MY ENCOUNTER WITH OBASANJO
exemplary. But most Nigerians were not so sure of his ability to lead the nation out of what was largely a self-inflicted social and economic malaise. The situation, for Obasanjo, was further compounded by an uncomely presence that many people often mistake for dullness and boorishness.
Some distrusted him outright. But his friends and colleagues within his immediate constituency—the Nigerian Army—knew that his gracelessness was deceptive; they knew that he was the "ideas man" behind the tough-talking, fire-spitting General Murtala Muhammed. Though lacking the fiery temperament of his predecessor, his competence was never in doubt among these people. He also suffered greatly at the hands of public expectation. Because he was taking over from an immensely popular leader who had also been canonised by death, Obasanjo's actions, style and even his gait would frequently be compared to those of his predecessor by a populace that would refuse to see them as two different personalities.
Disciplined by a childhood of deprivation, he would bring into governance a responsible financial management and a frugality that his colleagues considered crippling. In a nation where public service is synonymous with greed, theft and corruption, his ethical crusade and his call for moderation in every aspect of our national life would be mocked by a cynical populace.
Obasanjo is a cautious reformer. The brutal termination of his predecessor's aggressive strides seemed to have imbued in Obasanjo a crippling sense of moderation and caution. He is a man who believes in the system, and leadership to him means tinkering with the existing structures to evolve a more dynamic one in which hard work is encouraged and rewarded, and indolence, waste, and indiscipline are discouraged with enforceable sanctions. He believes that it is the responsibility of the government, any government, to use the collective resources of the state to the benefit of every citizen; to help the disadvantaged to their feet; and to create an atmosphere in which each person could find fulfillments in life. His era, according to one political scientist, would be essentially a monitoring exercise for the fundamental policies had been initiated in the six action-packed months he shared with Muhammed. "... Highly talented, shy, fearless, swift in action and deep," was how Obafemi Awolowo, western Nigeria's apotheosised leader, described the new man.
Because of the way things have turned out for him, he is often too quick to recommend his life to others while overlooking the unfair advantage that the military gave to people like him. He says he is intolerant of "thoughtlessness and uninformed criticisms," but in general, Obasanjo has often responded aggressively to attacks on his actions. Asked several times if with the benefit of hindsight he would have acted differently on some of the issues and policies taken by his administration between 1976 and 1979, Obasanjo said confidently that he had no regrets. But this feeling of infallibility, this belief that I-can-do-no-wrong is a major character defect in Obasanjo. Surely, time—the acid test of all policies and actions—has shown that some of the policy decisions of the Obasanjo administration could have been better thought out. For example, the first World Bank loan was unnecessary. With that loan, an access to easy funds was suddenly thrown open to be abused and perverted by the succeeding administration. Today, Nigeria is suffocating under the crushing weight of a foreign debt estimated at U.S. $35 billion.
Obasanjo has a sound memory—for good or for bad—and he can be mean and ruthless when he thinks he is being taken for a fool. No matter how hard he tries to tout the altruistic motives in his actions, Obasanjo still leaves the impression that he is a man struggling seriously to be ennobled by history and to be appreciated and complimented by his fellow men. Some of those who have lived and worked with him have accused him of using and dumping them when they were no longer vital to his overall scheme. While this is not entirely untrue, it does not diminish at all the towering figure the General represents and his historical accomplishments. His 60th birthday is an occasion for me to renew the feelings of my respect and gratitude. I have recently completed a biography of General Obasanjo, entitled In the Eyes of Time, which I hope will soon be published and which will shed more light on his multifaceted personality than was possible in this short contribution.
*Dr. Ojo, who died on Sunday in tragic circumstances, contributed this essay to a book of tributes to General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1995 under the title of ‘The Cautious Reformer’. The book itself entitled ‘Leadership in Africa’ was edited byHans’s d’Orville. It is being reproduced here for the journalistic lessons embodied in the essay and a tribute to Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo as one of the best and brightest of Nigerian journalism Attachments area