"Obasanjo's right to comment on any issue, like every other Nigerian, is not contestable. What may be contestable is the moral justification for the barrage of allegations he made against the president, which, to say the least are scandalous, weighty and shocking. Given that Obasanjo has had two glorious opportunities to change the fortunes of Nigeria (1976-1979) and (1999-2007) and he squandered both; this is a classic case of the wrong messenger delivering the right message. Needless saying most of the problems Obasanjo highlighted took root during his own administration. He is therefore not completely blameless. Also, as a former head of state, Obasanjo ought to have direct access to the President. The fact that he chose to reach the president through an open letter that was mischievously leaked to the press somehow reduces the propriety of his method. Little surprise the Presidency, in its characteristic combative riposte, found the letter "highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative… self-serving, hypocritical, malicious, indecent, and very disrespectful of the highest office in the land."
The rambling letter is constructed in the form of an advice, with a damning import. It was deliberately leaked to embarrass the president. Obasanjo is not only telling the whole world that Jonathan has failed; he is placing his verdict on public record, while openly distancing himself from the President. Baba is asking the public to be his witness that when Jonathan began to drift; he raised the alarm that the nation is adrift and ridden with corruption which stinks around the president. Baba has also managed to say in his letter that the real problem with Nigeria is Jonathan, and that only Jonathan alone can solve the problems that have arisen. Obasanjo has also warned against Jonathan's re-election bid and condemned him for anti-PDP activities. He also cautioned that the proposed national conference is fraught with danger of chaos. Obasanjo is telling Nigerians that even though he imposed Yar'Adua and Jonathan on Nigeria as his parting gift, Jonathan is now on his own. In other words, Obasanjo is passing a vote of no confidence on Jonathan, as President of Nigeria."
- Ikhide
Stalk my blog at www.xokigbo.com
Follow me on Twitter: @ikhide
Join me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ikhide