OPINION: Obasanjo’s Letter To Buhari, Another Lesson To Sharpen Our Thought Concerning 2019 - By 'Yanju Uwala

Over the last few days, another explosion emanated from the fold of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, through a letter he wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari, on various issues affecting the country and most particularly advising him not to go for a second term, as perhaps contemplated by him (Buhari).

Obasanjo, been a writer, indeed a famous writer as I may deem fit called him, he has written books, and the sweetness of writing letters to presidents shouldn’t be a trivial or simple issue to him, especially when it has to do with the national issues. 

Chief Obasanjo had written many Nigerian leaders on issues of national development, as it might affect the citizens. Although, he might be seen as a corrupt personality, not fit enough to address national issues among others, but Obasanjo had been a patriotic Nigeria ever since and he won’t sit down and watch the country going into turbulence before he speaks up, and this should be the idea of past leaders to speak up on national issues.

He once said, “All those who have been privileged to rule Nigeria must continue to speak up on national issues whether the incumbent is performing or not. That is the way to ensure that the country attains its greatness.”

Obasanjo and his letters in the history of Nigeria, even though many Nigerians see Obasanjo as a “wrong messenger”, his messages have always struck a chord. It took a letter or comments from Obasanjo to different administrations, for the nation to come to terms with the need for a change of guard at either the Dodan Barracks in Lagos or the Presidential Villa in Abuja. For Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the first executive president of Nigeria, it came in 1983.

For the apostle of “War Against Indiscipline”, General Muhammadu Buhari, it came in 1985, and for the first and only military president of the nation, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, there are stories to tell from his 1989 and 1993 experiences with Obasanjo.

Even the dreaded General Sani Abacha had his share, with Obasanjo’s “attack” in 1995. He did not spare the gentle Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 either. Apart from having the privilege of ruling the country on two different occasions (1976-1979 and 1999-2007), the former president has remained the most active Nigerian leader after exiting from office.

Obasanjo, in an 18-page open letter, titled Before It Is Too Late, written on Monday, December 2, gives 10 reasons for making the “letter of appeal public”. He accused President Goodluck Jonathan of ruling the nation as a tyrant, training snipers, driving the country to the edge of an abyss by allowing corruption to thrive and of favouritism and sowing discord in the military.

He wrote, “The roles of the military and the security agencies should be held sacrosanct in the best interest of the nation. Again, let not history repeat itself. You should learn the lesson of history and please do not take Nigeria and Nigerians for granted”.

L-R: Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari and former President, Olusegun Obasanjo

The uproar generated by this letter to Jonathan may not have mattered much if not for the antecedents of such previous letters from the former president. Obasanjo has a penchant for talking down the government of the day, with his letters appearing to play the role of a ‘sniper’, as such governments became history shortly after receiving them.

In one or two ways, these letters have sparked up controversies and indeed engage Nigerians to take up actions on whatever might be affecting them, a good example of this is when he wrote to former Britain’s prime minister, Margaret Thatcher on the case of apartheid in South Africa in 1986, accusing Thatcher’s  failure to criticise it makes her look like a racist. The letter to Jonathan was also part and parcel of what makes Nigerians vote him out in 2015.

Obasanjo’s latest letter to Buhari, indeed speaks out his total love for the country, despite people’s opinion of him. The latter has been docile for long concerning the development of the country, also his attention is no longer needed as the nation may deem fit, and that is why he is being asked to rest at home and his coming back maybe worse than this present moment. However, there have been insinuations that Chief Obasanjo, does not want any other leader to beat his record of being the longest-serving president but truth must be told, Buhari is not fit enough to run the nation’s affairs again for the next four years.

Though his media aide,.Femi Adesina has voiced out that his health status will be used to determine whether he will run again in 2019, we all know that his body language speaks more volume than we can even ascertain or determine concerning 2019.

On the other hand, Buhari’s failure to take an urgent step towards the new year killing in Benue State and the recent killings in Taraba and Ekiti States herdsmen killing is part of what the former president is using to nail him, even though he praised him on fighting insurgency and corruption, but we all know that human lives are most valuable and priceless and this must be one of his priorities as a president.

That Buhari is sectional and nepotistic is what Nigerians should care to vital attention to, and if not why giving major positions in the federal civil service to Northerners, and inability to stand up against the reprisal attacks in Benue and other states, and arrest these “foreigners herdsmen”

Another point to pull out here is that Buhari has divided Nigeria, how won’t this be possible, even without Obasanjo ascribing it in his letter, it is evident everywhere. Is it off the siding of some corrupt personnel in his APC fold with whom he dines with and yet takes up his political enemies.

The passing of buck indeed has made Buhari to loose gain among the average Nigerian, take due responsibility for anything that might have come up in your time as the leader and not blaming former leaders for your failures. It shows you’re not capable to lead, then why coming back again?

Someone who his wife is already against re-contesting should have sent a better warning signal to Nigerians. So why aiming at destabilizing your plans in 2019? Remember, you have a chance to prove yourself worthy to the people and this he has failed in it. So a word is enough for the wise.

Yanju Uwala is a Writer, a Child Rights Activist, Admin Secretary, The Catalyst Crew, a non-governmental organisation and Moderator, The Hope Warriors.