Yours sincerely was still thinking about all these things that Femi wrote when I saw an interview by Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in which he mentioned how Obasanjo refused to sign the bill passed by the National Assembly that abrogated the onshore/offshore dichotomy because he considered it unfair, unjust and inequitable in a federation like Nigeria. Of course, that got me thinking on the place of Obasanjo in Nigeria’s history.
The Hausa have a saying: Allah ya hana ranar yabo (God forbid the day of praises). It only goes to show that it is very difficult to pay tribute to a living person; such praises are usually reserved for when the person is dead. But it seems anyone who does worthy and noble deeds ought to be celebrated while he or she is still alive – to encourage him or her to do more or to make others emulate the good deeds.
One may hate or love Obasanjo for whatever reasons one may have, but one thing no one can take away from him is the fact that he is passionate about Nigeria, Africa and those things he holds dear. He fought for the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria – he was the commander who received the instrument of surrender from the Biafra commanders in 1970 at the end of the civil war. He subsequently served in the Gowon administration as federal commissioner (minister) of works. When the military overthrew Gowon because he had no programme for transition to civil rule in July 1975, Obasanjo emerged as the effective No.2 man in the new administration under Gen. Murtala Muhammed.
With the assassination of Gen. Murtala, Obasanjo emerged head of state in February 1976. He faithfully implemented the transition programme and kept faith by handing over to elected civilians in 1979 – the second African to ever do that voluntarily.
More than anything, that raised his profile around the world. But before then, as military ruler he did so many laudable things: the launch of the Universal Primary Education programme; the establishment of functional river basin authorities across the country to boost agriculture in addition to the Operation Feed the Nation; and the building of roads, schools, universities and other institutions across the country. He also continued with the radical, pan-African foreign policy that helped the decolonisation process across the remaining countries that were still under foreign domination in Africa.
He could also be fair and just. For instance, soon after assuming office as head of state, there was a delegation from the old Bauchi State, now Bauchi and Gombe, who came to complain to him that they had no one in the Supreme Military Council and no governor or minister (federal commissioner then) from that state. Obasanjo listened to them patiently. He then told them that if they agreed he would be the representative of their state in all the three organs of the government. They happily accepted. He subsequently influenced the siting of Steyr Motor Assembly plant in Bauchi
In 1999, when the military was totally discredited for overstaying their welcome in power, Obasanjo easily got the overwhelming support of most Nigerians and got elected as the second democratically elected executive president of Nigeria. He refocused the nation’s foreign policy and re-established Nigeria as an important member of the comity of nations; he repaid almost all the external debts of the country; he embarked upon fundamental reform of the nation’s economy and polity by bringing many young technocrats into his government such as Okonjo-Iweala, Soludo, el-Rufai, Ribadu and Ezekwesili, particularly during his second term.
There was an unsuccessful attempt to amend the constitution to enable Obasanjo go for a third term which really soiled his credibility. The electoral process has also been deteriorating with every successive election, which has rubbed negatively on his integrity. There were also many allegations of corruption under Obasanjo even though he was the first leader to embark upon a sustained struggle against the corruption monster in Nigeria. With the death of the constitution amendment process in 2006, Obasanjo quickly organised an election and handed over to the YarAdua/Jonathan regime in 2007.
Regardless of what anyone may say, Obasanjo has been a recurring decimal in Nigerian history for almost 50 years now. One thing no one can take away from him is the fact that he knows and loves this country very well. He shares this attribute with one other former president as well. In spite of some of his shortcomings as a human being and as a leader, history will be kind to him because he has been able to transcend many primordial considerations in the discharge of his duties.
He has already said he will not seek any elective office again. But there are many things the present and future generations will learn from Obasanjo. Fortunately, he likes writing and his next books will be very rich, given his experience, exposure and expertise in both private and public spheres.
And for the next coming decades, there is no government that will come without some Obasanjo loyalists, because he was able to mentor many young and old people all over the country who will continue to be relevant now and in the foreseeable future. Such is his breadth of network that he has intimate friends and associates in virtually all the local government areas in Nigeria and in many countries of the world.
When the centennial history of Nigeria will be written in the next two years – during which the nation will be 100 years – Obasanjo’s name will appear in many pages because his history is inextricably intertwined with Nigeria’s history. While some will see him as cunning, foxy and manipulating, others will see him as a great patriot, nationalist, pan-African and reformer whose impact reflects dedication to the nation.
But, surely, it will be written that there was one man impervious to obstacles, impatient with petty calculations, unapologetic about his African roots and undisturbed by latent and apparent tensions: Baba Obasanjo. God save Nigeria
Leadership
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