Third Term: 'Obasanjo told me not to support a bloody civilian like Atiku'

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s open letter of December 2, 2013, to President Goodluck Jonathan has generated intense controversy across the six geo-political zones of the country pitting opposing political camps and interests against each other even in the ruling PDP. In this interview with journalists, including Senior Correspondent, IGONIKO ODUMA, President Jonathan’s former boss and first civilian governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, asserts that Obasanjo was a very autocratic ruler and that his letter smacks of bias, hatred and sentiments, among others. Excerpts:

What is your reaction to the letter written to President Goodluck Jonathan by ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo?

I want to start by saying that this is a democratic government. Today, it is President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday it was Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the day before yesterday it was Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The office of the President of the country is an institution, it is not personified per se in terms of policies and programmes. The aggregation of our thoughts is that when the president was voted into power he had been mandated to execute state policies on behalf of the citizens. President Jonathan is not a super human, so if the country is drifting in the eyes of objective and patriotic persons in the country they can come out and proffer better solutions after identifying the problems. But such criticism must be constructive and not be laced with bias, hatred and sentiment. Such alternative views should be passed on with love and genuine intentions. When once it is perceived that such criticism has hidden motives outside fairness, then it becomes questionable.

The advice through a letter to President Jonathan no doubt is coming from a respected person who has ruled the country both as a military

Head of State and a two time President of a democratic government. Yes, we can concede to him, he has the in-depth knowledge of governance, he has seen it all, and so a letter coming from him should not be taken on the face value. In my objective opinion, I will say President Jonathan and his aides should look at it (the letter) and make a proper analysis of the content.

But my grouse with the entire scenario is that the approach to writing the letter to President Jonathan is very mischievous and there are clear bias and sentiments in the circumstances, which have caused it to generate some controversy.

At least as a former governor I will say that I have encountered Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the Obasanjo I know, when he was the president of this country had displayed all the things he is alleging against Jonathan even more than any other leader in the country. There is no issue he has raised in his letter that he did not do when he was at the head of government in this country, that is why am insisting that Chief Obasanjo is mischievous in his intent of writing the letter to Goodluck Jonathan and leaking it to the press.

Chief Obasanjo’s character is that if it is not him it should not be nobody else, he is ‘Mr Know all’. He will call you for a meeting to come and brainstorm to proffer solutions to a problem, he will tell you about the problem and proffer solution without giving you room to make any contribution to what he invited you to, that is his character.

What is your take on the aspect of the letter that concerns President Jonathan’s reelection bid in 2015?

It surprises me that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the one insinuating about the aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015. To be precise, on 18th of August 2005, then President Obasanjo called me into his inner office and asked me why I was supporting his Vice, Alhaji Atiku Abubaker. He offered to give me whatever I would have beneffited supporting Atiku. He told me that if I don’t work for him it’s possible he will give it to my deputy. He had explained to me that he is not the oldest President in Africa that he wants to continue for an extended tenure in office. He told me not to support a bloody civilian like Atiku Abubakar and that I should work with him to actualise his ambition. Today he is denying everywhere that he never wanted a third term in office.

I’m also very surprise that Chief Obasanjo is talking about drift in governance and development. Since 1999 after Chief Obasanjo assumed office he was only globe-trotting. It was Atiku that was running the country and nothing had happened. Obasanjo did not achieve anything as a President during his first tenure all in the name of laundering the image of the country.

In his second tenure when he realised that Atiku Abubakar has already put in structure all over the country to take over from him, he started fighting him. So in his second tenure again he did not achieve anything he was busy fighting Atiku,Alamieyeseigha and the rest of other persons he suspect were not on his side. So in concrete terms what did he achieve as a president for the eight years he had ruled this country.

Today he is talking about Goodluck Jonathan training snipers or whatever he calls it and having a watch list. How many high profile persons have been killed during Goodluck Jonathan’s time compared to the long list of great men who where killed during his time as president of the country.

Has he forgotten about Bola Ige. What happened to Marshall Harry, Dikibo, Funsho Williams? I can go on and on. Who had the sharp shooters that killed all these prominent Nigerians and what has been the outcome of their investigations.

If I may asked again, what is the rationale behind Chief Obasanjo copying two former military rulers and T.Y Danjuma in his letter. I’m sure his reference to Dr Ekweme is only an after thought. Nigerians should underline this and study it. This is a food for thought for the citizens.

Also know that Obasanjo only promotes himself. In 1992 when Abiola was contesting to become the president of the country, one of his worst antagonist was General Obasanjo. There was nothing he did not do to pull Abiola down and accuse him of being a CIA, FBI agent and all sorts of accusations and insisting that Abiola is not fit to be the president of the country. He even offered himself to be the interim president of the country.

Abacha came he used the same style to pull him (Abiola) down. Abacha could not stand it and put him in jail. God using General Abdulsalami Abubakar,he was brought out from jail and the Yoruba’s were compensated particularly the Egba area and gave them the presidency which he was the main beneficiary . When he emerged as the president of the country,what did he do in his second coming as the leader of our dear country?

Can you say President Jonathan is clannish and presents himself as an Ijaw President as alleged by Obasanjo?

This is an unfortunate statement coming from a respected leader like Obasanjo. Go and take statistics of Ijaw people working in the presidency. When Chief Obasanjo was in Aso Roock, the spoken language in the villa was Yoruba and it was done with impunity. Even in the security services, when he came he appointed Smith as Inspector-General. When he dropped Smith, he brought Balogun and Ehindero. The Director-General of State Security Service Mr. Are was from his place. Apart from the Minister of Petroleum Resources who is from Bayelsa and married to Imo State,what other office or top government position is anybody from here (Bayelsa) holding?

Okay just listen to me, the Vice President is from the North, the Senate President is from North Central, the Speaker of the House Representative is from the North, the Chief Justice of the Federation is from the North, the Inspector-General of Police is from the North, Comptroller-General of Customs is from the North, Comptroller-General of Immigration is from the North,Comptroller-General of Prison is from the North, National Security Adviser is from the North, Chief of Airstaff is from the North, Chief of Defense Staff is from the North, INEC chairman is also from the North, which office is left or which other office is any Ijaw man occupying that Obasanjo should accused Jonathan of being clannish. With all of these I want to say that this allegation is not necessary, unbelievable and offensive at this time when the country should be seen as one united entity devoid of ethnic bias.

After helping somebody to become President, how can you also deliberately want to incite the people against him? Obasnjo is only trying to use his own hand to destroy what he had built. He wants to pull down Jonathan for reasons only best known to him. This is not right. Obasanjo is not patriotic than any other Nigerian. The country belongs to all of us. We fought as a people to sustain the unity of th our great country.

Can you really dismiss the entire content of the letter?

No man is infallible. There is no man on this earth that knows everything about governance. Even if you have tested power severally, one is still bound to make mistakes. Governance is a very complex thing. The office of the President if you are not careful only those who want to tell you what you want to hear will have access to you. I cannot say the content of the letter is entirely rubbish as a Nigerian.

You should know that President Jonathan must step on some toes for him to achieve success in the reforms he is embarking upon. He has done certain things that only courageous people can do. The pains for the ultimate realisation of the Nigerian dream can only last for a while.

We must concede that at least Jonathan has achieved some great feat. But those things that he has done well, he should be encouraged and advised in the right way and with good intention and not staying outside to command him as if the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is your subject you can just sit anywhere to control.

Leadership is like a relay race, Goodluck Jonathan should be allowed to run his race.

Do you think the circumstances occasioned by Obasanjo’s letter will affect the fortunes of Jonathan’s ASPIRATION in 2015?

Obasanjo is not Nigeria. He alone cannot tell the citizens what to do. Remember he lost election in his own village. That is how unpopular he is even up till today or tomorrow, but Nigerians still voted for him.

His (Obasanjo’s) disposition cannot significantly affect the electoral fortunes of Jonathan. It is God who gives power. If God so desire that Jonathan continue in office then his aspiration will come to fruition. Jonathan has done much more than any other president has done. Let us support and encourage him instead of trying to pull him down by whipping up sentiments.

How would you advise Jonathan to respond to Obasanjo’s letter?

If I have to advice him, I will tell him not to respond to Obasanjo’s letter. I am glad they both met in Kenya. Jonathan should search his conscience. Let him discuss with his close aides, let him re-assess those areas that needed to be addressed.He should highlight them and make improvements where necessary. But to respond to the letter item by item, I will advise him against it. Chief Obasanjo is older than he is. He was there before him. He should concede certain wisdom to him because he is more experienced. He should not insult him as long as that same respect is accorded him as the president of the country.

Would you say that Ijaw people have taken advantage of the Jonathan presidency?

We have noted Goodluck Jonathan is President Nigeria he is no more an Ijaw man than he is a Nigerian from all tribes. He is like a father and leader to all the tribes in the country and he must be seen to impact in the lives of all the citizen of the country in terms of distribution of amenities. There is no special preference he has given to any Ijaw man. If you like walk from Igbogene to Sawli waterside (in Yenagoa) that is the capital of Yenagoa. You are residing in Yenagoa. How many federal project have you seen here? Every Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting we hear billions of naira being earmarked and distributed to other parts of the country for projects but non has come to the state. The East-West road that is so important to us is still being poorly funded. Where lies Goodluck being clannish or only benefiting his people? But these are things we can not go in the open and start discussing. He is our son, he is our brother. So I expected President Obasanjo who has unfettered access to Aso Rock at all times to go to the president and give him advice as an elder and somebody who has been there before him instead of making a show out of it by writing a letter.