Obasanjo must leave Jonathan alone

RECENTLY, there were unprecedented outpourings of criticisms against ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo. The strictures concerned his alleged closeness to President Goodluck Jonathan. In the vanguard of the outbursts was the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) under its president, Mr. Abdulwahed Umar, followed by Chief Edwin Clark, the leader of the Niger Delta Leaders, Elders and Stakeholders Forum. Both inveighed against Obasanjo’s incessant hovering around President Jonathan. National dailies were awash with the news stories after inter-active sessions with journalists
In his criticisms, Edwin Clark queried rhetorically: “What again does he (Obasanjo) want at his age, at over 75 years? What is he looking for? Is he the only former Nigerian leader?”. On his part, the NLC president commented that Obasanjo’s relationship was a bad omen for the 2011 elections. The issue of closeness is debatable, and needs to be clarified. Is Chief Obasanjo’s romance meant to dictate to Jonathan, or to offer pieces of advice or suggestions? Obasanjo deserves the right to visit President Jonathan, if only to offer advice or suggestion. This is normal, as it makes for national advancement. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo would not personally visit President Shehu Shagari in those days. He would rather write letters to him. But how can Nigerians know when Obasanjo’s visits are really to offer advice, and not to dictate for the purpose of controlling? When is an “advice” not a dictation? When such self-imposed assignment is on regular bases, it amounts to dictating to the incumbent. To dictate is unacceptable. Therefore, the ex-president must keep off Jonathan.
Ex-president Obasanjo had had enough. During his Presidency, who could dictate to him? Who could teleguide him? Here was a man who told the newly appointed Political Advisers that he was not bound to take their advice, because he could do without them, meaning that he was infallible. It is on record that Chief Obasanjo remarked, possibly with tongue in cheek, that his own daughter, Mrs Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello was old enough to be responsible for her actions. If this is really so, President Goodluck Jonathan is also old enough to take responsibility for his actions and inactions in government. It is still green in memory that Obasanjo once queried the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua: “Shehu, what did you forget in the Dodan Barracks?” Nigerians may as well query Chief Obasanjo: “Chief, what have you left behind in the Aso Rock, Abuja., to warrant your frequent visits?”. In the military era, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo was the Head of State from 1976 to 1979, and during civil dispensation, he ruled from 1999 till 2007. Altogether, he ruled this country for 11 years. His romance around President Jonathan is a ruse that is designed to control the Federal Government.
For the above reasons, Chief Obasanjo must leave the incumbent President alone to swim or sink---that is, to make a success or failure of his tenure. In every democracy, governments are identified by the names of the leaders in office, such as “Margaret Thatcher administration”, “George Bush tenure”, “Gordon Brown government.”, or Shehu Shagari regime”, Each of these rulers would not influence the successor in government. Every leader is left alone to paddle his or her own canoe in the way that is desirable.. In future, how shall Jonathan tenure be identified? Would it be Jonathan/Obasanjo administration? If Obasanjo’s antics and tactics are embraced by every predecessor of an incumbent, there can be no distinctions in governance-one is bound to be the continuation or the extension of the other. And so, it may be difficult to apportion blame on a bad government. Besides, elections are periodically held to effect changes of batons to allow fresh ideas and policies to flourish. Interference is unfair and impolitic. If an incumbent is controlled by a predecessor like Obasanjo is now doing, can there be the need for elections?.
One may inquire: “Why is the Chief hovering around Jonathan like a butterfly around a flower?”. Is it to suck the flower’s nectar or enhance its quality? Chief Obasanjo is not a democrat. He is a dictator by nature and professional trainings. Ingrained in him are the traits and attributes of a soldier. He is more a soldier than a politician. And a dictator must have no place in politics, because he may not be a good politician, unless be learns to adjust. Chief Obasanjo was only fortunate to be the President of this country. This nascent democracy ought not to have been placed in the hands of a dictator, because its growth is bound to be stunted. Well-meaning patriots expect him to adjust in line with hallowed democratic principles. As for President Jonathan, it is incumbent on him to be wary of Chief Obasanjo’s guile, for Nigerians shall judge his administration by performance.
The Chief must respect himself, steer clear of the Presidency, and not make himself cheap in the estimation of right-thinking Nigerians. The corollary of the unsolicited interference in Jonathan’s administration is that he is furtively enjoying a “Third Term” in government. His constant trips to the Presidency demonstrate that the much-desired tenure elongation which eluded him in 2007 is now in his grasp. There is an Igbo adage: “A masquerader who is too frequent at the village square shall no longer command respect from his admirers”. Invariably, it is self-defeating if Obasanjo always shuttles to the Presidency to ostensibly “offer unsolicited pieces of advice or suggestions” to an incumbent. This is because if an advice fails to be effectual, the offeree may eventually blame the “Good Samaritan” offeror of such “advice”. Nigerians must not be shocked if, in the event of a failure, President Jonathan tells us: “It was Chief Obasanjo who advised me to embark upon that line of action” Pride that is once wounded may not be easy to salve. Lost integrity may not re-bound. So, if there is any need for an advice, it is the incumbent who broaches it first.
In retirement, Obasanjo must be self-effacing. And of course, at the PDP’s or Council of State’s meetings, nothing stops the Chief from availing himself the opportunity to bare his heart. And like the late Chief Awolowo, Obasanjo could resort to letter writings to the Presidency. Here lies the path of honour.
• Oshisada, veteran journalist, livees in Ikorodu, Lagos State.