OBJ  At     74

By

Charles Ikedikwa Soeze

charlessoeze@yahoo.ca

Former President Matthew Olusegun Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo popularly known as ‘‘OBJ’’ and ‘‘Baba Iyabo’’, one-time head of the military junta will be seventy-four years by March 2011. He is well-known for confronting a difficult situation with zeal, intelligence and expediency through prayers and can also laugh over irrelevant things through ‘‘I dey laugh oh’’ strategy but not with bad belle.

Chief Obasanjo was born on the 5^th of March 1937 in Ibogun, near Ota, in the present Ogun State. He attended Baptist Boys High School in Abeokuta from 1952 to 1956 and performed competently well.

Also, he attended the following military training, Mons officers cadet school, Aldershot, England; Royal College of Military Engineering, Chatham, England; School of Survey, Newbury, England; Indian Defence Staff College; Indian Army School of Engineering, Poona;Royal College of Defence Studies, London. He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958.

His career in the military among others included the following, second Lieutenant, 1959; Lieutenant 1960; member of the Nigerian contingent of the United Nations Force in the Congo, 1960; Commander of the Nigerian Army Engineering Unit, 1963; Captain, 1963; Major, 1965; Lt-Col; 1967; Commander, Ibadan Garrison, 1967-69; Colonel 1969; General Officer Commanding, Third Engineering Corps, 1970-75; Brigadier, 1972; Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Nigerian Army 1975-1976.Member/Chairman, Supreme Military Council (SMC), 1976-1979; Lt-Gen, 1976; Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, 1976-79; General, Nigerian Army 1979. OBJ also served as Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing January-July, 1975. 

When fate thrust the leadership of the country on him in February 1976 as a result of the assassination of the Kano-State born General Murtala Ramat Mohammed on Friday, 13^th February, 1976 through an abortive coup led by Lt. Col. Buka Suka Dimka as well as Captain Dauda Usman and Sergeant Clement Yildar, some dismissed Chief Obasanjo as unfit for the job. Happily and interestingly, he disappointed his critics and went ahead to prove himself as one of the most successful, intelligent, dedicated, articulate, energetic and serious minded military ruler who exhibited agility and ability as one of the best military ruler Nigeria has ever had.

In October 1979, he voluntarily relinquished power to a democratically elected civilian government led by Alhaji Shehu Musa Aliyu Shagari of the outlawed National Party of Nigeria (N.P.N) who became the first Executive President of Nigeria. Many thought he would have steered clear from public life. Rather, he commenced a new life as an international Statesman and social critic. Since his junta introduced ‘Operation Feed the Nation’ (OFN), which metarmorphosed into Green Revolution (GR) during the administration of Alhaji Shagari, Chief Obasanjo established a big mechanized loan-financed farm at Ota, Ogun State. Chief Obasanjo continued to travel round the World to brainstorm with other World leaders on the debt crisis, social inequality, the environment, transparency as well as accountability in the act of governance. It is on record that Chief Obasanjo’s contributions to domestic debates were powerful, brilliant and blunt. However, such blunt talk later got him into trouble for ‘planning a coup’ against the administration of the Gen. Abacha, a charge, which was later found to be a set up due to his outspokenness as an elder statesman.

At this particular period, many Nigerians thought that Chief Obasanjo would die in prison just like his former deputy while he was the head of junta, General Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua, who was convicted and jailed for the same alleged coup. However, Chief Obasanjo not only emerged from prison alive, he became the overwhelming choice of a nation desperate for a strong, reliable, energetic and purposeful leadership. As a result of this, he won the February 1999 presidential election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the biggest political party in Africa with more than 60% of the total votes cast. Majority of Nigerians especially his Yoruba people from the South-West never thought that OBJ was up to the task. A newspaper columnist called him a joker. Based on OBJ’s statement he had made earlier, many Nigerians wondered if he had left something behind at the State House which he would like to retrieve. One can boldly and proudly say that the sentiments changed during the eight years of democratic rule that could be termed ‘‘Obasanjonic theory of speed and decency’’.  

Interestingly, OBJ became popular among his Yoruba people who voted against him. This is because ‘Baba Iyabo’ took some bold and imaginative steps to restore confidence in government and he was credited with restoring seriousness, intelligence, accountability, order and transparency into the act of governance.

When OBJ handed over power on the date promised, his reputation as a sincere and trustworthy leader was established. It is on record that the reputation has continued to grow, and since relinquishing power, he has engaged himself in a number of worthy causes all over the world. He has continued to speak out against military rule, openly describing it as an aberration.   

OBJ as a democratic president was elected Chairman of the African Union (AU) and he held the position for two-term due to his re-election. President Alberto Chissano of Mazambique handed over to OBJ at a colourful and grand ceremony in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, where the African Union then Organization of African Unity (OAU) was formed on May 25, 1963.

Going by the monumental level of corruption in Nigeria, which reached its peak during the military era, OBJ running as a presidential candidate of the PDP promised to curb corruption in our national life if elected into office. Indeed, the resolve to fight corruption in its entire ramification, and re-orientate the value of Nigeria, which had become perverted over the years, constituted the cardinal programmes of Chief Obasanjo during the electioneering campaigns.

As part of efforts to fight corruption, Chief Obasanjo in his first few weeks of his administration forwarded a comprehensive bill on anti-corruption to the National Assembly for consideration and passage into law. This quickly brought the establishment of Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The day that saw the inauguration of Chief Obasanjo as the President of the Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, marked the beginning of  a new and glorious chapter in all facets of the country’s national life. His administration showed a great zeal, determination and remarkable capacity to give the nation a new sense of direction, and ensure a clean break from the sordid and inglorious past, which had attracted international opprobrium at a time in Nigeria.

OBJ took a major stride in this direction on Monday, June 14, 1999 when he inaugurated the Human Rights Investigation panel headed by an eminent jurist and retired Supreme Court Judge, Hon. Justice Chukwudifu Oputa to investigate past cases of human rights violations in the country. The inauguration of the Justice Oputa Commission was preceded by extensive nationwide consultations by OBJ with the human right community, opinion and religious leaders, labour unions and other interest groups.

While wishing OBJ a happy birthday at 74 and many more years of stay on this earth, we need to see and recognize him as a true father of Nigeria and Africa in general based on all his activities. One can conclude by saying comme ci comme ca, in other words, so far, so good.