The media, especially newspapers, online and social media, are engulfed by what is now referred to as “famous letter” sent to President Goodluck Jonathan by former POlusegun Obasanjo. The ex-president wrote an 18-page letter to President Jonathan, accusing him of failing Nigerians in his position as the president of the country. The thought provoking and insightful letter, amongst other things, accused the President of nepotism, lying about his second term ambition and condoning corruption. The former president also spoke bitterly about the issue of insecurity and how it is gradually ravaging the entire system.
As expected, the letter will generate a lot of comments and criticisms. Of course it did generate reactions, especially from the social media and other pundits. More expectedly is response from one of the presidential aides. This time around, the spokesperson to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, rose to the defence of his boss.
According to Abati, Jonathan has dismissed as “most reckless” and “unjustifiable” the fiercely scathing letter he received from Obasanjo. The statement further said the allegations by the former president were “baseless and indecorous.” Abati even went ahead to claim that “many patriotic, objective and well-meaning Nigerians have already condemned the leaked letter as self-serving, hypocritical, malicious, indecent, and very disrespectful of the highest office in the land.”
Many are asking if this same Obasanjo was the very president who tried unsuccessfully to perpetuate himself in power through the unpopular third term project. Nigerians are too advanced to be cowed or forget similar scenarios that played out between between 1999 and 2007 when Obasanjo was president. Truth be told, given the unenviable manner he conducted the affairs of this country while in office, former President Obasanjo has lost the moral right to offer advice to others on how they should steer the ship of state.
Some writers also argued that that the much touted war against corruption during his administration was a grand plot to crush those who dared to challenge his style of governance. Others also pointed out that anti-graft agencies were sent after state governors who chose to defer in view or go against President Obasanjo’s orders. Other arguments against Obasanjo’s administration were that state Houses of Assembly members, not minding their numbers, could convene a session even in hotels and impeach their governors. The case of state-sponsored thugs that invaded the Anambra State Government House and captured a sitting, duly elected governor where no one was arrested or prosecuted, also captures the argument.
Basically, from other reactions of the people, especially on Twitter, most didn’t doubt the objectivity of the letter. As a matter of fact, many lauded the genuineness and credence of the letter. More so, well-meaning Nigerians were even happy that all the criticism is coming from the same man who “singlehandedly” enthroned Jonathan as the president of the country. But the main issue critics raised against the former president is whether he (Obasanjo) has the moral right to send such letter to the President. This is in the sense that the administration of the ex-president is not better than the current one.
But be that as it may, many will say Obasanjo’s administration wasn’t as factional and sectional as Jonathan’s. Furthermore, even though there was corruption in both administrations, it is gradually rising to the level of impunity in this current administration. But come to think of it, who amongst the ex-leaders of this country shares the same ideology with Chief Obasanjo? I mean who amongst them is in good terms with the ex-president?
If you remember at the end of the letter, Obasanjo craved the indulgence of the President to please share the contents of the letter with the likes of former Heads of State, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar. I still find it difficult to comprehend the rationale behind this. Perhaps the former president is trying to bring Babangida, with whom everyone knows he is not on good terms, into the scenario for reasons best known to him. In this vein, the sincerity of the letter can also be questioned in the sense that Obasanjo himself has never been on good terms with virtually all the ex-leaders of the country, especially from President Shehu Shagari to late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, not to talk of his regular altercations with General Muhammadu Buhari and General Ibrahim Babangida. Only General Sani Abacha was able to tame him. His tantrums and banters exchanged with Babangida in recent times was never an open secret.
More so, the hassle with his former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, which has to do with his third term ambition, may also star in this scene. The Economic and Financial Commission was sent then to scrutinise Abubakar. Despite the fact that the EFCC did not find any incriminating document, Obasanjo tried to remove him as vice president. The courts rejected the idea and ruled that the Obasanjo-Atiku ticket is a joint presidency. His ADC was removed and a spy was attached to him to leak all his secrets.
By the time the same person is having problems with different people, you find it difficult to believe the credibility of his own thoughts, except if he is a seer or a saint. Also not forgetting the issues Obasanjo had with the late Yar’adua in the early stage of his administration. Pundits may see it as problem of loyalty to the “boss” and thus the same may also go to Jonathan. That is for those who think in that direction.
No doubt, the letter to by Obasanjo was genuine and timely, but that doesn’t dispute the fact that the animosity within him doesn’t have a large role to play in the way he relates with his successors and predecessors. Arguably, Obasanjo is the most celebrated Nigerian leader, but still he don’t have notable allies that openly share the same political notion with him. Perhaps, he is religiously dancing to the famous axiom: “Politicians are known to be fair weather people with no permanent friends, but permanent interests.”
Moshood Isah of Sapele Street, Garki II, Abuja, writes from moshoodpm@gmail.com.
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