OBJ AND THE TRAPPINGS OF POWER

Olusegun Obasanjo

There is no doubt that Nigeria loves Obasanjo and there is also no doubt that Obasanjo loves Nigeria or so he makes it look. What is not settled is his place in the minds of Nigerians. His patriotism is very much in doubt no thanks to his disdain for rules and his know all attitude.

More than any other Nigerian, living or dead, Obasanjo has had more years as Nigerian leader in a double stint, firstly as a Military Head of State and secondly as a Civilian leader. Both times, interestingly at the behest of fortune from tragic deaths.

To emerge as a Military Head of State, Bukar Sukar Dimka and his co travellers killed Obasanjo's boss, Murtala Muhammed in 1976, in a bloody coup d'etat.

Murtala Muhammed

Emerging as Civilian leader came fortuitously from the death of MKO Abiola a fellow Egba, yoruba man as Obasanjo and interestingly, a friend of Murtala Mohammad.

MKO Abiola

Obasanjo as a Military Head of State had a rare distinction of doing what Yakubu Gowon, failed to do and that is hand over power to civilians. But in the process, his over zealousness made him, go beyond the demands of a midwife to acting in the mould of Biblical Pharaoh, in showing preference for a candidate against another.

Having a preference is human for it has been said that behind every neutrality is a hidden choice but showing it in the manner he did, was tactless and counterproductive. It did Nigeria, no favours.

As a civilian leader, Obasanjo was bold and made bold moves to make a difference in governance. But once again, his over zealousness was his undoing.

He paid off Nigeria's foreign debt. A debt that looked like an albatross. It made commonsense but some people still faulted him, for preferring paying, to using the money for developmental purposes.

On the other hand, Obasanjo was a very poor believer in the doctrine of Separation of Powers. He not only showed interest in who presided over both houses of Nigeria's Legislature but went beyond the bounds of propriety in determining who stays and who leaves as the head of the Legislature. Thirteen years after the Obasanjo years, the Legislature is yet to find its bearings.

Under Obasanjo's watch, more governors were impeached than in any other regime. The rumblings in Anambra State, in the Ngige years, I believe are like thick logs in Obasanjo's eyes that he will ever live to regret in his reflective mood.

All in all, for effort, Obj has my full marks. Nigeria showed him love by making him a leader for all of 11 years and he stood to be counted. How he did it is the question?