Obasanjo almost went on his knees to beg AD governors on third term, says Osoba
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday received more criticism for ‘My Watch’, his autobiography.
Few days after Wole Soyinka described Obasanjo as an overgrown child of circumstance over the same book, Segun Osoba, a former governor of Ogun state, has said that the book is filled with so many inconsistencies.
According to Osoba, Obasanjo “almost went on his knees” to beg for support for his failed third term bid, contrary to the claims in the book.
Osoba made this statement at the launch of ‘Watch the Watcher’, a book written by Yinka Odumakin, national secretary of Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, as a critical response to the ex-president’s book.
“Many aspects of the book written by President Olusegun Obasanjo need correction. The Watcher (Obasanjo) wrote a book on which Wole Soyinka has given his verdict. I am also going to give my verdict when I write my book,” he said.
“That he (Obasanjo) does not know about the pact with the AD governors is far from the fact. To correct him, it was July 2002, he (Obasanjo) came to the graduation at UNILAG, where we met at the office of the old head of state. It was there that he almost went on his knees that we, the AD governors, should support his ambition.
“I am shocked and surprised that he wrote in his book that he knew nothing about the third term agenda, which he said God would have given him if he had asked.
“He was at the centre of all the negotiations to broker a political agreement between Alliance for Democracy and the Peoples Democratic Party in 2003. For him to say he knew nothing about it, I totally disagree with him.
“However, two weeks before the 2003 presidential election, Abraham Adesanya accused Obasanjo of trying to use military tactics to outwit us. He failed to keep to the terms of the agreement we had with him.”
Similarly, Ayo Adebanjo, a notable social critic, described Obasanjo as a man who does not accept what others say but believes only in himself.
“Obasanjo believes he is not corrupt but he changed the constitution of the party to become the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT),” he said.
“I challenge anybody to come and show what the Yorubas got when Obasanjo was in power.”
I don’t know if it is the book launchers that are confusing us or The Cable that is deliberately trying to twist the story. The story keeps saying “Second Term” and “Third Term” interchangeably. Besides, the AD governors were not in office during Third Term, so the headline cannot be true. So it is either someone is lying, or The Cable is deliberately trying to twist what was said at the event.
The issue of third term as stated in the headline is totally wrong and does not correspond with the rest of the story..
Obasanjo kneeling down is a very familiar scene I have witnessed!!!! To a 29 year old who knew and still knows better than all of ’em unkind old politicians! Time will tell!!!
I am worried about the needless distraction these matters are giving the nation at this critical time in our national existence.
How I wish we will leave this matter of who did what to time and future which certainly will not hide the truth so that we can have have a single focus and sight to decide rightly about today’s choices to better our tomorrow.
These old men aren’t angels. They couldnt have been always right when in office and even now. Lets stop the accusing/blaming game. PLEASE, FELLOW NIGERIANS!