AT 80 OBASANJO STILL UNREPENTANT…LAMBASTS HIS ENEMIES
It was a double celebration for Former President Olusegun Aremu Okikiolu Obasanjo as he recently entered the esteemed club of the nation’s octogenarians.Former President Obasanjo also used his 80th birthday celebration to open what is reputed to be the biggest Library and Archives in this part of the world.
The multi-billion naira Library complex, facilitated and owned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo is located in the ancient city of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
Eminent personalities across the globe witnessed the epoch making ceremony. The roll call included, Liberian president, Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson-, presidents Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone, ex-president Boni Yayi of Benin Republic and ex-president Joyce Banda of Malawi.
Others were, Prince Michael of Kent, former United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Kofi Anan, Prof. Akin Adesina, former president of Ghana, John Kuffour, former president Goodluck Jonathan, Ernest Sonekan, AbdulSalam Abubakar, Emeka Anyaoku, Namadi Sambo, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Olusegun Osoba, former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwakwaso, among others.
And typical of Obasanjo who is always very blunt and vocal on issues used the occasion to “dress down” his foes across the country especially those on the opposing side of his political ideologies and ideals. In the run up to his birthday celebrations,Obasanjo took shades on Nigerian past leaders who are his close associates by blaming them for the woes that befell the country and the masses at large.
Obasanjo who was quoted recently just some days before his birthday celebrations saying that “bad leaders and not God is responsible for Nigeria’s woes”. Speaking further, Obasanjo said, “When we were in office, we privatised the NNPC and sold it to Dangote and partners, but the government that succeeded me revoked it and that is why till today, the NNPC cannot work optimally.
“Today, the same Dangote that was denied ownership of the NNPC is building a refinery that can produce in excess of what the NNPC can produce and what Nigeria can consume. So, it means he will even export.”
Although the comments came as a rude shock to some,many of his political associates could not be bothered by the one of the leading figures in the country’s distasteful and unstatesman-like remarks about other leaders. Obasanjo who is fond of taking shades at his enemies with comic junkets and denigrating remarks has said it at many fora that he does not coast on his past achievements to insult people or institutions but that he says the truth at all times.
