Olusegun Obasanjo: From World Leader to Egba Leader
In 2002, at a meeting with South West members of the House of Representatives, former President Olusegun Obasanjo reacted to Mr. Wunmi Bewaji that he is a World leader and not a Yoruba leader. The meeting was arranged by Hon. Foluke Etteh during the heat of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) presidential primary elections, to woo Alliance for Democracy members in the House of Representatives to cross to PDP when former President Olusegun Obasanjo needed the support of the Southwest to win the party’s nomination. He has, on several occasions, claimed not to be a Yoruba leader but a World leader.
The news report that he is organizing an Egba Group sounds not only funny but ridiculous for a self-acclaimed world leader reducing him to an Egba leader, not even Yoruba leader. This is an indication of how things have been terribly bad for Mr. Obasanjo who is seeking relevance at all cost. In due time, Obasanjo will emerge as the Adedibu of Egba. He has tasted power two times and he is not ready to quit.
I remember that after late MKO Abiola started the Reparation Movement and the movement was gaining ground, Obasanjo formed his own African Leadership Forum and he was also a member of African Eminent Personalities then. And after the show of shame of April 2007, the Balogun of Owu has realized that he has lost the respect he enjoyed in West Africa, Africa and outside Africa. The West African leaders who witnessed the April 2007 elections condemned it, the European Union condemned it and his American allies did not commend him for handing over power successfully. The kind of accolades that he enjoyed in 1979 was not there because it was glaring that this man came, he squandered and destroyed. Hearing that the Alake of Egba is teaming up with Obasanjo sounds so funny. Why Alake, why not Olowu of Owu? He must have had the rumor that he is going to lose his position as the PDP Chairman of Board of Trustees. His Bathsheba is on her way out as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He has got nothing to live for.
He has enjoyed so many privileges that most Nigerians did not enjoy. The first military Head of State to hand over power successfully to civilian government; the first ex-military ruler to come back as a civilian president and the first Nigerian ruler to spend two terms in office. This made him see himself as an achiever but he is a loser, a political living corpse. He lost woefully to extend his tenure for another four years. If he had succeeded, he would have been the first Nigerian to rule for three terms. Obasanjo for 8 years turned Nigeria into draught board, thinking he was still in his farm at Otta but like General Ibrahim Babangida the dribbler, who dribbled Nigerians for 8 years, Obasanjo played Nigeria and Nigerians and he played himself too. He ended up being the biggest loser. He left the Aso Villa in shame without respect and honor. He saw the path of honor and he chose the path of dishonor. Now he wants to be Egba leader. I remember how he tore the election result of the Olowu of Owu Obaship, how he arrested the King makers and jailed them because they will not subject themselves to his authority.
It is such a pity that someone like Olusegun Obasanjo had the opportunity to rule Nigeria and make a fool of us for this long. He has never been a principled man, he survived in the military because he was a conformist, and he takes other people’s glory, reaping where he never sowed.
It took him 8 years to come out and admit that MKO Abiola was a victim of ‘Bad belle.” It is left for the Egba people to accept him as their leader. Throughout the eight what Egba cause did Obasanjo championed? None.
Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo may your Political Soul Not Rest in Peace.
Seyi Oduyela
/Maryland, USA