I read the below thought provoking article by Simon Kolawole of This Day. I cannot help but wonder (just like the writer) how easily Nigerians can forget the past- just like that!

Please read and think a little bit about the future of this country. Thank you. By the way, if you're the type who doesn't like reading long post, please back off!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the life of me, I will never understand how former President Olusegun Obasanjo does it. When you think he is done, he has just begun. I have watched in utter amusement how he has, yet again, wangled his way into the front page of newspapers on a daily basis. I don’t know of any other former head of state elsewhere who has turned himself into the subject and object of national attention long after he has left power. Obasanjo is always there, always scheming, always screaming. It is his luck, I must say, but, as a mere mortal, I often wonder why some guys have all the luck.

Obasanjo, amazingly, has become a god or a saint to many Nigerians. Many politicians, commentators, journalists, activists and youths who used to criticise him are now celebrating him as our moral compass. The people he has brutalised before — such as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi — go to Abeokuta to genuflect to him. Even Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of all people, goes to Obasanjo's house to pay homage. And President Goodluck Jonathan goes to Abeokuta to kowtow to him, with two respected pastors in tow.

How does Obasanjo do it? Can anyone help me out? He has a word on every issue. He expresses his opinion so forcefully, so eloquently and so mischievously that you just cannot ignore him. He loves to criticise what he is patently guilty of. He loves to vilify anyone who does not worship at his temple. There is no accusation Obasanjo throws at anyone that he himself is not double guilty of. He has launched ferocious media attacks against most of his successors — President Shehu Shagari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Jonathan. Only Gen. Sani Abacha pre-empted him by throwing him into jail before he could open his mouth.

Obasanjo complains about corruption and Nigerians hail him. What's his moral high ground? Can someone tell me? Has anybody never heard about the Halliburton and Siemens scandals? The damning reports are there in the attorney-general's office. Does the name Dr. Julius Makanjuola ring a bell? Under Obasanjo, he was the permanent secretary of the ministry of defence implicated in a N421 million scandal. Mysteriously, the case was abruptly closed with Nolle Prosequi (no further prosecution) — the first in Nigeria's history.

Well, Obasanjo went on to set up the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), headed by Malam Nuhu Ribadu, which — in fairness — did kick the backsides of many politicians. But EFCC could not tackle Obasanjo's own corruption: from the obscene fundraiser for his private library to his shareholding in Transcorp — a company that was getting juicy stuff from a government superintended by Obasanjo. Have we all forgotten the scandalous waivers granted to all kinds of human beings, officially defrauding our treasury billions of dollars?

Does anybody remember that Obasanjo was in power for eight years and we kept importing fuel, with PDP financiers getting the contracts through local and foreign fronts? Forgotten so easily? Does anybody remember how much we spent on repairing refineries that kept "knocking" for the eight years that Obasanjo was in power? Does anybody still remember Obasanjo saying on national TV that he did not know the price of kerosene and it was "unacceptable" that it was more expensive than petrol? How does Obasanjo get away with hoodwinking Nigerians?

Do we still remember that Obasanjo did not resolve the electricity problem for eight years? Do we still remember the "$16 billion spent on power without results" for which Obasanjo arrogantly refused to appear before the House probe panel? Is it that we have forgotten that the damning report was killed? Do we still remember that Obasanjo did not add one coach to the railways throughout his tenure despite spending billions of dollars? Does anybody still remember how many federal highways were in terrible state for the eight years that Obasanjo spent in power? Have we forgotten the Benin-Shagamu road saga? Just like that?

When Obasanjo discusses insecurity, I cringe. From every available evidence, Boko Haram started right under his nose. If he had aborted the foetus, maybe we wouldn't be engaged in fire-fighting today. I have heard many Nigerians say, perhaps innocently, that if Obasanjo had been in power he would have crushed Boko Haram by now. Really? How well did he crush the less complex militancy in the Niger Delta? Was it not under Obasanjo that the militancy started in 2004 and flourished?

To the best of my knowledge, militants were bombing oil installations and kidnapping oil workers with ease under Obasanjo. At a stage, daily crude oil production fell to about 900,000 barrels — from the height of 2.5m. In fact, we were later told that why Obasanjo picked Jonathan as the running mate to Yar'Adua was to appease the Niger Delta. Of course, nobody was appeased. The attacks continued until Yar'Adau offered an amnesty deal. How these facts conveniently escape us is beyond my understanding.

Insecurity? Abacha's regime aside, more Nigerians were assassinated under Obasanjo's watch than at any time in our history. The abridged roll-call: Chief Bola Ige, a serving minister; Chief Marshall Harry, co-ordinator of the Buhari presidential campaign in 2003; Chief AK Dikibo, PDP chieftain and ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Chief Uche Ogbonnaya (OGB), an ANPP senatorial candidate in Imo State in 2003; and Mr. Barnabas Igwe and his wife, Amaka, in Onitsha. The assassins were never unmasked. What is insecurity?

How did Obasanjo become our moral compass? How did he become such a highly sought-after role model? Has anybody ever managed to read the affidavit Obasanjo's own son, Gbenga, filed while seeking a divorce from his wife on the ground of incest and adultery? It doesn't matter? Has anybody ever taken time to read the letter Iyabo wrote to her father, giving graphic details of his megalomania and duplicity? It doesn't matter? Has anybody ever done a recap of the blatant rigging of elections under the "saint"? It doesn't matter?

Obasanjo pontificates on impunity and we hail him. What happened to us? Dr. Chris Ngige, as governor of Anambra State, was abducted by Obasanjo's associates. Have we forgotten the illegal impeachment of Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja as governor of Oyo State? What about the impeachment of Chief Joshua Dariye as governor of Plateau by eight out of 24 lawmakers? For three years, Obasanjo unconstitutionally withheld Lagos council allocations because of political differences. It took Yar'Adua only a few days in power to undo the impunity.

They say, "Oh, Obasanjo is a patriot. He has the best interest of Nigeria at heart." Really? Can Obasanjo look up to heavens and say, solemnly, that he had the best interest of Nigeria at heart when he was picking his successor? Such a character cannot be my own moral compass. With a moral compass like Obasanjo, though, Nigeria is doomed and damned.

Ref. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/obasanjo-as-nigerias-moral-compass/199481/#.VLuaDLsLm3s.facebook

you even forgot sharia crises,they are too numerous to mention,Impunity under saint obasanjo

Just exactly my thoughts.This crook called Obasanjo used PTDF funds to buy a 607 Peugeot for one of his concubines,tractors for his farm and coaster buses for his bells university. The haliburton scam was traced to his assistant.D worst of it all is d undue relevance being given to this man who has never won his ward in a free and fair election.

yes nobody would have said it better. if not for those who choose to drive the ship of development backward he would have been forgotten since
it is also worth mentioning that his ability to study situation and use it for is own good also have assisted him. I could remember a day a went to the reference section of a library, I brought out an epsyclopedia, when it came to Nigeria pages , almost half of the pages were talking about him
however I know the deliverance we need shall come very soon

I laugh when people call obasanjo name but its all because Nigeria have never had any role model that has an impeccable integrity. I still laugh when the likes of buhari and OBJ talk about change.

The writer perfectly summarized my thoughts.
Nigerians forget so easily

It's true we suffer from amnesia in this country.

ono:
Obasanjo pontificates on impunity and we hail him. What happened to us? Dr. Chris Ngige, as governor of Anambra State, was abducted by Obasanjo's associates. Have we forgotten the illegal impeachment of Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja as governor of Oyo State? What about the impeachment of Chief Joshua Dariye as governor of Plateau by eight out of 24 lawmakers? For three years, Obasanjo unconstitutionally withheld Lagos council allocations because of political differences. It took Yar'Adua only a few days in power to undo the impunity.

They say, "Oh, Obasanjo is a patriot. He has the best interest of Nigeria at heart." Really? Can Obasanjo look up to heavens and say, solemnly, that he had the best interest of Nigeria at heart when he was picking his successor? Such a character cannot be my own moral compass. With a moral compass like Obasanjo, though, Nigeria is doomed and damned.

Ref. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/obasanjo-as-nigerias-moral-compass/199481/#.VLuaDLsLm3s.facebook

The truth is that, these people champion Obj for this stuff. When a president doesn't abuse power they call him clueless. When a president does, they complain at first then they accept and then begin championing him for it.

It is a very backward way of rationalizing.

Want an example? They are cheering Amaechi for blocking PDP from using a stadium APC has used. This is a public stadium, not an APC only stadium. On the other hand they hate the fact Johnathan doesn't show "backbone" and bulldoze the way Obj and others like Amaechi do.

GEJ is too democratic for these types.

So, can write ups like this help sway the minds of of diehard GMB fans - for them to vote for GEJ? On my part, and to be frank, I don't like GEJ and I'm not sure he's capable of leading this country with the needed gusto she deserves.

But Buhari is NOT the solution either - I'm not sure if he's elected, he'll perform any better than what we're witnesssing now.

So, what do we do?

fallout87:



The truth is that, these people champion Obj for this stuff. When a president doesn't abuse power they call him clueless. When a president does, they complain at first then they accept and then begin championing him for it.

It is a very backward way of rationalizing.

Want an example? They are cheering Amaechi for blocking PDP from using a stadium APC has used. This is a public stadium, not an APC only stadium. On the other hand they hate the fact Johnathan doesn't show "backbone" and bulldoze the way Obj and others like Amaechi do.

GEJ is too democratic for these types.

I pray a word like #GEJistoodemocratic will trend some day in Nigeria.

Nigerians have gotten freedom after so many years of being in chains but they do not know what to do with it.

The problem we have in Nigeria is that we do ignore history and thats why it keeps repeating every-time. Obasanjo has become some peoples role model. Makes you wonder the level of their reasoning.

I must say that in as much as I do not intend to exonerate OBJ of the above mentioned lapses in his administration, even though the article lacks objectivity and balance reportage, we must not ignore the fact that no Ruler or president in the whole world without some issues that could not be rightly done under him, yet some of these rulers are rally points in their respective political terrain. From America to Asian, Europe to our Africa, the story is the same. To my mind, if OBJ was bad then and he is now a 'born again' person whose concern is about Nigeria, I prefer him to other past leaders, who looted the treasury of the country with reckless abandon, yet they are afraid to speak or intervene on matters of national importance, because perhaps they are afraid of the Government of the moment. I think, to me, if Obj was a bad leader and he is now repented and sees the need for a better Nigeria under a leadership that is different from his own supposed bad leadership and that of his successors who are not actually better, so be it. The article would have passed a quality assurance editing, if it had not deliberately ignored and left out the positives of Obasanjo and his administration.

Samuel Kolawole should go and sit down. What has OBJ moral compass got to do with the issue at hand? We are talking of the incompetence of a man and Nigerians clamour for a change from the past. Nobody said he was the best that ever happened to Nigeria. If a man by his sheer wickedness foisted a clueless man on the nation, when gbege happen between them na Uhuru for the masses. My people used to sing " Make una no follow them fight, na dem go dey give themselves jazz chop". It is normal that when a man sets up a plot, it is the same plot that will consume the plotter. Our prayer as the mass of this country is that whoever makes life difficult for us, may God bring rancour between them and He has been answering our prayers. I have stopped taking journalists serious since the time Reuben Abati went for stomach infrastructure and abandoned his calling as a member of the fourth estate of the realm. Simeon o, Segun Adeniyi o, Reuben and co na same of the same

nickxtra:
I must say that in as much as I do not intend to exonerate OBJ of the above mentioned lapses in his administration, even though the article lacks objectivity and balance reportage, we must not ignore the fact that no Ruler or president in the whole world without some issues that could not be rightly done under him, yet some of these rulers are rally points in their respective political terrain. From America to Asian, Europe to our Africa, the story is the same. To my mind, if OBJ was bad then and he is now a 'born again' person whose concern is about Nigeria, I prefer him to other past leaders, who looted the treasury of the country with reckless abandon, yet they are afraid to speak or intervene on matters of national importance, because perhaps they are afraid of the Government of the moment. I think, to me, if Obj was a bad leader and he is now repented and sees the need for a better Nigeria under a leadership that is different from his own supposed bad leadership and that of his successors who are not actually better, so be it. The article would have passed a quality assurance editing, if it had not deliberately ignored and left out the positives of Obasanjo and his administration.

Ok. So, OBJ have some positives - after all the negatives chronicled above, right?

Now tell us why GEJ is all about negatives and no positives, why he's attracting so much negative publicity. I know that his 'sins' are numerous like that of OBJ, but why is it that in his (GEJ) case, he must be portrayed in bad light? Please leave out the born again thing o!

Ono, you need to highlight and embolden that part of the article that talks about Obasanjo holding back Lagos State's allocation for 3 years. In fact, assign a size of 20pt to that section to drum it intpo the heads of some dumb, hypocritical chaps who now dance with Tinubu and regard Obasanjo as their "Navigator".

Rashidi Ladoja's forceful impeachment ably backed by Obasanjo is still fresh in my memory.

It was the late eleweomo, the then NURTW chairman that presided over his impeachment.

Obasanjo got away with that.

There was one baba Ibadan man that was the Generallisimo of Ibadanland in those days. I've forgotten his name - he's late now. That man was evil incarnate, and was a very big 'tool' in OBJ government, a kingmaker of sort. Can anyone remind me what his name is again?

All Nigerians must think deeply before casting their vote in this coming election o! I have done my bit to make you all see the light.