Obasanjo: Second phase of ego war

Elderstateman and ‘renowned letter writer’ General Olusegun Obasanjo is in a fix.

Having failed to wipe sentiment and alter public opinion about the Buhari administration, the former president made another frantic effort to incite voters against President Muhammadu Buhari, who is seeking a second time and running successful campaigns across the six geopolitical zones.

His latest letter is not fantastic. It may have been written in desperation and frustration. It was not motivated by national interest, but a personal agenda to settle inexplicable scores with his former military colleague, who, unlike him, is still held in high esteem as an incorruptible statesman and a man of integrity.

The timing of the release nevertheless, is strategic. The greatest achievement of the former president this month is that his candidate for the presidential election and former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, went to and returned from America.

The goal is to build on this pedestal feat and launder image. Thus, the latest letter is meant to divert attention from core issues, dent the image of the government and shore up the image he once dented in his books and outbursts on the podium.

The relationship between a journey to the United States and electoral success will have to be established during this electioneering.

Obasanjo began his letter by describing himself as a democrat.  Many will disagree. Nigerians still remember the power-loaded president and democrat of “election is a do-or-die fame.”

Even, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was taken aback as a beneficiary of an improper exercise.  In his moment of restitution, he acknowledged that the election that brought him into office was severely flawed. That was the legacy of a self-proclaimed democrat, who has deluded himself into thinking that Nigerians are assailed by collective amnesia.

Obasanjo has issues with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chaired by Prof. Mahmud Yakubu. He doubted the ability of the agency to conduct free and fair elections next month. May be, the former leader will be comfortable, if Prof Maurice Iwu is re-engaged as the electoral umpire.

Although the Osun governorship poll has shifted to the tribunal, Obasanjo constituted himself into a one-man court and gave an ineffectual verdict of guilt, on the APC.

He alerted the international community to an imminent imaginary electoral logjam, which must be punished by powerful countries.

His outburst was meant to intimidate and harass a sitting government, but without success.

In Obasanjo’s view, the Buhari administration is corrupt and it is not fighting corruption. He accused President Buhari of regressing to the Abacha tactics of impunity and dictatorship. The sins of Gen. Buhari, in the view of Gen. Obasanjo, is that people are been oppressed and hounded into detention.

Obasanjo faulted the move to investigate the apex judicial officer, saying that it is an affront on the judiciary. Even, the chief justice has not denied that he failed to declare all his assets as required by the law.

Leaning on public mood, Obasanjo lent his voice to the Amina Zakari saga. INEC’s explanation does not hold water.

To the former leader, Buhari’s battle against Boko Haram has collapsed. He refused to acknowledge the efforts.  As a General, he will not suggest novel military ideas in aid of the government he so detest. Fault finding, without an adequate acknowledgement of maximum input, is a disservice to patriotism and courage.

The most striking element of the vituperation is the attempt to discredit Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who’s urbane and grassroots campaigns have been effective. He indirectly asked Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who inducted him as a priest of the Redeemed Christian Church, to withdraw his priestly licence. He made a serious allegation against the SAN, saying that he was buying up PVCS from prospective voters with N10, 000.

For maximum effect, will Obasanjo not translate his treaties into Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Igbo, Efik and Uhrobo?

There are puzzles: in whose interest is Obasanjo acting? Is Atiku Abubakar the youth he has been urging the youths to watch out for? Is it not more profitable to rewrite his epistles about Atiku than trying to harass and intimidate President Buhari, who has developed a thick skin to his virulent attacks?

What legacy of exemplary leadership did he leave behind?

Why can’t OBJ, the all-knowing gerontocratic monitor pause, pull the break and emulate Gen. Yakubu Gowon?