For the upteenth time, what does ex-president Obasanjo wants? By Kola Amzat

Without any iota of doubt, ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo remains one of the African political legends of all time.

He is one of the two Nigerians privileged to have lead this wonderful country both as a military leader and democratically elected president; the other, been Muhammud Buhari, also a retired general. 

Indeed, Obasanjo is an illustrious Nigerian and veteran of many battles, all in the bids to protect the unity and togetherness of the country.

This writer is also of strong conviction that the appreciative nation has sufficiently rewarded him for all his efforts, as he’s one of the wealthiest Nigerians; nay Sub-Saharan African.

More importantly, he has also deployed Nigerian platform to launch himself to international prominence and consciousness.    

Meanwhile, his second time romance with power ended in year 2007 when curtains were drawn on his eight years reign as civilian president.    

But, unlike other former leaders of government-Yakubu Gowon, Muhammud Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan, Abdulsalam Abubakar, and even, Ibrahim Babangida who have all elected and resolved to remain in the background, preferring to contribute their respective quotas to the growth and development of the country whenever they’re called to do so, the Owu born retired general has continually remain in the limelight and consciousness of Nigerians even 18 years after his tenure came to a close, always critiquing his successors’ programs and policies.  

Nigerians vividly recalled how Obasanjo practically attempted to usurp the leadership of Yar’Adua’s presidency, interrupting and disrupting the smooth flows of that government until the former Katsina governor gave up the ghost.

The retired general terrorized Goodluck Jonathan and his regime for the 6 years before his tenure came to a close, simply because the Otuoke born former governor wasn’t pandering to him.

Of course, the immediate past president, Buhari Muhammud rebuffed and kept him at distance throughout his regime.

As the new regime of Bola Tinubu berthed, Nigerians who expect the ex-president to be dissuaded from undue criticisms of successors following his trajectory of treatment of ignominy and scorn, were wrong as they were taken aback as Baba has remained undaunted and undeterred, even to the extent of recently deploying the platform of an international forum far away in United States of America, where he was invited to make a presentation during Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum lectures, to harass and allege the government of unsubstantiated and spurious allegations of corruption.    

The latest in the series of his casting doubts & aspersions on the programs of government is his recent allegation that the government through the NNPLC squandered over $2 billion on the rehabilitation and construction of refineries and, yet, the refineries are still not working.

Interestingly and incidentally, very recently, there is significant turn-around in the fortunes of nation Refineries with the total completion of rehabilitation works of old Port Harcourt Refinery, as well as commencement of oil production, and instructively, with the NNPCL New Year gift to the nation of completion of reconstruction and rehabilitation of Warri Refinery and more importantly, the resumption of production therein.

It’s also already in the public domain that Kaduna Refinery would come alive in a short while from now.

Just within 18-19 months of inauguration, Tinubu presidency have about to complete the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the 3 key Refineries, the project that successive administrations, including Obasanjo regime, completely abandoned and already pronounced as unachievable during their regimes.

While Baba Obasanjo was completely bamboozled and boxed to the corner by almighty Shell Petroleum who posited to him that its impracticable for the Refineries to be rehabilitated and indeed, for NNPCL of all Agency, to manage them, there is another president with deep conviction, zeal, patriotism, vision, courage and unwavering determination to tread in success-laden but, difficult path where leaders with feeble and less-discerning minds have refused to tread.

Of course, ex-president would never be happy that the 3 Refineries have come alive even less than 2 years of Tinubu presidency.

Characteristic of him, he always like to claim glory all milestones in Nigeria!

Meanwhile, the ex-president annoyance with his successor, Umar Yar’Adua who he alleged to have buckle under pressure to return $750 million paid by Dangote and some investors during his administration for the purpose of assuming the ownership of the 2 Refineries, is considered a misplaced of aggression by key figures across the country, as they submitted that Obasanjo desired to mortgage the nation by accepting that very ridiculous sum from Dangote and his team.

They asserted that as at the time the transaction was concluded by Obasanjo, Port-Harcourt Refinery alone worth about $5 billion.

So, where lies the argument of the ex-president? Where lies his basis for holier than thou attitude? Where lies his piety?

Meanwhile, the crux of the Write-up is the open invitation extended to the ex-president by NNPCL for the purpose of carrying out on the spot assessment and inspection of the completely rehabilitated 2 Refineries to convince him that the more than $2 billion committed to their rehabilitation was purposeful, rewarding, sufficiently justified and never a waste.

Consequent upon the open invitation, Baba Obasanjo has expressed deep anger, describing it as disrespectful and inappropriate to his office, as a former president to have invited him in such manner.

Of course, his response was too spontaneous as he didn’t bother to wait for NNPCL to formalize the invitation through formal letter of invite before start lambasting and scolding the management of the federal government Agency on the pages of Newspapers. .

Also, it’s important to submit that ex-president allegation of squandering $2 billion by government and NNPCL was on the pages of Newspapers, instead of opting to walk into Aso Villa to engage the president of his supposed observations, if there is any at all on the rehabilitated Refineries, and even interact with authority of the federal Agency, a request they would be favourably disposed, considering coming from a former president.

This writer would like to re-emphasize to the ex-president that no king reign forever.

Nature has conditioned that every leader has a specific period to reign and if that time has expires, leader must embrace spirit of equanimity and contentment to vacate.

What respected and leaders with dignity, do around the world is leave the ovation when it’s loudest. 

18 years after his second reign as democratic leader came to a close is enough time for the ex-president to have prepared to completely leave the political scene.

This writer strongly believe his continual accepting of letter of invitation to commission projects in some few PDP controlled states across the country is egoistic, provocative, disrespectful to the office of president,  and a distraction to the incumbent president.

Can a nation have two presidents at the same time?

His dominant presence in the public space to critique government policies and programs is rebellious, unwarranted and undesirable.

At 87+, he should largely be within the confine of Abeokuta and Ota, playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, do more philanthropic projects at least with the stupendous fortunes he has amassed over decades, move closer to Almighty God, as well as making solid preparation for the world beyond.  

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.