Obasanjo and Nigeria’s unity By J. AMEURUBALOGUN

General Obasanjo is one of the few outstanding patriotic Nigerians who sincerely and successfully fought for the unity of this country particularly during the Nigeria Civil War 1967 – 5th January, 1970.
He played important roles when he was Military Head of State in Nigeria and that brought about the release of Nelson Mandela who spent 27years in prison and later became the president of the country when South Africa attained her independence from the dreaded apartheid regime.
Obasanjo didn’t play subversive game in the war front when he took the mantle of leadership from Col.
Benjamin Adekule, the G.
O.
C 3rd Marine Commando (Now 3rd Div).
When Obasanjo took over as G.
O.
C, he did not make arrangements gross darkness to Nigerians to end the Civil War in the battle field for the unity of this country having fought gallantly, sincerely and successfully.
Without any domino effect of dangerous act whatsoever in the battle field, the Field Commander of defunct Biafra Army, Brigadier Phillip Efiong surrendered to Col.
Obasanjo then in the Battle field, without much ado, “General Obasanjo is a source of Nigeria unity who made defunct Biafra towns places of peace, safety, sheltered from the rain and storm”.
General Obasanjo administration lifted ban on politics.
Accordingly, elections were conducted from July 7 to August 11, 1979.
Gen Obasanjo did not add one or two hours to hand over to democratic elected President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who emerged on the platform of National Party of Nigeria (N.
P.
N) on 1st October, 1979.
Obasanjo handed over to civil rule without subversive game/deceit to truncate thesecond republic for selfish interest.
A new military government led by General Buhari and Idiagbon overthrew Shehu Shagari civil government because of corruption.
General Buhari and Idiagbon were overthrown within a short time by General Babangida.
Fast forward: Gen.
Abubakar Abdulsalam took over as military head of state.
His stay was short, transient and ephemeral as he quickly organized and arranged with INEC to conduct the elections.
Gen.
Obasanjo was released from detention.
Having had the mandate of Nigerians, Gen.
Obasanjo contested for the presidential race on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party and won.
He was sworn-in as President, Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on 1st October, 1999.
On assumption of duty as president, justice flowed like a stream and righteousness like river that never dry.
There were improvements in all sectors and other components of our economy.
He closely monitored and supervised all ministers in his cabinet, National Assembly and state governments for financial prudence.
There was no room for financial mismanagement and stealing.
Workers at federal, state and local governments received their salaries as at when due as well as other quasi-government agencies and pensioners.
The erring state governments met their waterloos particularly Ekiti and Bayelsa states for their failure to do the needful.
Obasanjo administration nipped corruption of public officers in the bud through Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practice and other Related Offences (ICPC).
His administration brought about transformation of Nigeria economy.
When Alh. Umar Yar’adua succeeded Obasanjo, he managed Nigeria’s scarce resources and economy prudently without any dent whatsoever.
He did not last as President of this country and later died untimely.
Goodluck Jonathan who was Vice President continued and completed the tenure of late President Yar’adua.
When Jonathan was elected President, this easy going gentleman started the governance of this country in good faith.
The unfortunate aspects of his administration were the greedy politicians and economic looters that misled him.
He lost his presidential election in 2015 and accepted the defeat in good faith.
He, however, congratulated the new elected President Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari, accordingly.
Buhari administration is concerned majorly with corruption particularly Nigerian economy looters (corrupt public officers).
Buhari as former military head of state, was known as a transparent, honest man that hates corruption in its entirety.
His administration worked side by side wiTheFCC/ICPC to recover loots of the past government and other public officers including some retired service chiefs.
The present administration of President Buhari would have been rated as one of the best next to Obasanjo in Africa, if not for true federalism we are operating instead of Nigeria conditions and her peculiarities.
Federalism shares powers among the two component units, federal and states without an element of checks on the state governments.
To this end, about 95% of Nigerian state governors capitalized on true federalism to loot and mismanage our economic resources.
There is no serious/ capital development in almost 35 states.
Salaries of workers are not paid while pensioners are dying on daily basis.
Most of the state governments are ready to mortgage their states if allowed.
As Buhari administration is fighting corruption in Nigeria, corruption/ looters are fighting back.
As we are aware, the true federalism impoverishes masses at grassroots leading to abject poverty and penury in Nigeria.
While appealing to National Assembly to remove the clause of “True Federalism” from 1999 constitution, the President should do the needful to arrest and recover the loots of governors in the public interest.
President Obasanjo is a founder of permanent democracy in Africa.
I regard him therefore as my role model because of his patriotism without blemish.
The young breed politicians or political sycophants challenging or accusing him should go back to their respective state/ village to ask about Obasanjo in relationship with unity of this country.
Theseptuagenarians or older ones who witnessed the Nigeria Civil war would tell them the role of Obasanjo to end the war and unite Nigerian and also handed over to democratically elected President on 1st October, 1979 without truncation.
This what other military heads of state in the past failed to do in the interest of this country at the availed opportunity.
Therefore, “General, Engr., Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo is a true patriotic Nigerian who believes in the unity and progress of this county.
” Ameuru-Balogun writes from Lokoja

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