Obasanjo: Imperative of restoring hope, rebuilding the nation

As a young man growing up in the West in the 70s, it took me a while to recover from the brutal assassination of General Murtala Muhammed in a military coup in 1975. The mood of the nation was down. Shortly after, however, General stepped in, and immediately, restored order, stability and hope to the nation following his proclamation as the new Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The able manner he united the military, and the nation behind him, after the trauma that accompanied the demise of General Murtala Muhammed, attested to his competence in bringing together a grieving nation, and people, in their profound moment of deep loss and sadness. That was his first test of leadership which he passed in flying colours.

Most people in the West, as the region was then called, were later dissatisfied with General Obasanjo for the alleged role be played in denying Chief Obafemi Awolowo the Presidency in the 1979 elections. Like the obedients of today, with their swan song of ‘Peter Obi or nothing’, I joined the followers of Awo, across the country, to denounce the military administration, led by General Obasanjo as enemies of democracy who rigged the 1979 presidential election election in favour of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the flag bearer of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). To us, it was Chief Obafemi Awolowo or nothing. When Chief Awolowo finally lost at the Supreme Court, with its ruling on twelve two thirds of states in Nigeria, which effectively blocked the final chance of the revered sage from having a rerun with the winner, we all, like the obedients of today, claimed that Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s mandate had been stolen.

General Obasanjo won the hearts of the people back when he became their voice in facilitating the exit of the Babaginda administration from power, in favour of the re-establishment of democratic governance. He soon lost the appeal when he refused to side with Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12 election, after his election was annulled, notwithstanding that it was widely adjudged as the freest and most credible election ever held in Nigeria. Divine grace, however, found Chief Obasanjo out again when he became a torn in the flesh of General Sanni Abacha, and mobilized international support to resist his despotic rule. He got into trouble soon after, but divine grace preserved him. Like Nelson Mandela, grace lifted him from prison, and the valley of death, into his height of glory as the first democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1999.

I have taken some time to look, introspectively, into the life and times of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He is widely acknowledged in the south west as ‘akanda eniyan’ meaning a rare breed- a man of uncommon grace and favour; a rare and complex person who outfoxes the bravest and the most intelligent, in the journey of life, for greatness and impact. Looking at his trajectory in life, Chief Obasanjo fits into this description in all its ramifications. In his military career, he rose to the zenith-attaining the glory and heights that most of his equally distinguished, or better colleagues, not only cultivated but also dreamt of but never attained. In the Nigerian civil war, he received the instrument of surrender from General Philip Effiong, Chief of General Staff of Biafra, after the likes of Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle, General Akinrinade, Brigadier Godwin Alabi-Isama, and others, had almost completed the job. He was marked for assassination the same day General Murtala Muhammed was murdered, but divine grace came to his rescue and preserved his life in a strange fashion. He was to have been sentenced to death for a coup that he never engineered or participated in, under Abacha’s government, but strangely again, grace delivered him from the claws of death. He rode on the back of popular acclamation for the Presidency to be conceded to the south west in 1999 to be elected, and inaugurated, as the first democratically elected President of the 4th Republic. Today, he remains a towering figure in Africa, as one of the most celebrated statesmen on the continent. His voice is respected across the world, hence the need to harness his brand for the task of rebuilding the nation under the renewed hope of this administration.

Since the inauguration of the 4th Republic, he is, arguably, the best President that has been elected over the years. His Presidential bureauacry has also been adjudged as he best so far. It comprised Obong Ufot Ekatte, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Abu Obe /Yayale Ahmed, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Major-General Abdullahi Muhammed, Chief of Staff, Ambassador Ahmed Al-Ghazali, Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, and General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, National Security Adviser. As the chief executive of the nation, he was a tireless worker of deep insight, knowledge, wisdom and understanding. His energy level and attention to details were unparralled. He regularly submitted himself to advice by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, as his chief policy adviser, for informed decision making. He bowed to superior arguments and reasoning. He readily admitted his mistakes or misgivings whenever he found out that he had erred. For example, at a retreat for permanent secretaries held at the Administrative College of Nigeria, Badagry, to which he was invited as special guest of honour, he apologized profusely, and openly, to late Alhaji Garba Buwai, one of the participants that he had wrongfully accused of acts of impropriety. He was strong and innovative in policy articulation, hence most of the policy enunciations of successive administrations in Nigeria, today, are either drawn from his policy thrusts in government, or adaptations therefrom. His foreign policy was dynamic, hence Nigeria was quickly transformed from a pariah to a beloved and respected nation under his watch.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, like all great leaders across the world, has his flaws. For example, his inability to identify a worthy successor to carry on his legacy in office is a serious oversight on his part. Perhaps, the nation would have benefitted from his elongated stay in office as Military Head of State or Civilian President. He deserves our respect and commendations for his contributions to national development, nonetheless. That is why he cannot afford to walk away from the Tinubu Administration. He will be a great counsellor, cum ambassador, to President Tinubu, especially in winning the trust and support of Nigerians, and the international community, for the buy-in of his policy enunciations, big dreams and grand visions. That is why it is compelling for this great statesman, of our time, to be above politics now, and embrace President Bola Tinubu without preconditions. The nation expects him to join hands with President Tinubu, today, to enable the new Administration calm the raging storms in the country, strengthen the bonds of our unity, and redirect our beloved nation to the path of greatness.

I hope the great leader appreciates that nothing is too great or sacred that cannot be sacrificed for the good of our beloved nation- a country that he loves intensively and passionately. Accordingly, President Olusegun Obasanjo is enjoined to embrace Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, today for the good of the nation in order to stem the present drift, and acrimonious politics with a view to restoring hope to our beloved nation. He ought to bow to the divine order that God is the one that anoints kings, in the same way he has found mercy and favour with Him. Napoleon Bonaparte is instructive in his words that ‘a leader is a dealer in hope’. President Tinubu has demonstrated that he is a harbinger of hope with his Renewed Hope Agenda. The nation awaits President Obasanjo to join him to get the hope realised quickly, and speedily, for the good of all. President Tinubu is equally enjoined to smoothen the rough edges in his relationship with the ex- President, given that his experience is highly needed now for the task of rebuilding the nation. Politics should be over now. Indeed, good governance should now be the new imperative, and the new normal, for all and sundry.
Victor Mayomi is a Retired Director, Federal Civil Service