness characterised the administration of SaniAbacha and Obasanjo couldn’t stand it. He spoke out when Abacha combined these with the ambition to become a civilian ruler.
With military alacrity, Obasanjo was roped into a phantom coup attempt, tried by a military tribunal and sentenced to death by firing squad.
God smiled on the old general such that on the day he was to be tied to the stake and shot, his persecutor, Abacha, died mysteriously.
From prison, Obasanjo emerged as president of Nigeria. He governed for eight years, and desired tenure extension that did not work out. He left us with Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the former governor of Katsina State.
Then Yar’Adua got sick and could hardly handle state affairs any longer. It became clear that Nigeria was heading towards the precipice with no one fully in charge,since power was not constitutionally transferred to the vice president. Obasanjo spoke out again.
At that time, he knew that the young officers in the armed forces needed a commander-in-chief and were ready to appoint one through the bullets.
Yar’Adua eventually died. Goodluck Jonathan took over. As vice president, he was Obasanjo’s boy.
Despite opposition from the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obasanjo paved the way for him to contest and succeed Yar’Adua as president. Then they parted ways.
When it was time for Jonathan to seek a re-election, Obasanjo stood against him, left the PDP and publicly declared his support for MuhammaduBuhari. The rest, as they say, is history.
Some of us knew that it was a matter of time before Obasanjo would turn against Buhari. For a while, he kept his mouth shut and supported the probes carried out against Jonathan’s administration.
As a way of rewarding the loyalty, Buhari refused to probe Obasanjo’s administration despite rumourthat the rot we see today started during his era; especially during the mad rush for tenure elongation.
From all indications, the honeymoon is over; or is being reviewed.
A few days ago, Obasanjo took a swipe at Buhari by asking him to fix the economy and deliver on the change mantra instead of complaining about the rot of the past.
Obasanjo said: “It is easier to win an election than to right the wrongs of a badly fouled situation. When you are outside, what you see and know are nothing compared with the reality.
“And yet once you are on the seat, you have to clear the mess and put the nation on the path of rectitude, development and progress leaving no group or section out of your plan, programme, policy and efforts.
“The longer it takes, the more intractable the problem may become.
“I understand Buhari’s frustration on the state of the economy inherited by him. It was the same reason and situation that brought about the cry for change, otherwise there would be no need for change if it was all nice and rosy.
“No administration can or should be comfortable with the excruciating pain of a debilitating and crushing economy. Businesses are closing, jobs are being lost and people are suffering.
“Now that we have had change because the actors and the situation needed to be changed, let us move forward to have progress through a comprehensive economic policy and programme that is intellectually, strategically and philosophically based.
“I know that Buhari has always expressed concern for the plight of the common people but that concern must be translated to workable and result-oriented socio-economic policy and programme that will turn the economy around at the shortest time possible.
“We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect things to change.
“The investors, domestic and foreign, are no fools and they know what is going on with the management of the economy, including foreign exchange, and they are not amused.
“The Central Bank must be restored to its independence and integrity. We must be careful and watchful of the danger of short-termism. Short-term may be the enemy of medium and long-terms.’’
Now that the oracle has spoken, I hope someone is listening.
No further comment.
