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Tag: Obasanjo

  • Obasanjo, Malema to grace NBA 2025 conference

    Obasanjo, Malema to grace NBA 2025 conference

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and South African firebrand politician, Julius Malema, are expected in Enugu State on Sunday for the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    The conference, scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, from Aug. 25 to  Aug. 29, will be formally declared open on Aug. 24.

    As part of pre-conference activities, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, on Saturday led thousands of lawyers in a health walk across major roads in the Enugu capital.

    Speaking to newsmen afterwards, Osigwe described the atmosphere in Enugu as thrilling and said the city was a befitting host for the conference, themed “Stand Out, Stand Tall.”

    He said, “Enugu is the capital of the South-East region and also the home of hospitality, beauty, and peace.

    “That was why we chose Enugu State to host our conference after moving it from Port Harcourt.

    “So, we are here in Enugu to enjoy the best that the people have to offer and also have a conversation about building Nigeria and making it an economic giant in Africa.

    “Our keynote speaker, Julius Malema, is on the ground in Lagos and will touch down here on Sunday. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president who will chair the opening ceremony, will also be on the ground same day.

    “We are all set, we are so excited. We are going to make this a never-to-be-forgotten experience, the type that will make you want to come back every time for a conference in Enugu,” he said.

    Also speaking to newsmen, the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia said the government of Gov. Peter Mbah had strategically prepared Enugu to host conferences like that of the NBA and many others.

    According to him, Mbah’s administration in its design and thinking around tourism, hospitality, and economic growth, had already factored in most of what you are seeing in preparation right now.

    “Even without the NBA’s plan to come, we had already started planning what would happen if the NBA came here, if the Nigerian Society of Engineers came here, or others,” he stated.

    He recalled that not too long ago, Enugu was on Air over inaugurated 100 Compressed Natural Gas buses and five modern transport terminals.

    “The reconstructed and revamped Hotel Presidential was also unveiled, just to name a few. We want to ensure that when people come here, they move around easily, feel safe, and even love to live here.

    “We are grateful to the NBA for choosing Enugu and believe that they will have a memorable experience during their stay.”

    Meanwhile, one of the lawyers already in the state, Mrs Favour Abraham from Minna, Niger, said she was looking forward with excitement to a memorable experience in Enugu.

    “This is my second time in Enugu. I came here for the NBA conference in 2005. So, it has been 20 years.

    “Today, it is a beautiful city. At least from the airport, we had Enugu State CNG buses actually waiting for us. The people here are hospitable.

    “I can say Igbo people are very warm and welcoming.

    “Enugu has changed, and it is a beautiful city. So, we are here to explore, attend our conference, gain more skills and knowledge, and then enjoy Enugu to the fullest.

    “We have beautiful things like okpa, isiewu, abacha and more.

    “At least we are coming from the North, and we would love to explore the city,” she added.

  • Service of Songs: Obasanjo, Anyaoku, Obi, others celebrate Adebanjo

    Service of Songs: Obasanjo, Anyaoku, Obi, others celebrate Adebanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Commonwealth General-Secretary, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Wednesday joined other eminent Nigerians to celebrate the life and contributions of the late Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

    Obasanjo, Anyaoku and others paid tributes to Adebanjo at a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs organised in his honour in Lagos .

    Recall that Adebanjo passed away on Feb, 14, aged 96.

    He will be buried on Saturday in Isanya Ogbo, near Ijebu Ode, Ogun.

    In his tribute, Obasanjo said  Adebanjo’s death was as a personal loss,describing him as a great man and a foremost nationalist.

    “His transition is no doubt a huge loss, not only to me , to Ogun state, but also to the country as a whole. He was a great man, a committed nationalist.

    “Adebanjo had a highly successful career, with selfless service lent to his community, state, and indeed the entire nation,” Obasanjo said.

    According to him, the late Afenifere leader  will be remembered as a foremost nationalist and a patriot  who did his best for the country.

    He added that though out his political life,  Adebanjo demonstrated that politics was not for personal enrichment, but for rendering faithful service to humanity.

    In his tribute titled “Chief Ayo Adebanjo: A Symbol of Passion for a Successful Nigerian Project”, Anyaoku, who was represented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Ikenna Ikoli, said the death of the late Afenifere leader was the end of an epoch in the history of Nigeria.

    The elder statesman  said Adebanjo was a great nationalist, who believed in and worked for a united and progressive Nigeria.

    “He (Adebanjo) was a disciple of one of the three founding fathers of Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and remained, to the very end, loyal to his leader’s legacy of campaigning for a truly federalist Nigeria in which the country’s different ethnic component parts can live in harmony, unity, and progressive development.

    “Chief Ayo Adebanjo had an unshakable belief in the capacity of Nigeria’s different ethnic groups to live together in one united country if their diversity is constructively addressed in the country’s constitution.

    “This, I believe, was his reason for becoming a leading member of the Patriots, which is a group of experienced Nigerians who are committed to promoting the adoption of a national constitution,” he said.

    According to him, Adebanjo,as leader of Afenifere ,promoted  collaboration with the leaders of the other Nigerian cultural organisations.

    “His prominent role in the 2014 National Conference confirmed him as an indefatigable champion of national unity through an appropriate constitution. He must be counted as one of the heroes of Nigeria’s modern democracy,” he added.

    In his tribute, Obi said that Adebanjo lived well and everyone should seek to be celebrated like him.

    “Baba lived a life of value, cared in details for the poor in the society.”he said.

    Speaking, a former  governor of Akwa Ibom,, Obong Attah, said that Adebanjo was the one that encouraged him to form the Compatriots and to bring all the socio-cultural groups in the east, in the west, and in the north together.

    “At 86 years of age, I have very few regrets in life. But sadly, one of those regrets is that I did not meet Ayo Adebanjo earlier in my life,” he said

    Attah said that Adebanjo worked for the truth, equity, justice, and the people, adding he was  a pillar of advocacy for a restructured Nigeria and true federalism.

    “He spoke his mind boldly and always spoke the truth , but not just to damn the consequences, but because he believed that the consequences would be good for everybody,” Attah said.

    Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank ,described Adebanjo as Nigeria’s gladiator of truth who lived an  impactful life.

    Speaking, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, described Adebanjo as a man who set great standards in  character, integrity and contentment.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Dr Biodun Shobanjo, the Chairman of the Burial Planning Committee, said that Adebanjo yearned for a great Nigeria built on the foundation of true federalism and egalitarianism.

    Shobanjo, who thanked President Bola Tinubu, South West governors  and National Assembly members for supporting his burial plans , said that Adebanjo dedicated the greater part of his 96 years to Nigeria.

    Also, the new Afenifere Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, described Adebanjo as an extraordinary leader, adding he was a fearless patriot and a relentless advocate for justice.

    “His was a life only dedicated to truth, equity, and unshaken  belief in a better Nigeria- a life of unyielding principle,” Olaitan said.

    Pastor Tunde Bakare of Global Community Citadel Church, in his sermon ,stressed that life is ephemeral ,urging  everyone to live impactful lives.

    “The best of men are still men and nothing but a vapour. We should live our lives accurately that when we leave here we will be missed. Our lives are frail. There is always an end,” the cleric said.

    Leading prayers for Nigeria and  family of Adebanjo,  Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Senior Pastor , Trinity House, said that the late Afenifere leader paid a huge sacrifice for the nation.

    NAN reports that an array of other associates, friends and family members of late Adebanjo in their tributes, said that the late Yoruba leader lived a life of impact and touched many lives.

    In his tribute, Adebanjo’s grandson, Mr Oloruntobi Atte, said that his grandpa mourned and rejoice for Nigeria and sacrificed a lot for the nation at the expense of his life.

    “He had the bravery to say it as it is. He used his voice to separate what was good and what was evil for this country. He gave us directions, we rejoice f forthrightness,” the deceased’s grand son said.

    Other dignitaries in attendance included former govs. Kayode Fayemi, Niyi Adebayo, Gbenga Daniel, Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, Olusegun Osoba and wife of Ogun Gov. Mrs Bamidele Abiodun.

    PDP’chieftain, Bode George, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, Dr Joe Okei- Odumakin, Afenifere leaders were also present.

  • Nigerians have no business being poor – Obasanjo

    Nigerians have no business being poor – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigerians have no business being poor with the country’s vast resources.

    He said that the nation is abundantly blessed but is suffering from the mismanagement of its resources.

    Obasanjo said this at a dinner organised in his honour by Abia Government on Friday at the Government House, Umuahia.

    He said: “Nigerians have no business with poverty because God has given us all that we need.

    “If we are mismanaging what God has given us, we do not have God to blame, we have ourselves to blame.”

    The former president praised the efforts of Gov. Alex Otti of Abia in transforming the state, noting the wide public acclaim of his administration’s performance.

    He affirmed the governor’s impact on governance in the state and urged him to continue to do well.

    Obasanjo added that if Nigeria had 18 governors doing well in their responsibilities as leaders, “we will build the country up”.

    He reiterated his concern in the well-being of Nigerians and the quality of governance they receive.

    “For me, whether you don’t greet me or I greet you and you don’t answer, what is important to me is that the people of this country are getting what they deserve and what they deserve is good governance,” he said.

    Obasanjo recalled an earlier advisory he gave former Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, during his tenure in office.

    He said  that Amaechi was not aware of a pre-existing national railway development plan and had to be directed to the archives to find it.

    “I believe that even if you don’t like me, if I have pieces of advice to give you, as I did when you were Minister for Transport, I will give the advice.

    “You didn’t know that we had a national plan for railway for this country, to reach every state capital as we have them now and I told you to go into the archives, it is there.

    “But again, I believe as Minister of Transport, you got a bit of it right, you got a bit of it wrong.”

    In his speech, the governor acknowledged the support he received from the  former president.

    He said that the importance of vision and perseverance in leadership could never be overlooked, recounting the challenges he faced over his decade-long political journey.

    “Once you have vision, you have to keep to it. It took us ten years to get here, the two elections we contested from 2015 to 2019, we won clearly but they were all stolen.

    “A lot of people had given up hope and said it wasn’t going to work, but I was sure that I heard clearly from God,” he said.

    He said his administration had embarked on massive reforms in the education sector to improve access to quality education in Abia.

    Also, Amaechi called on political actors in Abia to begin early preparations for the 2027 general elections.

    According to him, the value of a good administration was often only realised after a less competent one takes over.

    He pointed out that this had become the experience with many former leaders, but Obasanjo had  continually stood out because of his visionary leadership style.

    “In your case, no matter who becomes president, you have always stood out,” Amaechi said.

    He described quality leadership as crucial for development and in order not to experience its absence, the people of Abia must support capable leaders like Otti in the next elections.

    “APC and other parties are already mobilising, if we don’t prepare now, we may lose out completely.

    “We must not only protect what we have but also ensure that we come back in 2028 to celebrate true democratic success,” he added.

    In separate speeches, the lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Ginger Onwusibe and the acting National Secretary of Labour Party, Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, expressed delight in being part of Abia’s success story.

    They thanked  Obasanjo for his continued support for the Otti-led administration and commended the governor for the equitable developmental strides across all local government areas.

  • Why democracy has failed in Africa – Former president, Obasanjo

    Why democracy has failed in Africa – Former president, Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Africa needs a democracy of its own context that delivers to all people.

    Obasanjo said this on Monday in Abuja, while speaking at a Colloquium to mark the 60th birthday of former Imo Governor, Emeka Ihedioha.

    “Democracy in Africa has failed because it’s not African, it doesn’t have our culture and way of lives.

    He said that to sustain democracy in the continent, Africa needed one that delivers to all people, not to few section.

    He noted that the Greek model of democracy, ensured that all citizens participated directly in their affairs, adding that what was praticable now was a representative system, that does not taken care of everybody.

    He added that before the colonial rule, Africa practiced democracy, a system of government which attended to the needs of her people.

    Obasanjo lamented that in Africa, democracy was becoming a system of government by a small number of people over a large population.

    “Is democracy failing in Africa? Are we talking of democracy or western liberal democracy?

    “Abraham Lincoln describes it as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. But what do we have today?

    “The Greek democracy affects everyone, but democracy has now become representative democracy and it doesn’t taken care of everyone.

    “Democracy in Africa has failed because it’s not African, it doesn’t have our culture and way of lives.

    “Democracy is dying in Africa and to save it, it should be made in the context of Africa,” Obasanjo said.

    Similarly, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Hassan Kukah, described democracy in Africa as a work in progress.

    “We Africans inherited a system that’s not ours, but we can’t say its not relevant to us.

    “There are differences between democracy in Asia and that of Africa. What do you make of the tenets of democracy in Africa?

    Kukah noted that democracy was about equity and justice, adding that there must also be a mechanism for measuring the growth of democracy.

    “The democratisation of development leads to the development of democracy. That is if you decide to equitably democratise development, and not take every institution, university, medical school whatever to your village and if all the roads are done

    “If we do not have a mechanism by which we are measuring our growth, our chase for a democratic society becomes an empty chase.

    “Democracy and its principle are endless contestation of ideas, opportunity and privileges. Those who are privileged want to hold on to their privileges and those who are victims want to insist that life can be better,” Kukah said.

    In the same vein, Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 Presidential election, advised Nigeria to imbibe the Indonesian democracy, which endures a proportional representation system of government.

    Also, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, said that Nigeria could get rid of the crises which impede her development, through stable democratic governance.

    Anyaoku said that Africa and Nigeria in particular, have the responsibility to get a stable democracy and change the Eurocentric narrative.

    “True federalism is the answer to the management of national issues. The recent coup in Mali, Niger tend to take us back.

    “The nature of our politics and the conduct of our politicians is another problem of our democracy. They have become instruments of capturing political power,” he said.

    In his remarks, Ihedioha commended the guests for celebrating him at 60.

    He urged Nigerians to continue to defend the country’s democracy.

    According to him, my father told me that the most expensive habit is having friends. I have lived my life pursuing the cause for democracy.

    “We should all rise to defend democracy. I urge all men to always speak truth to power and protect democracy.

    “There’s life after money. I will remain who I am. For me and democracy, it is till God do us apart,” Ihedioha said.

  • I never said Obasanjo shouldn’t use Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway – Umahi

    I never said Obasanjo shouldn’t use Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway – Umahi

    The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, on Saturday clarified that he never said former President Olusegun Obasanjo should not use the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway when completed.

    Umahi made the clarification during an inspection tour of the highway project in Lagos.

    He reacted to some comments to the effect that he said Obasanjo should not use the road for describing the highway project as wasteful.

    “The point is that the former president is not only my former president, he is also my father and he is my in-law; so, I have my respect for him.

    “I never said the former president should not use the road.

    “He is not the only one among the few criticising the road project.

    “ I said, ‘If you say the road is not good, you have a choice to use it or not to use it.’

    “That is what I said. I didn’t say the former president should not use the road,” Umahi told journalists during the inspection tour.

    The minister said that the 700km road project was never wasteful but a vital investment with huge socio-economic benefits.

    “If you say the project is wasteful, it is an ambiguous statement. Is it wasteful in the sense that it shouldn’t have been?

    “Is it wasteful in the sense that we are going to be earning carbon credit from the concrete pavement and from solar light?

    “Is it wasteful in the sense that along this corridor, we are going to have windmill energy connecting all the communities we are going through?

    “Is it wasteful that it is from Lagos to Calabar? Well, we have the Sokoto-Badagry Highway project, which is 1,068km,” he asked.

    The minister added that the Federal Government was executing a 462km Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi- Gombe Road project, among other projects.

    “ Why then single out this one to say that it is wasteful?”

    He said that travelling from Lagos to Calabar through the highway would take only five hours, reducing travel time.

    “It is an evacuation corridor; so, the amount that the Federal Government spends in doing transhipment will be saved.”

    Umahi said that in the next six months, section one of the highway project would be completed.

    “Is it wasteful in the sense that this road is going to be passing a number of existing roads?

    “Is it wasteful in the sense that the Bua Refinery, this is passing through it?

    “Is it wasteful that it is going to be an evacuation corridor for Dangote Refinery?

    “I cannot see the sense in saying that it is wasteful,” he added.

    Umahi also said that the project had nothing to do with corruption.

    He said that Obasanjo praised his administration’s transparency and achievements when he was the Governor of Ebonyi.

    “He is my father. If a father suddenly says that his son is corrupt, it is up to the son to say he is not corrupt.”

  • Umahi replies Obasanjo on Lagos/ Calabar Coastal Highway

    Umahi replies Obasanjo on Lagos/ Calabar Coastal Highway

    The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has reiterated that the ongoing 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is not waste of resources weaved with corrupt tendencies as claimed by critics.

    Umahi said this at the Second Stakeholder’s Engagement and the unveiling of the 71-kilometre alignment of the Ondo State Section of the coastal highway on Thursday in Akure.

    He said: ” I saw on social media where one of the very respected former presidents said that Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is wasteful and a corrupt project.

    “But the man by his age and positioning deserves our respect, but it’s my duty to explain as Minister of Works that the project is not wasteful and it is not due to corruption.

    “It is my duty to explain by reasons of my years in public service and in engineering.”

    Umahi said that Section 1 of the project was already 70 per cent done, especially in the Lagos axis.

    He said that the project would bring a lot of benefits to the country, adding that President Tinubu-led government was doing all inherited road projects in the country.

    The minister described the  project as very transparent, adding that for anyone to develop the country, there was the need for solid investment in infrastructure.

    He said that the meeting was necessary in order to bring in the inputs of the stakeholders in the project.

    Umahi explained that there was no zone in the country that had not benefited from the road projects initiated by President Bola Tinubu-led government.

    Umahi promised that all Federal Government projects in the state would be executed completed.

    He urged the state government to handle the compensation of those that might be affected by the ongoing projects in the state.

    He asked Nigerians to continue to pray for President Tinubu and give him all necessary support for the transformation of the country.

    Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State thanked President Tinubu  for the many ongoing federal projects in the state.

    “We have not had it so good in recent times with federal projects in our state.

    “Permit me to mention but a few: The Akure – Ore Dual Carriageway, the Akure – Ado Ekiti Dual Carriageway, the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, and the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure,” he said.

    He stressed the importance of completing these projects, noting that their completion had potential to boost economic activities in the state and the South-West region.

    The governor also appealed for additional federal support to actualize critical projects such as the Ondo Deep Sea Port and the mitigation of the Ayetoro sea incursion.

    Aiyedatiwa assured the Minister of Works that the state government  would provide an enabling environment for the successful execution of the projects.

    “We are resolute in our commitment to ensuring that these projects are completed for the benefit of our people.

    “In this regard, I pledge the Ondo State Government’s unflinching support and commitment towards actualizing their completion,” he said.

    NAN

  • Obasanjo hosts ex-president Jonathan, Atiku, Saraki, Ooni, others

    Obasanjo hosts ex-president Jonathan, Atiku, Saraki, Ooni, others

    Ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday hosted his successor Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former Sierra-Leonean President Ernest Bae Koromo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and one-time Senate President Bukola Saraki with his spouse Toyin.

    Also at the gathering was the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

    According to a tweet on his X handle, Atiku said the meeting held at the The Delborough Hotel, on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Also in a tweet, Saraki said the event was to honour the former president, whose 88th birthday comes up on Wednesday.

    Saraki wrote in the tweet: “Toyin and I have just arrived at The Delborough in Lagos for a dinner celebrating His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, our dear former President and Founder of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation.”

  • Obasanjo decries poor reading culture among youths

    Obasanjo decries poor reading culture among youths

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over growing  the poor reading culture among young Nigerians, saying the trend could erode the nation’s literary heritage.

    He stated this in his speech at the monthly ‘Reading/Writers Dialogue’ of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), FCT chapter, on Saturday in Abuja.

    The two-time Nigerian leader and prolific writer appeared as the guest writer for February edition of the dialogue, with the theme,” The Writers’ Role in Nation-Building and Africa’s First Presidential Library.”

    According to Obasanjo, Nigeria has over the years paraded arrays of literary giants whose works are celebrated globally, and there is need to raise young writers to bridge generational gaps in the literary space.

    He noted that reading was the sure pathway to becoming a writer, but many youths of today were not avid readers in spite of easy access to information and materials the internet offers.

    Obasanjo lamented that  if left on unchecked, the trend would not only affect Nigeria’s literary landmark, but would lead to the emergence of uninformed and incompetent  leaders in the future.

    “If you want to have writers, you must also have readers, and one of the things that you have to pay attention to, is how to make our children readers, especially in this internet age.

    “Many of them no longer do serious reading, and reading makes an  affective and productive human being.

    “A reader is a leader; a leader must not necessarily be a writer, but a leader must be a reader to be informed and know what to do.

    “Nigeria is blessed with good writers who have used their craft in nation building, and one of such most distinguished authors is Chinua Achebe.

    “He exposed Nigeria to the world and used his writings to elevate Nigeria’s culture, particularly his own culture,” he said.

    The ex-president commended  ANA FCT chapter  for championing initiatives that inspires young Nigerians to become  readers and writers.

    He used the opportunity give synopsis of some his books presented at the  dialogue, including “My Command”, “This Animal Called Man”, “Not My Will”, “A New Dawn”, “Democracy Works” and “Making Africa Work”, among others.

    Earlier, in an interview with NAN on the sideline, Sen. Shehu Sani, author and human rights activist, lauded Nigerian authors for using their creativity prowess to drive positive change and  ensuring  egalitarian  nation.

    “First of all, every writer reflects the reality, the season, and the climate of his own era, and by their work and intellect, put down their ideas which shape  the society politically, economically, and socially.

    “When you write a book, you become immortal as that book lives beyond your lifetime and will also reach places where you will never reach, meet people you will never meet in your lifetime.

    “Unfortunately, we live in times today where people do not read as much as the older generation, and this could be attributed to the laziness the internet culture brought.

    “The internet is a technology that provides information, teaches, enlightens, but  it has also discouraged people from research and reading as they are  supposed to,” he said.

    In his speech, Arch. Chukwudi  Eze, Chairman ANA Abuja, said the  association was committed to engaging young scholars through mentorship  programmes   that encourage  them to  embrace reading and writing.

    According to him, the Reading/Writing Dialogue is part of the association’s efforts towards championing narratives that will usher in a better Nigeria for all.

    He therefore commended Obasanjo for honouring the invitation, adding that his presence was a motivation to the association, especially young creative minds.

    “Baba is a distinguished leader anytime who has served Nigeria well, and   took this country from being a debt  nation and made it debt free.

    “His cabinet is probably the most diversified in the history of this country, had the largest numbers of highly skilled professionals at the top level of ministerial management.

    “He is engaging as global leader, and  it is  an honour  to have him  in our midst to share thoughts, because he is also a prolific writer.

    “So from  the different dimensions of his background  and what he has attained in government, it was important to invite him to discuss the role of the writer in nation building” , he said.

    The event also featured  a discussion panel,spoken-word and poetry a, and the presentation of awards.

  • I didn’t tell Bola Ige there’d be consequences quitting Obasanjo’s govt – Rotimi

    I didn’t tell Bola Ige there’d be consequences quitting Obasanjo’s govt – Rotimi

    Retired Brig.-Gen. Oluwole Rotimi has denied Chief Bisi Akande’s claim that he told the late Bola Ige he would face consequences if he left the Obasanjo-led administration.

    Rotimi, the former Military Governor of the Old Western State, gave the clarification at a news conference held in Ibadan on Thursday to mark his 90th birthday.

    It would be recalled that Akande, a former Osun governor, recently claimed in a radio interview that Rotimi said there would be consequences should Ige consider leaving the Obasanjo government.

    Ige, who served as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s government, was murdered on Dec. 23, 2001, at his Bodija residence in Ibadan.

    The retired general said Obasanjo had called him when he wanted to change his cabinet to speak to Ige, not to contemplate walking out of his government.

    “There was a lot of pressure on Ige to leave the Obasanjo government from people, including Prof. Wole Soyinka.

    “I now advised Chief Bola Ige, ‘Please, don’t do it. Obasanjo did not make a mistake in appointing you a minister in his government, and he appreciates your usefulness to his government’.

    “I did not say if he left, something would happen to him.

    “That I advised Chief Bola Ige not to walk out of Obasanjo’s government is a fact, but I did not tell him there would be consequences should he do it.

    “First and foremost, that is what I want to clarify,” Rotimi said.

    The retired general said what Akande said was, therefore, a misrepresentation.

    He urged him to try as much as possible to get his facts right on the situation.

    He further said he wondered how he would have known what would happen to Ige since he was not in government.

    However, Rotimi faulted the steps taken by the government after Ige’s death, saying a thorough investigation should have been conducted into his death that had been so controversial.

    “They should have gone beyond those who are his security personnel.

    “If you limit your investigation right from the beginning, how do you deal with other facts hanging around, which nobody thought about?

    “That is the way I feel they should go, but I have learnt over the years to close my mouth because I don’t want to say something which I cannot publicly defend in order not to be seen as a fool,” he said.

    The former old Western State military governor said he felt for both Ige and Nigerians who looked up to him (Ige) as a leader.

    Unfortunately, he said, there was nothing he could do because he was not in a position of authority.

    NAN reports that Rotimi was born on Feb. 20, 1935, in Abeokuta, Ogun.

    He became the military governor of the Western State in 1971 under Gen. Yakubu Gowon.

  • Edwin Clark: Ex-President Obasanjo laments deaths of patriotic leaders

    Edwin Clark: Ex-President Obasanjo laments deaths of patriotic leaders

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says it is sad that the rank of the nation’s patriotic leadership is fast depleting by the loss of its dedicated and resourceful patriots.

    Obasanjo expressed his concern while responding to Edwin Clark’s death in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Kehinde Akinyemi, in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

    The former president said he received Clark’s death with shock barely four days after the demise of Afenifere chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo.

    He eulogised Clark, who died at 97, as a great friend, a frontline lawyer, a seasoned economist, a tested administrator, an accomplished politician and a revered community leader.

    According to him, the deceased had, over the years, exhibited an undying love for his people and remained a vocal champion of improved conditions for the oil-bearing states of the country.

    “I received yet another shocking and sad news of the passing of a great brother and friend, a frontline lawyer, a seasoned economist, a tested administrator, an accomplished politician and a revered community leader, Chief Edwin Clark.

    “It was shocking because we lost Adebanjo four days ago; indeed, the rank of the nation’s patriotic leadership is fast depleting by the loss of our dedicated and resourceful patriots.

    “There is no gainsaying the fact that Clark had an eventful service to the nation as Commissioner for Education and Finance in the former Midwestern State at various times between 1968 to 1974.

    “His stint as the official spokesman of the Federal Government in 1975 cannot go unrecognised.

    “I remember him as a close colleague in the cabinet of General Yakubu Gowon,” he said.

    Obasanjo said that as a senator representing the Delta Senatorial Zone in 1983, it was on record that Clark was in the vanguard of the advocacy for minority rights.

    “Even at his prime age, Chief Clark never rested on his oars to contribute to national development as a committed nationalist.

    “I recall some time in 2021, Clark, for the good of the nation, volunteered to be part of the Committee for Goodness of Nigeria (CGN), which was convened by me along with Muhammad Abubakar,” he said

    He said Clark’s family, the Niger Delta region and the nation would be grieved, particularly when his wealth of experience, wisdom and counsel were still needed.

    “I pray the good Lord to grant the soul of Clark a peaceful rest and the Clark family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” Obasanjo said.