OBJ and Atiku reconciliation: Is Obj still a statesman?
By Hajiya Hafsat M. Zanna
Daily Trust Newspaper’s lead story of Monday March 30, 2009 titled ‘Atiku begged me on his bid to return to PDP- Obasanjo’, and the further publication by the paper as confirmation of his statement through a transcript of what actually transpired at the PDP stakeholders meeting in Yola did not come to many people as a surprise. Many people had come to the conclusion that Atiku had erred in his political strategy by visiting OBJ at his Abeoukuta country home in the name of reconciliation in view of the bad blood arising from the running battle he had with him when he headed a national war against the third term bid of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006.
Even though there is nothing wrong in reconciling with OBJ, however most of Atiku’s supporters were of the view that it should have taken place in a neutral place and not OBJ’s home in Abeoukuta so that things like the recent claim by OBJ as contained in the paper’s lead story would not one day be said.
Many more agreed with Turakin Adamawa on the need to reconcile with his former boss no matter the disagreements he had with him before the expiration of their tenure on May 29, 2007. There is nothing wrong with the reconciliation. It is both morally and religiously right. In fact Atiku must be commended for having the audacity to walk into Abeoukuta to reconcile with him despite what OBJ had done to him as a result of his role in scuttling his third term bid at the Presidency.
It is regrettable that OBJ who was seeing as a statesman, locally and internationally, has thrown that positive, rare and high ranking by exposing what Atiku and he discussed secretly during the Aboukuta meeting at the Adamawa PDP stakeholders meeting. That alone has further exposed and confirmed a number of conclusions about the Obasanjo’s unforgiving, un-reconciliatory and vindictive nature. Or how else would you describe the action of OBJ at the Adamawa meeting? His action has further exposed the kind of person OBJ is. He is certainly one leader who lacks the qualities of a leader and a statesman. This is simply so because shortly after the news of OBJ exposure of Atiku’s visit was published in Daily Trust, OBJ called Atiku and denied ever saying those words.
In reaction to the news, the Atiku media office headed by veteran and indefatigable, profession and amiable Garba Shehu quickly rose to the defence of Atiku and described Obasanjo as ‘a pathological liar’ who should not be trusted. Garba in a statement said that OBJ has a reputation of being treacherous, untrustworthy, recklessness and mischief and lying. However
Nigerians must go all out to cast aspersions on the person of OBJ for his arrogance, vindictiveness and ungentlemanly behaviour and conduct especially in recent times.
OBJ’s antecedents as a liar are so numerous to be mentioned within this available space. However it is on record that even in his rambling writings and books, he made disparaging remarks about his army colleagues and seniors, revealing outright and brazen falsehoods as well as absurd exaggerations in his desperation to claim a heroic and statesman status.
The most patriotic thing Nigerians need to do is to pray that the country does not get worse off than during OBJ’s years of civilian dictatorship and ignore all his attempts to further polarize and divide the country particularly prominent northerners who he feels have frustrated his 3 rd term ambition.
( musahafsat@yahoo.com )
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