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Let Obasanjo Stay Away From The Kitchen If He Cannot Take The Heat, A Reply to Wumione By Abba Anwar "It is fast becoming the rule and not the exception for President Obasanjo to quickly loose his temper before television cameras, and he couldn't care less what kind of irreparable damage that may be doing to his reputation as a leader of one of the most powerful nations in Black Africa------. " This is part of the opening of the aforementioned article, written by one Wumione. To begin with, the title of the write-up is catchy, though "negatively" framed. It interests me very much when I read the first paragraph of the submission. I could not explain why and how I went through the whole of the article with all happiness and fact finding mind. I mean is a good work. A very nice one. What interests me most is the boldness, straightforwardness and fearless nature of Wumione's presentation. But that does not mean to say I am in absolute support of the article. Being a Yoruba man as he said, Wumione said nothing but a plain truth. You see, you hardly see a Yoruba man attacking his brethren as a leader, apart from the already known critics, like Chief Gani Fawehinmi and co. I strongly believe with you when said, "Here is a man who could easily have become the Secretary -General of the United Nations instead of Butros Butros Ghali or the unflappable Kofi Annan who eventually had to take over from Ghali. Nigerians must thank God and thank IBB for scuttling that ambition. IBB one of the greatest Nigerian Diplomats of all times, had to put up the appearance of supporting his candidature for that job in the public, while quietly making sure that Nigeria did not go all out to put all her bets on him where it mattered most. " As a matter of fact that was the only thing General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida did when he was the Head of State, that I saw had an element of reason. Yes, I mean the only thing! It is so glaring to all that IBB with his devilish and satanic mind is nothing but a destroyer. He destroys at will. And destructs as and when due, that suits his always crooky appearances. When he scuttled Obasanjo's chances of becoming the Secretary-General of the United Nations I smiled and clapped with one hand in the support. This article reminds me of the most recent event that Obasanjo reacted in his usual and barbaric way. I was there live and direct. Transparency International, Nigerian Chapter, in partnership with TI Chapters of Canada and Norway, organized an International Workshop, just some 10 days ago, at the NICON Hilton Hotel, on the 27th-28th of May, 2004, on the Development of an Integrity Pact for the Oil and Gas Sectors of the Nigerian economy. President Olusegun Obasanjo declared the Workshop open. In attendance were the representatives of the TI"s Headquarters from Berlin, Germany, representatives of TI Chapters of Canada and Norway, other representatives of the Oil companies and other Diplomats. In his Welcome Address, the President of the Nigeria's Chapter of Transparency International, Dr Asisi Asobie, swept Obasanjo with his remark that the Nigerian state is absolutely corrupt. Obasanjo replied angrily that, Dr Asobie is absolutely wrong to express that reality. He (Obasanjo) challenged that though there are many corrupt ones, but that does not mean to say that all people in his government are corrupt. He only said that without any inference. The face-off of words was more glaring when Obasanjo finished his Opening Remarks and General Ishola Williams (rtd), who is the Vice-President of Transparency In Nigeria, in his Vote of Thanks, challenged in stronger terms, the Presidential address that there were many loopholes and reiterated that, yes, Nigerian state is corrupt. General Williams supported his argument with the fact that many governors were reported to have taken to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Obasanjo was so annoyed for that. He replied to General Williams in a harsh way. But General Williams appeared more harsher than Obasanjo. If not because of the intervention of Obasanjo's Aide, Dr Oby Ezekwelezi, only God could tell what would happened there. But to my surprise none of the media house carried the story. Dr Oby cooled General William's temper by telling him that what he was saying is true. Mr. Wumione I disagree with you in a more stronger terms when you said, "If Obasanjo wants every household to be made a local government in Kano or else where, he should be man enough to apply the same magic formula in the South is all I am saying in this submission. " Is like you are saying this out of ignorance. You do not know that some few weeks to the last general election, the Former governor of Kano state, Alhaji Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso's government created more than 20 local governments to the already existing 44local governments in the state. After the election the now Governor of the state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who was the Governor-in-waiting then, told the people of Kano that immediately he was sworn in he had nothing to do with the newly created ones. And he stands firmly to his words. So if Obasanjo, "------to apply the same magic formula in the South----" as you are saying, it means he should ignore the newly created local governments in Lagos and other places you consider South in your analysis. You get that? ! The "formula" here is the way Shekarau does, in doing away with the newly created local governments in his state. You sympathetically alerted that, "The bad temper and road rage being displayed by Obasanjo from time to time, is unbecoming of a good leader in a democratic system of Government any where in the world. "Do you need to tell Obasanjo this? Let him go his rude way, I am so sure that one day he would be rudely dealt with. And his position could not in any way be a stumbling block. Abba Anwar Kano state, Nigeria |