Again, Olusegun Obasanjo, the letter writing former president of Nigeria is at it again. He’s written another letter, and this time, he referenced his time as 2-term president (not head of state) as a criterion standard and he assessed the leadership qualities of the 2023 presidential candidates concluding that Peter Obi was the person who could more closely deliver what he ‘achieved’.
Unfortunately, Obasanjo seems unaware of his status as a relic and a nuisance in contemporary Nigeria. While many will acknowledge that his presidency was a relief from the military years, Obasanjo is very much responsible for many of the ills Nigeria is contending with today.
Olusegun Obasanjo
Very few Nigerians have had his kind of opportunity to lead the Nation. However, he mis-used the chance to be viewed as a father of modern Nigeria. He was enmeshed in corrupt activities particularly in his interactions with the legislative arm. Obasanjo also tried to elongate his constitutional term limits, and he supervised one of the most rigged elections in Nigerian history.
Obasanjo interfered in many States affairs leading to illegal removal of governors. He orchestrated the financial strangulation of an entire State (Lagos) by withholding funds due to it. He did not care for Lagosians, and did not lose sleep over whether they ate or not.
And there is more. Under his watch, entire communities in Odi and Zaki Biam were directly attacked by their own government. This led to the deaths/massacre of many civilians.
Some would say that he did good by paying up the National debt. However, others have argued otherwise, that those monies would have been better channeled to bridge our desperate infrastructure deficit. However, perhaps it was a good thing he didn’t. His term was associated with colossal waste of public funds – for example, the power sector reform that never was!
Obasanjo is the least eligible person to give any lesson in good leadership let alone use his term as a yardstick for others! Perhaps, this is a good time for him to pick a book and read about others, revered by their countries, who were presented with a similar opportunity as he was. Two prominent examples – George Washington put the young USA on a strong foothold and established by example the two-term presidency. Nelson Mandela stabilized and united South Africa after the establishment of majority rule. He did no more than one-term and left with an unblemished record.
Obasanjo is very conceited, and obviously self-absorbed man. His current political weight is very close to the one vote he wields. His efforts to make his personal grudges a national one will fail again this time as it did in 2019! Nigerians do not need his advice.