read the article posted on the April 23rd, 2008 on the NigeriaWorld website by Ephraim Emenanjo Adinlofu on the topic "In defense of Obasanjo" and I have decided to add my own views to his. Indeed the author had done a good research to relay to us on Obasanjo's role in keeping Nigeria one. For a truth, Obasanjo deserves credit for all his effort in the present entity called Nigeria; his role in the ending of the civil war, his first term as a military head of state and democratically handing over to an elected civilian president, his second term in office as a democratically elected president and a timely hand over to another democratically elected president. If these are not considered as a good intention, then I wonder what else could be classified as a good democratic practice.
Africa is a difficult place to rule and this everybody will agree. The events of the past have not helped governance to be properly conducted in Africa; It's always a case of everyone wants to be involved in all aspects. The never bow out syndrome that has seen a nation such as a Kenya (a beacon of hope for Africa) experience a devastating breakdown. Zimbabwe, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, etc all have experienced/experiencing its share of problems because of the sit tight practice of politicians undermining the yearnings of the masses. Nigeria as a part of Africa can not be left out; consequentially it inherits part of the general failed democratic processes in Africa.
Basing on the above instances, do we (Nigerians) not think Obasanjo should get more respect than insult? In the circumstances that has characterized Africa such as war and ethnic conflicts as in Kenya, genocide as in Sudan, hyper inflation as in Zimbabwe; do Nigerians think such scenario is not applicable to Nigeria?
Had it not been the person of Obasanjo as a no tolerant man, individuals like Atiku can explore any avenue including arming innocent civilians to start up trouble in form of a conflict so as to achieve his selfish desire. So many times on the news, Atiku and his allies have hinted on such plans and to support that argument, on countless times on several issues the AC have used Kenya as a reference to validating their supposed claim to power.
Recently, Odinga was on a visit to Obasanjo and Tsaangarai followed suit. To whatever way Obasanjo haters will portray their visit the point still remains that these men has valued Obasanjo as a symbol of Africa unity, a role model to be emulated in Africa rather than the present crop of African leaders therefore their visit to solicitate support to the problems that face their nations. Africa can never have two Mandela, in as much as what symbol Mandela represent for Africa, we can not also undermine Obasanjo's effort to the Africa stability. On Africa policy, Obasanjo has always championed peace irrespective of what region in Africa. It pains to see Nigeria not to value its own, although all these still focus to the point Ephraim Emenanjo Adinlofu was making "as a failed system".
Nigerians are actually forgetful so easily. Anybody who thinks Obasanjo couldn't have overturned the constitution to favor him as to sit on power should be making a big mistake. The Ibrahim Baangida and the Sani Abachas were mere mortals but they still had their way in elongating their sit on power, so why couldn't an Obasanjo do same. The failed third term bid of Obasanjo was nobody's victory to claim but Obasanjo only deserves the praise. Even in present day Africa where leaders operate as they like damning all consequences, Obasanjo has chosen the path of peace so as to keep Nigeria united and peaceful.
It didn't take eight years to get Nigeria to the rot it is today, therefore we shouldn't have expected Obasanjo to correct these rot in just eight years. The Nigeria pandemic is a plague that has eaten deep down and it affects all aspects that even individuals you think mean well turns out to be just "same old fox".
With the present House of Representatives investigations and findings on the last eight years, the Obasango antagonists have awakened again. The only thing the present revelations by the numerous findings by the house committees reveals is that Nigeria still has a long way to cure itself. Instead of blaming Obasanjo for all these revealed corruption and mis-management, Nigerians should be seeking for what should be the lasting cure to the plague. Because it has taken so much of collective conscious efforts to destroy Nigeria, revising the effects will also require equally similar amount of approach and energy -simple law of reciprocal effects (every action requires an equal and opposite reaction). It is not a one man thing to find a solution to the Nigeria failed system.
The current events unfolding, those who are getting the laugh are still the elites, the corrupt Nigerians, those past governors who Obasanjo has exposed, they are the one who are seeming a holier than thou position. On a positive side, every neutral thinker on a good analysis will get the true picture of the whole lots of good Obasanjo meant for the Nigeria people through these revelations. To have even curtailed the few he could checkmate, Obasaanjo deserves respect and not insult.
The failed Nigeria is what is rubbing on the good intention of Obasanjo. If Obasanjo had something to hide from the Nigeria population, I don't think he would have established the bodies EFCC and ICPC that has now turned out to hunt even his own household. Obasanjo is taking the blame because it is now revealed that El Rufai was suspicious in his dealing as the FCT minister. Although, at this point no one can actually pass the guilty charge on El Rufai because the revelation could just be a case of payback time for all the powerful toes he, El Rufai, -including the very people who now investigate him, had stepped on during his tenure as the FCT minister.
If Obasanjo takes the blame of the failed Nigeria, does he also take the praise for the corrupt trials of the ex-governors? Or do we now say they were not corrupt. Is Obasanjo credited for the good robust banking and financial system we have in Nigeria or it's just the brilliant work of Soludu? Is he the own we shout praises to when recollecting the good works of NAFDAC in ridding Nigeria of fake drugs or is it just the determinant of Akunyili? So who takes the glory for the Nigeria debt conciliation, Obasanjo or Iwela? So many other good achievements of Nigeria during the Obasanjo tenure, like the thousand of Job creation in the fields of telecommunication, tourism, arts and crafts, even Nigeria musicians and Artist. Those who do not see any good in Obasanjo tenure, have they ever asked the Professors, Lecturers and Teachers at what time in Nigeria history have they had it so good. Definitely, it is Obasanjo who has created back again the evaporated middle class of Nigerians.
To all the Obasanjo haters, please leave him alone. It is sometimes difficult to change mindsets but let good judgment supersede biased thinking. We know he has flaws because there is no perfect human being. No Nigeria leader dead or alive has done for Nigeria what Obasanjo had achieved for this country even with all the obstacles he had to surmount. Obasanjo inherited a failed system and had tried to change it his own way. He made good efforts but still more has to be done from where he stopped; that is a good way to see the Obasanjo eight years as the president of Nigeria.
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