The Man Obasanjo

As the wheels of the time rolls by different sides of the coins affect the lives of Earth Folks. On April 1999 the wheels brought us the man OBJ hand picked from the gulag to occupy the highest seat of the land. Nigerians were happy to be free from the clutches of the gun totters. A little down memory lane we once had the self acclaimed “EVIL GENIUS” with his trademark on-stage “kindness”, he came in with the promise of transition to democracy we all like zonked kids hoped, he was famous for sending letters which could only be read in heaven, apology to late Giwa. When the water got too hot for the frog it jumped out leaving an aching and shaking head, held by a leper (ING). Preparing the way for the goggled Kano Brutus to take over, he had one good quality frankness and sincerity, intolerantly serious his reign was marred with extra-judicial killings. He had a love for apples and Indian girls whom people saw aided his fall. He clamped into detention like a kid on a picking spree. Subjugation was his watchword a cat with nine lives surviving two coup attempts, phantoms 1995 and 1998. His death saved many lives and the nation from the precinct of chaos, ululations was all over on his death. In came Abubakar a pacifist, genial and forthright general and in 10 months calmed frayed nerves. Completed the transition program in lesser time than the genius and Brutus. People say the election was free and fair, some disagreed. But the powers that be said “free and fair” it was. I have only one grouse with him and that is giving us this “Nightmare” which we will ever pray never to encounter in our lives. Well he was called to rule he complained about his financial state concerning electoral campaigns but was told not to worry as everything was settled, he was branded as the first African military ruler to relinquish a post for a democratic one well did he have a choice then, he was just a puppet with a stringist behind the stage as he was again called to be in 1999. Ghostlike and gaunt looking he was sworn in saying “I…do solemnly swear…to bear true allegiance…(to my stomach and my eyes)…Nigeria (FR).

His open speech sparkled with taints of the future Nigerian dream. He had the making of the expected messiah was so heralded in many quarters; remember he told us a kinsman of his was not the expected messiah years back. Starting on a promissory note one of the first things he did was to release a new salary scheme, then civil servants who had no chance to buy cars had the chance to buy cars but in later years he was to cut down on that when he said we were becoming affluent using two cars and using fuel yanfun-yanfun and he took measures to make that difficult for people increasing fuel like an increasing thermometer. His first show of shame was the indiscriminate decimation of Zaki biam. Odi, those folks can never forget the pains tears and deaths the shockwave of the shame it created God knows if he had a personal vendetta against them. His economics policies were those he critised years before those that have put us in perfect bondage he didn’t bat an eyelid before doing a 180 degree turn to implement them I know he didn’t do that for us but for his selfish gains even his late wife told us he treated Nigeria like his father’s property and as the first born (according to Yoruba culture) it was obvious from the increase of animals on his farm, his assets and financial base, God really works wonders. Taking a look at his antecedents he reigned at the time of the oil boom but was there an economic boom? He cut down on so many benefits enjoyed by civil servants like the car loan scheme, and hosts of others the food subsidy system all left in his first chance.
He has this bad aspect, which would have brought down any government in the civilized west, we all remember dumb words like there are private schools they should go to them…. We remember brazenly stupid word “You are stupid” addressed at an interviewer and “CAN my foot”. His mouth was so ballistic that I don’t know why U.S.A went to Iraq instead of Ota. His dry rib strengthening jokes that will make babies cry. He hated journalists with a passion, the sedition trial is there, the signboard on his farm gate, refusal to sign the FOI bill. In some countries rulers are regarded as the wisest but not here as depicted by our former C in C. The judiciary and the Legislative did not fare better while he laid Banana peel after the other for recalcitrant Senate Presidents, he took it upon himself to disobey court injunctions and orders, he should be awarded the prize of the leader who disobeyed most court injunctions. He hounded state legislators into doing his will using the Mastiff Bull EFCC a la Ladoja, Obi, Fayose and Dariye, he said that 5 members out of over 18 can form 2/3rd. If he were an engineer he would have done elementary maths.

He told us he was going to step on toes, he did that though shabbily and sinisterly Atiku, Fasawe, Adenuga etc and even all Nigerians. The biggest toe of all using his swords EFCC they were intimidated exiled (Adenuga), imprisoned. His anti-corruption crusade was one of the greatest sham of the century it was machined to the above-mentioned reasons, Sacred Cows grazed undisturbed.

The worst of all, he had luck of conducting “free and fair” elections 1979, 2003 and 2007 Ballot snatching, killing of opponents pre-announcements etc. I don’t know if lynching arson and looting means peace, he told us the elections were peaceful.
In his last days he sold our properties to his own chosen ones. A badly brought up child will be at last an Akotileta. Refineries, Power stations, Oil blocs all sold off in shady deals and as a parting gift increased fuel and VAT. We pray to never have this nightmare again dead or alive