Defining His Legacy: Obasanjo’s Campaign To Situate His Place In History

Defining His Legacy: Obasanjo’s Campaign To Situate His Place In History

Thursday, December 18, 2014 10:52 am


Patrick Okigbo III

“My Watch” by Olusegun Obasanjo (Kachifo – Prestige)

Life is definitely full of its mysteries as I consider myself the most unlikely reviewer of President Obasanjo’s memoirs. Back in 2006, when I still lived in the United States, I was the Coordinator of “Nigerians United for Democracy and Development”, one of the nine pro-democracy groups that signed a petition to the government of the United States opposing President Obasanjo’s purported “third term” agenda. Furthermore, we demonstrated in front of The White House during one of his visits to the United States. You can imagine my surprise when I was informed that President Obasanjo request that I should review his book. Yet, I can understand it.

True to President Obasanjo’s character, he is one who is forthright in his say-it-as-it-is fashion and is willing to engage in rigorous debates irrespective of your political leanings, ethnic group or personal convictions. We have had our debates. We agreed on a few issues and disagreed on most of the other issues. But one thing we agree on (and that we should all be grateful for) is that he had the discipline and commitment to write this very important book (especially for posterity).

Let me start with a biblical quote that is presented in all three volumes of the memoir.

•Patrick Okigbo, Book Reviewer

•Patrick Okigbo, Book Reviewer

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways that wicked person will die for their sin and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.” – Ezekiel 33:7-9 New International Version

This biblical quote probably best summarises President Olusegun Obasanjo’s perception of his place and role in Nigeria.

At the deepest level of conviction, President Olusegun Obasanjo believes that he is God’s Watchman over Nigeria and probably the father of modern Nigeria. This biblical fervour has guided most of his actions since he came to national prominence as Commander of Nigeria’s Third Marine Commandos who eventually accepted the surrender from breakaway Biafra in 1970. In the ensuing five decades, he has bestridden Nigeria’s military and political landscape as military president and a two-term civilian president – the only Nigerian to achieve this feat by the way.

Even in the intervening years when he was out of office, he has engaged actively at various levels in attempting to shape governance in Nigeria. President Obasanjo has become famous for his “open letters” to all the presidents who have assumed office starting from President Shehu Shagari in 1979 through to the incumbent president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. He has corrected, cajoled and encouraged them, almost like a headmaster, to properly administer the affairs of state. It was one of such commentaries that irked the late General Sani Abacha into incarcerating President Obasanjo; a journey he wasn’t supposed to return from alive but then saw him return to the presidential villa.

“My Watch”, which runs in three volumes and at 1,572 pages, will leave readers confounded as to whether to classify it as a memoir, a historical document, or both. There are hundreds of pages of documents and private correspondences between the author and many of the leading political figures of our time. Clearly, these documents were included to validate and refute claims. However, their true value is in the substance they provide to serious students of contemporary Nigerian political science, and in deed, African history. Scholars would pore over these notes for decades to properly position the actions and inactions of our various political rulers. This book is very important because it may motivate the various political actors who have been taciturn in the inner workings of government to defend their integrity, explain their actions, and provide context. Readers should eagerly await the subsequent dialogue that is sure to ensue.

In terms of structure, the memoir, which is written in chronological order, is in three parts. The 500-page Volume One (Early Life and The Military) traces President Obasanjo’s early childhood from his birth on an “Ifo market day” (which is the only fact he knows about his real birth date) through his journey from the village to the city and then to the military. The man who gave Nigerians phrases such as “I dey kampe” and “I jus dey laugh” delivers this Volume One with great humour. Chapter 5 introduces another phrase “lofely” which was his mangled Yoruba-English description of travelling free of charge (“lofe”) on a public transport vehicle from his school back to his village in his early years.

Childhood scenes in memoirs are usually quite endearing as they show the now swashbuckling character in their most vulnerable stage. Even the most virulent of opponents find it difficult to dislike a vulnerable kid. Yet most of the fruits that are manifested in later life are sown in these early days. How much of the Obasanjo we know today was created in this childhood set in the idyllic Iwo on the outskirts of Abeokuta where the author’s greatest aspiration was to be a mechanic? Many readers would gain a deeper understanding of President Obasanjo after reading this Volume of the three volume memoirs.

Part II of Volume One chronicles the start of his military career, combat operations in the Congo, the first military coup, his close friendship with Chukwuma Nzeogwu – the leader of the 1966 coup, his command during the Nigerian Civil War, and his first time as military head of state. Those who have read his other books, “My Command” (1980), “Nzeogwu” (1987), “Not My Will” (1990), may recognise some of the stories. The benefit of the two and half decades since the last book is that he has used “My Watch” to update and address questions raised since their publication.


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