Once upon a time, there was a king that reigned
over Nigeria in majesty and grandeur. When he
ascended the throne in 1999, he developed a Manual
on how to rule Nigeria. He enjoyed the “ogbono”
soup in Aso Rock so much that he did not want to
leave after spending eight years and two terms. He
wanted a third term. His manipulation to rewrite the
constitution failed spectacularly at the National
Assembly, and he hurriedly left power in humiliation
in May 2007. He forgot the Manual in the side
drawer of his bed. Alas! One of the successors
discovered the Manual and started borrowing from
it.
The first chapter in the Manual is “clannishness”.
Having been elected president in 1999 in spite of his
own people rejecting him, President Olusegun
Obasanjo made underground moves to get their
support. In no time, Afenifere, under Chief Abraham
Adesanya, started issuing threats, warning that
nothing must happen to “our son”. Oodua Peoples
Congress (OPC) began to “uncover” plots by the
North to kill Obasanjo - on a daily basis. They
threatened that Nigeria would burn. When the
House of Representatives began impeachment
moves against Obasanjo in 2002, Governor Lam
Adesina of Oyo State warned that the Yoruba would
not allow their “son” to be humiliated by the North.
And it came to pass that when President Goodluck
Jonathan got to Aso Rock in 2011, he read chapter
one of the Manual and liked it. It worked for
Obasanjo, so it must work for me too, he told
himself. So Ijaw leader, Chief EK Clark, began to
issue threats, warning all of us that nothing must
happen to “our son”. Militant leader, Mujahid Asari
Dokubo, started spitting venom and acid, warning
that Nigeria would catch fire if Jonathan was not
allowed a second term. The oil that keeps Nigeria
looking like a political entity “is from our soil” and “if
our son is not good enough to be president of
Nigeria, then our oil is not good enough for Nigeria”.
And Obasanjo wrote to Jonathan, accusing him of
“clannishness”.
The second chapter is “tenure”. When Chief MKO
Abiola drank tea and died in military custody in1998,
Obasanjo emerged from prison to become president.
It was said that he had entered into an agreement
with the Northern establishment to do only one
term. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s in-law, Chief Sonny
Okogwu, and several Northern leaders told the
world that Obasanjo had a pact to do only one term.
Not only did Obasanjo do a second term, he even
wanted a third term. Meanwhile, Jonathan is also
said to have agreed with the North to do only one
term when he was seeking power in 2011, but now
he wants a second term.
And Obasanjo wrote to Jonathan, saying seeking a
second term will be “fatally morally flawed”.
The third chapter is “leniency on corruption”.
Former permanent secretary in the Ministry of
Defence, Dr. Julius Makanjuola, was being tried for
corruption under Obasanjo’s government. Suddenly,
the government entered a plea of nolle prosequi -
reportedly the first in our history - and set the man
free. In 2000, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Salisu Buhari, was convicted for
perjury. Obasanjo pardoned him instantly. Men and
brethren, in 2006, some federal lawmakers were
reportedly bribed with N50 million to support
Obasanjo’s third term plot. So it came to pass that
Jonathan granted pardon to former Bayelsa
governor, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, who was jailed
for corruption. Jonathan has subsequently toyed
with several cases of corruption involving his
ministers, notably the bullet-proof car scandal.
And Obasanjo wrote to Jonathan, lambasting him for
being “soft” on corruption.
The fourth chapter in the Manual is using “region
and religion” for political end. Confronted with a
strong opposition from the “core North” (in the form
of ANPP), Obasanjo knew that getting re-elected in
2003 was not going to be tough. He played the
Christian North against the Muslim North in the
polity and in the military. He begged his “people” in
the South-west not to field any candidate against
him. So the Alliance for Democracy (AD), which
controlled the South-west states, decided to vote for
“our son” in pure ethnic solidarity. Jonathan,
confronted with yet another strong opposition from
the “core North” (increasingly gathering in the APC)
, is adopting the same Obasanjo tactics as 2015
approaches.
And Obasanjo wrote to Jonathan, accusing him of
using “region and religion” for politics.
Verily, verily I say unto thee, Nigerians shall
continue to be divided over how to respond to
Obasanjo’s “letter bomb”. Some will say he has no
moral right to criticise Jonathan because he that
comes to equity must come with clean hands, even if
the issues he raised are quite weighty. Others will
argue that we should listen to the message and
ignore the messenger. And so, Sheikh Abubakar
Shekau, the Boko Haram leader, can pick his pen
today and write a letter to Asari Dokubo to accuse
him of terrorism - and Nigerians shall say: “Listen to
the message and ignore the messenger!”
And, by the way, Jonathan has opened yet another
chapter in the Obasanjo Manual. He is reading it day
and night, with all the concentration and seriousness
it deserves. The title is: “Getting re-elected in a do-
or-die affair.” Lobatan!

Simon Kolawole


www.thisdaylive.com/articles/the-old-man-and-the-manual/167105/

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