No tears for Aremu of Ota

PLEASE permit the use of this identification tag Aremu of Ota, a coinage by the hard-hitting General Theophilus Danjuma in a recent interview he granted The Guardian which generated so much controversy and bad blood in certain quarters - understandably. Lt. Gen. Danjuma (rtd.) has the copyright; it only comes in handy for this exercise. Incidentally, Aremu himself is a retired General of the Nigerian Army. Ummhnn! When Generals talk...

For Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, immediate past president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who almost forgot that power is transient, these are not the best of times. And he knows it even if he tries to maintain the steely mien of a soldier, pretending that all is well around him. Unfortunately he has just started to reap the seed of discord he sowed in many hearts in the last eight years in office as he served this great nation of ours. This is by no means taking away the credit he deserves in some respects regarding his tenure in Aso Rock. Of course, there are many positive achievements worth recalling about his administration. But I foresee more of the widespread criticism and caustic comments he is getting from every nook and cranny in the months - and years - ahead because to many Nigerians, the bad side of him tilts the scale. Somebody who describes himself as a prophet has even predicted a second term behind bars for the chicken farmer. How sad! My fear is that in future, a content analysis of these comments about the former president could easily portray him as a misfit who deserved to be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Here is a man who fought gallantly in the civil war to keep the country as one indivisible entity. Here is a man upon whom providence thrust leadership mantle following the needless killing of the then Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed in February 1976, although he was very reluctant to step into Murtala's big shoes.

That was his first shot at real power which to his credit he voluntarily relinquished in 1979, even as a military man.

Almost twenty years after, he had to make a crucial personal decision. Providentially, he had just regained freedom from a life threatening incarceration engineered by the state and had hardly settled down to tend to his chickens at Temperance Farms in Ota when interest groups mounted pressure on him to come out to lead the country once more, as a civilian. We were told he consulted wide before taking the decision to join the murky waters of politics. We also heard that some people actually advised against his return. They probably foresaw what Obasanjo did not see at the time. The rest is now history.

As the president, his actions or inactions spoke volumes. He stepped on many toes, which is normal. But he derailed when he got intoxicated by power and wanted another term outside of the constitutionally prescribed two terms. It was his undoing. Thanks to some individuals and interest groups who stood up to him and blocked his moves. His rating as a statesman plummeted. He never recovered as he was literally forced out of office against his will. Who would ever imagine a former president being rubbished at home so soon after his exit? In the international community, I am not too sure many are ready to welcome him yet with open arms as a statesman. Even in Yoruba land, his roots, the animosity is monumental. He tried to foist himself on the race as the leader but unknown to him, it takes more than garrison politics to become one.

In the literal sense, the Yoruba say numerous other calamities take advantage of a bigger one that has befallen a man to rub in the misfortune. The home front is nothing to write home about. Or how do we describe the situation a former president's son is in court for a divorce over the wife's alleged infidelity with his own father who was accused of using contracts as bait to have his way with the daughter-in-law? The former first daughter, a princess, is also on the run from the law having been accused of corruptly enriching herself and others with state funds. We didn't know until now that Senator Obasanjo-Bello could beat the legendary Maradona in a hide and seek game with men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) . It's just that somebody is being clever with the truth in fishing her out. Let no one pull wool over our eyes that a senator is in Abuja there and her whereabouts could become so intriguing. The distinguished senators too are looking for their colleague and had to arrange a search party! If she is not guilty, why has it become such a difficult thing for her to report herself at the EFCC's office as some former state governors have done, although to their own detriment? The anti-corruption war must be fought to a logical level. Interestingly, the founder of the anti-graft agency is Obasanjo, the father to Senator Obasanjo-Bello.

On assumption of office in May 1999, Obasanjo gleefully treated Nigerians before the klieg lights to his zero tolerance for corruption and pledged among other things a war on the scourge. It is ironic that on leaving office eight years after, he bequeathed a legacy of corruption to the nation. We have just been treated to tales of a rip-off as the House of Representatives investigated the total collapse of electricity supply in the country, well after $16 billion was pumped into the power sector, and many of the contracts facilitated by Obasanjo himself without the much taunted due process of his administration. At least officials in the administration who should know told a shocked nation this much. The father of all probes is around the corner - a look at the oil industry which will be as messy as crude oil itself. Here, the searchlight will beam on oil blocks contracts and the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources(DPR) in the past eight years or so. You already know the possible target - the de facto Minister of Petroleum himself during the period, the indefatigable former president. But if you ask me, I feel it is much more desirable that the House of Representatives should move the power sector investigation to some logical conclusion before launching into the oil industry. The tendency is that we would soon forget about the shocking discoveries about why we had to remain in darkness.

On daily basis, Nigerian dailies go to town with one headline or the other about Obasanjo. If it is not about how OBJ got 17 plots of land in Abuja it will be how OBJ's rule was a disaster. The headlines are inexhaustive: "how Obasanjo subverted Nigeria's federal system - Itse Sagay; eight years of Obasanjo rule a waste - Oba Akiolu ; Obasanjo, Iyabo are a disgrace to Nigeria, Egba - Balarabe Musa/Afenifere; Obasanjo, Iyabo should face the law - NACOMYO" and so on. A concerned Nigerian in a letter to the editor of a national daily summed it up: 'Everything about Obasanjo has been brought to the laundry.' Yet, this is less than one year after leaving office.

Amid the storm, Obasanjo has chosen to be mute. If silence is golden, this is definitely not the time for the former leader. The nearest thing to breaking the silence was during his unconfirmed meeting with some party (PDP) leaders at Ota where he reportedly berated Nigerians for being an ungrateful lot. By the way, where are the courtiers who filled the hallowed corridors of Aso Rock. The Femi Fani-Kayodes and the Frank Nweke Juniors. I feel sorry for this country.

Could it be that Nigerians cannot be satisfied? I am afraid, no. At the lower level, let us consider Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande. It's not as if he did everything right as Governor of Lagos State then. But his footprints are there for all to see. That is why he was given an applause for leadership qualities at the weekend at the Sardauna Magazine Leadership Awards ceremony in Abuja ,long after he left office. Let us for a minute too compare the post-service days of Obasanjo with United States former President Clinton. There are presidents and there are presidents.

Obasanjo's predicament could not have been a better lesson for anyone who longs for a position of trust and leadership. But will Nigerian politicians ever learn? I have no tears for Aremu Okikiolu because he had all of eight years to make a good impression.