OBJ @ 85
12 Unique Qualities of Nigeria’s “Father of the nation”
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, former President of Nigeria, has always been an enigma. He represents many things to different people. But whatever perception of him anybody could hold, what is never in dispute is that, for a man of over eighty years, his sheer energy, articulation, and mental presence defy comprehension. He struts along as if he is still a junior officer in the army. And it appears that his engineering background has equipped him to order his life like a computer-driven machine.
Little wonder his amazing display of Okocha-like foot works, during the football match to mark his 85th birthday has become the toast of the social media.
For effect, Obasanjo is not the only energetic octogenarian. But what stands him out from the pack is what he does with his time, how he deploys his energy, his goodwill, and his pan-Nigerian social network. Like most of his compatriots, OBJ’s commitment to Nigerian unity is unimpeachable: to him, Nigeria is better off as a corporate entity, savouring its rich human and natural resource endowments than a dismembered country, fragmented into several probably unviable units. On his 85th birthday on March 5, the straight-shooting army engineer warned that that unless this unity is predicated on equity and justice, the country’s future could be in jeopardy.
This admonition is coming in the wake of the controversy over the zoning principle which has pitched politicians in the various political parties against each other. The argument is not new: the crux of the matter being that the presidency should be rotated between the north and the south. Stretched further, the contention is that, in recognition of the country’s heterogeneity, the presidency should rotate among the six geo-political zones: three in the north and three in the south.
It is possible that OBJ’s statement could have been misconstrued, leading to a clarification that he had not suggested where the presidency should be zoned to. In fact, those close to Obasanjo disclose that for now, uppermost in the octogenarian’s mind is the emergence of a young leader who, through astute diversity management, inclusion, and good governance policies, can provide a rallying point to heal the deep-seated wounds of the country, pacify the youth, and move the country forward.
In commemoration of his 85th birthday, below are some unique qualities of the OBJ.
Nigeria Comes First
This perhaps is the strongest attribute of OBJ, one that stands him out of the pack. Preserving Nigeria’s unity is not something he gloats about as some people do. He lives it. Given any opportunity, he preaches it. Of course, he was a major actor in the 30-month long war over the fate of Nigeria and providence bestowed on him the privilege of receiving the surrender document from Biafra’s chief of staff, General Phillip Effiong. Perhaps that historic incident continues to endow him with a keen desire to ensure that Nigeria, despite the frightening challenges of the moment, remains as one corporate entity. Besides, living the wordings of Nigeria’s first national anthem that, ‘the labors of our heroes’ past shall never be in vain”, OBJ posits that the country’s diversity is a source of strength that should be harnessed instead of being fragmented. On this, he is on very solid ground.
Democratic Trailblazer
Until the then General Olusegun Obasanjo handed over to the Shehu Shagari democratically elected government in 1976, no other military administration on the African continent had voluntarily relinquished power and none had handed over to a civilian administration. That trail-blazing achievement rode on the crest of a well-articulated transition programme, planned and executed by some of Nigeria’s most accomplished technocrats and witnessing the participation of some of the country’s renowned politicians and founding fathers. Once he had delivered on that unusual benchmark, General Obasanjo retired to his Temperance farms Limited in Ota, in Ogun, his home state.
Presidential Trailblazer
With his election as President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo became the first head of state to return to office as President in Nigeria. Those with an insight into the factors that catapulted him back to power predicate it on the desire of the nation’s power brokers to pacify the Yoruba ethnic group, following the nullification of 12th June 1993 presidential elections, now adjudged to have been won by Bashorun MKO Abiola. But that act was also seen as a recognition of Obasanjo’s leadership qualities, as someone who possessed the political savvy, diplomatic elan, global stature and patience to restore order in an era of flux and uncertainty. In retrospect, he tried but there are those who would hold him responsible, perhaps uncharitably, for Nigeria’s unending woes.
Detribalized Nigerian
Related to his Nigeria First principle is that OBJ is, unapologetically, a nationalist. Unlike many a Nigerian who would protest being labelled a tribalist while at heart the person is a rabid tribalist, OBJ epitomizes the maxim that actions speak louder than words. He believes that keeping Nigeria together entails a conscious management of the country’s diversity. Thus, as President, his appointments to sensitive positions whether cabinet or security, displayed a deliberate effort to narrow rather than exacerbate the country’s deep faultiness. In recent times, in the countdown to the 2023 general elections, like a voice crying in the wilderness, he continues to admonish the political class on the need to recognize equity and justice as necessary desiderata for the survival of the country.
Speaking Truth to Power
OBJ is no doubt a courageous man. When the nation flounders and gravitates perilously towards the precipice; when the leaders, like Nero, fiddle while the nation burns, and elite silence is as deafening as the peace of the grave yard, like a sphynx, OBJ can be trusted to break from the pack; to speak the unvarnished truth, to power. Time and again, this earns him the undeserved opprobrium of people in power. But like the accomplished general that he is, these sundry vilifications never deter him. Throughout various administrations: from Ibrahim Babangida, through Sani Abacha, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, OBJ has spoken out as the moral conscience of the nation. It does not matter that often; people tend to ignore the message and concentrate on his presumed failings-they choose to throw the baby away with the bath water. To his credit though, is that, in majority of the cases, he is vindicated. Predictably, therefore, many Nigerians are bound to listen when OBJ speaks. Call him the Oracle of Ota (his abode for many years) or Abeokuta (where he now holds court as a Mecca for all those who seek his counsel and assistance).
Frank, Brutally Frank
He spares no punches. That is the quality that has endowed him with the ability to speak truth to power. Those with an understanding of the operations of Nigeria’s power elite swear that, most times, some of his forthright, yet controversial, public comments are the consensus of the power elite with him as the outlet. For instance, speculation is rife that when he told Atiku Abubakar that the country needed a younger person as President in 2023, he was only conveying the position of the country’s power elite: a group from all over the country, said to be made up of former leaders, former military chiefs, powerful traditional rulers, and a coterie of highly influential power brokers who are seldom noticed politically. Given his avuncular nature, it is likely that some of his rather brusque assertions could only have been his. One such was when he reportedly chided a state, saying that they preferred a thief to an armed robber as governor. The subject of that broadside has served out his tenure. And, as they say, the rest is history. Hate him or like him: that is OBJ for you.
Undying Love for Education
OBJ epitomizes the dictum that learning is a life-long preoccupation. He has demonstrated this in several ways. Four of his efforts stand out for mention: First, to create a platform for training leaders, he established the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF). Young and promising leaders of all walks of life are invited to the periodic Farm House Dialogues of the ALF where they are opportune to exchange views with and drink from the fountain of knowledge of renowned statesmen, corporate Tarzans, technocrats, scholars and others. Interestingly, by participating in the dialogues, OBJ has benefitted richly from the biblical maxim that ‘iron sharpeneth iron’. Thus, today, this former army engineer can literally speak authoritatively on any subject under the sun! Second, his love for education led to the establishment of the Bells Educational Community in Ota, Ogun State of Nigeria. Third, what better illustration of his zeal for education than the fact that, since on leaving service as head of state in 1979, OBJ enrolled at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) where he studied Christian religious studies from the diploma to the doctorate level. Fourth, he continued his trail-blazing role when he became the first Nigerian President to follow in the American tradition by establishing the Obasanjo Presidential Library. Though the project was nearly mired on controversy over the source of funding, scarcely did that derogate from the high-minded underpinnings of such an unprecedented project.
A Passion for Farming
To show his emphasis on agriculture as a means of eradicating poverty and making Nigeria self-sufficient in food production, as head of state between 1976 and 1979, OBJ introduced the Operation Feed the nation (OFN) programme. Leaving office, till date, starting with his Obasanjo Farms Nigeria (OFN!) at Ota in Ogun State, he has deepened his prioritization of agriculture as a sure pathway out of poverty. To live no one in doubt about his commitment, Obasanjo has always lived on that Ota farm so much so that, at some point, people started describing him as the Ota chicken farmer. Today, he has farms in several parts of the country. Lately, one of such farms in Benue State was set ablaze by unknown persons (not unknown gunmen). Despite that set back, rather than being discouraged, he has vowed to strengthen the investment because of his conviction that agriculture is profitable.
Respect for Tradition
The towering heights he has attained in life have not robbed OBJ of respect for tradition. The Balogun (War Leader) of Owu kingdom and the Jagunmolu (Conqueror) of Egbaland has a reputation for the extreme courtesies he gives to traditional rulers in Yorubaland. For instance, in 2016, some people expressed surprise when he prostrated to the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, a move that was applauded by many who acknowledged that he was setting a good example for the younger ones to follow. Again in 2019, OBJ prostrated before the newly installed Agura of Gbagura land in Ogun State, Oba Saburee Babajide Bakare. What is particularly striking about the two incidents is the age difference between OBJ and the traditional rulers in question. While OBJ was born on March 5, 1937, the Ooni was born on October 17, 1974. Similarly, OBJ was 82 at the time he prostrated before the Agura of Gbagura Land who was 59. Talk about respect for tradition.
Grassroots Man
Those who are tempted to judge OBJ’s relationship with his kith and kin by his electoral performance in 1999 are likely to miss the point; that this is a true son of the soil whose proximity to his people has never been blunted by his iconic Nigerian-ness. OBJ simply demonstrates that one can strike a good balance between love of country and responsibility to community. It is said that though he has attracted many amenities to Owu, some people are not satisfied because they feel that he should have prioritized the community over either the nation or any other place during the periods he ruled the country.
Vote for Indigenous Capitalist Elite
A major policy plank of OBJ, as president between 1999 and 2007 was the promotion of the indigenous capitalist elite. It was an era in which many local entrepreneurs blossomed: Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Leo Stan Ekeh, Mike Adenuga, Jim Ovia, Femi Otedola etc. Nigeria’s icons of hope, as he called them, had emphatically announced their presence and readiness to compete on the global scene. Though an exponent of free market capitalism, those close to OBJ reveal that he was uncomfortable with the monopoly enjoyed by foreigners.
Strong Physical Constitution
OBJ’s 85th birthday was the occasion to showcase the boundless energy of the tireless octogenarian. To be sure, not everybody of his age would show the agility that he displayed during the novelty soccer match to mark his 85th birthday. From the moment he jogged out from his house to the nimble foot works he displayed on the pitch; many Nigerians wondered if his deft skills were not underutilized in his youthful days. That is probably correct. Yet, from his hectic engagements, in and out of Ota, OBJ continues to serve the nation as a peace-builder, patriot and elder statesman. For a man of his age, he travels schedule is phenomenal. What looked like a tour of the South East, last week, took him through Anambra, Imo and Abia States. In Imo, the State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma hosted him to a birthday party. But it was in Abia that he demonstrated why he is playing the role of Father of the nation. First, he visited the family of the first indigenous Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army and first military head of state, Major-General JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi to commiserate with them over the death of the wife of the former leader, Dame Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi. From there, he moved over to the family of the late Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, to commiserate with them on the death of his wife, Lady Adanma Okpara.
Two things emerge from those visits. First, though some other leaders could have paid lip service to the contributions of those patriots, OBJ had always genuinely relished their roles in the evolution of the Nigerian nation-state. Second, those who are familiar to OBJ mindset, say that he sees his effort as requisite to healing the wounds of the past, to giving those who feel alienated a sense of belonging and to creating a conducive atmosphere for genuine reconciliation particularly now that the country is terribly fractured. Will he succeed?
Only time will tell.
