Obasanjo dares judge, unveils controversial book

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has blasted Justice Valentine Ashi of the Federal High Court, Wuse, Abuja, for granting an injunction restraining him from publishing his three-part autobiography, “My Watch.”

Obasanjo said the   presentation of the book in Lagos on Tuesday     did not contravene any law.

He said, “I had given the book to my editors and to the publisher. As far as I am concerned, my job is done. I had written the book and printed before the court injunction.

“In a normal judiciary, the judge should be sanctioned and I hope something will be done. We are here legally and lawfully and we will continue to act lawfully and legally.”

Justice Ashi, had following an ex parte application by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Buruji Kashamu,   directed that the book should not be published pending the determination of the petitioner’s   libel suit against him.

The judge   agreed with Kashamu’s lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN), that part of the content of the book related to the   N20bn libel suit instituted   against Obasanjo.

The content of the book was said to be related to a letter dated December 2, 2013, written by Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan, claiming that Kashamu was wanted for a drug-related crime in the United States.

Iziyon had argued on Friday that since part of the content of the autobiography had to do with   the December 2, 2013 letter,   it was wrong for Obasanjo to be allowed to proceed to comment on, write books about or make publications on the issue yet to be decided by the court.

But the judge also directed Kashamu to enter into a bond with the Chief Registrar of the court for damages he would pay should the order restraining Obasanjo from publishing the book turn out to be something the court ought not to have granted.

The judge adjourned hearing in the main suit till Wednesday(today).

Initially, there was a mild apprehension   at the venue as the launch   which was scheduled to start by 10am did not begin until past 11am.

Some of the guests felt the event might be prevented from holding by security agents.

After a speech by the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, and the presentation of the book, Obasanjo fielded questions from the audience which included a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili.

Many of the audience members were eager to know whether or not the botched third term agenda at the twilight of his two-term presidency was his idea.

He was also asked, among others, why he chose to write an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan when he should have visited Aso Rock to express his feelings about the goings-on in the country.

On the third term, he said, “That (third term) was not my agenda or intention although I would not say I didn’t know about it. I didn’t mastermind third term. Those who were telling me to go on were the governors that were going to benefit from it.”

The former President also said he sought avenues to ventilate his observations and positions with Jonathan but had to resort to writing open letters   because his efforts were frustrated.

He said, “I opened communication channels with my predecessors. You will see a few letters I put in the book, how I described my frustrations.”

The former President told the audience that he had no regrets helping Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua(late) and Jonathan to become Presidents.

Admitting that he was not infallible, the former President advised that   people should learn from his action.

“I don’t regret bringing in Yar’Adua and Jonathan. If they don’t do well, those coming from behind should learn from me and do better.

“Ezekwesili and some other young minds were in my cabinet. I want a genuine debate. Where I am guilty, I will apologise. I am not infallible.

“Our youths are feeling frustrated, they are feeling betrayed. They are feeling angry today.”

The book reviewer, Patrick Okigbo, described the work as thought-provoking and revealing.

Okigbo, who said he was part of Nigerians that thronged the White House in 2006 in protest against the   third term agenda, maintained that the former President was a detribalised and candid Nigerian.

He said, “Do not be surprised if there are a few reverberating earthquakes after this book is in public circulation. Some personalities, who have presented themselves as leaders and reformists will have to present counter-evidence to defend their reputation.”

Okigbo said Obasanjo did not spare a former Vice-President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku; an ex- Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

The reviewer said Obasanjo was kinder in his opinion of an   All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), whom he said “would not be a good economic manager,” but a “strong, almost inflexible, courageous and firm leader.”

Okigbo however made references to Obasanjo’s foibles, saying it was surprising that he dismissed them as personal issues.

He said, “As is characteristic in the memoir, the author exonerates himself from any responsibility or blame for the failed leadership despite the fact that he was the principal architect of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan Presidency that resulted in the current administration.

“It is, however, instructive, that the more personal family scandals such as the allegations made by his first wife or daughter, are dismissed as personal issues that are being handled within the family.

“So, is Obasanjo a saint or a sinner? Readers of the book will have to decide themselves.”

In their respective remarks, some of the dignitaries paid glowing tributes to the former President for his love   for the country.

Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe, Ibidapo-Obe and Ezekwesili urged Nigerians to read the book and emulate the examples showed by Obasanjo.

Ezekwesili said, “Nigeria has spent too much time failing,” stressing that the country cannot afford to leave government to accident and chance.

Akinkugbe described the book as an archival material and he added that the controversy that it would likely generate would aid development.

Kenyan journalist, Jeff Koinange, who was the Master of Ceremonies, described Obasanjo as a unique African leader, whose love for Nigeria was unparalled.

The publisher, Dr. Eghosa Imasuen, said the book was produced in order to tell the story of a great Nigerian leader for the sake of posterity.

Imasuen declined to comment on the security challenges faced during the production of the book .

The three-volume autobiography captures Obasanjo’s early years and his military service;     political and public affairs   and current issues.

The volume one of the 1, 572-page trilogy has 500 pages while the second volume has 672 pages. The third has 400 pages.

The dignitaries present at the event were Prof. Akin Mabogunje, Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe, Chief Jonathan Olapade, the Vice-Chancellor, Benson Idahosa University, Prof. Ernest Izevbigie; and a former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Peter Okebukola.

Vice-Admiral Michael Adelanwa (retd.), Dr. Segun Oyefeso, Olubara of Ibara, Oba Olufemi Omolade; Navy Capt. Femi Pearse, Registrar, Bells University of Technology, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Gbadebo, were also in attendance.