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[email protected] Political Scientist USA

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A THOUSAND AND ONE LESSONS FROM THE LIFE & DEATH OF FIRST LADY, STELLA OBASANJO

he prevailing feeling in the Obasanjo's household in the wake of the death of the 59-year old First Lady, Stella Obasanjo, is a sad and an unbearable one. Mrs. Obasanjo, the first of seven children and the 12th First Lady of Nigeria, died on October 23, 2005, just three weeks before her 60th birthday in a Spanish Cosmetic hospital where she had gone for liposuction, a medical procedure to remove fat from under the skin. Mrs. Obasanjo, born on November 14, 1945 to Dr. Christopher and Theresa Abebe of Edo State, has now become the first Nigerian First Lady to die while reigning. Those close to her would describe her as a beautiful and compassionate woman, robust in her ways and zestful in her approach to life. She was instrumental to the upliftment of many of her fellow citizens through the implementation of an assortment of grassroot programs. Such programs included her spirited drive against HIV/AIDs and prostitution among teenage girls as well as her foundation, Child Care Trust, for disadvantaged children.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo (L) and his wife Stella in April 2002. Spanish pathologists are performing an autopsy on the body of the Nigerian first lady, who died following surgery in the southern resort of Marbella, the Spanish foreign ministry said. (AFP/File/Pius Utomi Ekpei)

When I met her for the first time in October 1999, (in the U.S.), I was impressed with her demeanor and general persona. She came across as a lady with good virtue, one capable of convincing the president to do what was right. She had an amiable disposition, motherly and approachable. On that occasion, the president alluded to the fact that he had only one boss, and that was the First Lady, the only one who tells him what to eat, when to sleep, what to wear and where to go. I still have fun memories of that meeting with the closest adviser of the president of the most populous black nation in the world.

Mrs. Obasanjo was in the public eye for a long time as wife of the president. Her claim to national fame came from the fact that she signed a piece of paper with her name and the president's name on it. The mother of one, Olumuyiwa Obasanjo, the 27 year-old New York based lawyer, Mrs. Obasanjo never held elective or appointive office, but was revered as though she held one. She moved around in well-decked motorcades in Abuja and in every cities she visited in Nigeria with a siren-blaring pilot car in the lead to navigate the First Lady safely to her destination. This was contrary to the president's declaration when he assumed office that Stella would be only be known as his wife and not as the First Lady. But soon after this declaration, the cat was let out of the bag and Mrs. Obasanjo ran with it. During the 40th birthday festivities of the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Tinubu, Mrs. Obasanjo flew to Lagos in the high-flying presidential jet with all the trappings of power fully encamped. On hand to receive her was an endless parade of motorcade that looked as though a head of state was in town. Moments after she arrived, another presidential jet brought in the second lady, Mrs. Titi Abubakar, also from Abuja and the same routine was repeated. This was a curious situation as both women could have saved taxpayers' money by flying in the same jet.

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Mrs. Obasanjo moved around under the hawkish eyes of a well-fortified "army.' Her security detail was impressive, more than those of elected officials. This was understandable given the precarious political field on which her husband was/is the main player. Undeterred by the political minefield that is the terrain on which her husband thread, the colorful First Lady distinguished herself from others before her by carving a niche and charting a new course for future occupants of the "office". She was a philanthropist, a proud Esan (Ishan) woman who always appeared in splendid and alluring traditional garb. She displayed an infinite love for her husband and affirmed it with a kiss each time they appeared together in public functions, an act not frequently seen amongst women of her time. She was powerful and always had the president's ears. When Abacha imprisoned her husband, she rose in strong support and campaigned vigorously for his release. Against family advise, she took her case to the African Union and the United Nations where she alerted the international community of the impending doom facing her husband. Invariably, she was the president's most trusted adviser and confidant with an unfettered access to his innermost temple.

The news that the First Lady died of complications from cosmetic surgery (and not a life threatening one) to remove fat and enhance her looks, makes her death even more tragic and in fact, a complete waste. When she left Abuja for Spain, she was hale and hearty, a woman full of life, now, she would return as a corpse because of a desire to overcome nature. In retrospect, there seemed not to be a need to fix what was not broken, but the human nature is one laden with an insatiable angst for more and this was the motivation for this purely vain procedure, to look lean and fit for her forthcoming birthday.

On November 14, 2005, Mrs. Obasanjo would have turned sixty and this birthday was a special one as gathered from the names of the personalities involved. From all indications, it was set to 'up the antes' in this realm as elaborate arrangements had been made to properly celebrate this accomplishment. The festivities were too much to fit in one day, thus, they were planned to be in two parts, spreading over four days. Part one was scheduled for November 12 and would have witnessed the command live performance of Obaseki, a play authored by the famous playwright, Don Pedro Obaseki, starring Nollywood star, Richard Moje-Damijo. The festivities of part two on November 16 were of a little sober nature, as they would have included a thanksgiving church service and a well-attended reception. At this reception, none other, but King Sunny Ade, the Ondo-born master musician, had been tapped to thrill the celebrant and her guests.

In spite of her penchant to help the poor and improve the lives of her fellow citizens, Mrs. Obasanjo was human and thus, had inherently flawed nature like all humans. In life, she was also known for her expensive clothes, shoes and jewelry, which would have been on full display had death not changed the course of events. Planners and friends had already decided on the color of the "aso oke" to mark the celebrations and from all indications, "aso okes" all over the country had become very scarce as a result of this designation. Many, including the various wives of the state governors invited for this occasion, had rushed to acquire the "uniform" before the announcement of death put an end to the frenzy.

Her death comes as a shock and rude awakening to the Nigerian nation and reminds us of our mortality and the fact that death is no respecter of persons. It's like a run-away freight train that would crush anyone in its path. It will come to the poor and the rich, the powerless and powerful, the low and the mighty. In the eyes of death, all are on the same level; there are no political and social stratifications to speak of, no millionaires, no governors, no mansion owners, no ministers and no special advisers. It will knock in Oshodi where the poor lives and also in Aso Rock, the ultimate seat of power as it did to Abacha. Death needs no security clearance neither does it need a visa to travel to any part of the world to effect its grip. No gates can keep it away and no walls, guns or security can stop it from accomplishing its task. Death simply makes us all look ordinary and vulnerable. That is why Nigerian politicians and leaders must strive to leave behind a good name and a befitting legacy, not riches.

The governors, ministers, senators, representatives and other politicians who siphon money and seek medical treatment overseas at the slightest cough must learn the inherent lessons from the unfortunate and untimely death of the First Lady at an early age. No matter the distance, death is there, in Spain, Germany, US, UK and Sweden. With this reality, it's prudent for Nigerian leaders to invest in the development of their country by building viable and well-equipped hospitals, to ensure that they will be in the company of loving friends and relatives at home when they die, instead of dying alone in a strange and foreign land. These politicians should realize that at the end, they would leave their million-dollar bank accounts, their foreign-based mansions, their fleet of cars, jets and jeeps, their elaborate security and fancy lifestyles and follow death on a lonely path to the great beyond.

With the best medical care money can buy, with access to the best medical treatments in world, the energetic, colorful and vibrant Stella, wife of one of the most powerful men in Africa was unable to postpone her appointment with death. It sneaked through the elaborate security and snatched her away, herein lies the lessons. As the nation mourns the painful passing of a woman, unelected and un-appointed, but yet able to touch many lives in a positive manner, it is imperative to also remember the deaths of those on Bellview Airlines flight 210 which crashed in Oyo State on Saturday, October 22, 2005, with one hundred and seventeen (117) passengers and crew members on board. Their deaths are deeply mourned as that of the departed First Lady.

Stella Obasanjo

Hospital where Stella Obasanjo died

Stella kissing Olusegun Obasanjo