By Dele Sobowale

“Liars ought to have good memories.” Agernon Sidney, 1622-1683.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, p 127).

Back in 2010, a few days after late President Umaru Yar’Adua passed on, former President Obasanjo thundered: “Jonathan, you must run; don’t tell me you won’t run.” One would have thought that the man was patriotic enough to recommend someone competent to run the ship of the Nigerian State to us and the world. Two weeks ago, the same Obasanjo launched a book he titled My Watch.

In it he had these to say about the same Jonathan. “Jonathan is lacking in broad vision, knowledge, confidence, understanding, concentration, capacity, sense of security, courage, moral and ethical principles, character and passion to move the nation forward on a fast trajectory….Under Jonathan we seem to have gone from frying pan to fire. If in the past corruption was in the corridors of power, it would seem now to be in the sitting room, dining room and bedroom of power.”

President Jonathan and Chief Obasanjo

Given the timing of the book launch, it was obviously designed to inflict maximum damage on Jonathan – who, on this occasion has my sympathies. He is being accused by the most self-righteous and hypocritical man in Nigeria – if not the whole world. My advice to Jonathan is that he should not run for cover under this barrage of attacks by Obasanjo.

I would like to send him a copy of my book PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED. In it he would discover two powerful weapons. First, he will read about how Abacha, tired of Obasanjo’s attacks, sent him to jail – using an amended version of a decree Obasanjo himself signed into law when he tried to get Gowon shot for coup plotting. Second, he will find how a great deal of the corruption, during Obasanjo’s government, was traced directly to Obasanjo himself – the purchase of a Peugeot 607 for a lady of easy virtue, out of PDTF account, being one of them.

Since none of the numerous shady deals traceable to Obasanjo has been overtaken by time, no statute of limitation, Jonathan will get rid of a national nuisance and help Nigeria by taking action NOW.

Incidentally, some of Obasanjo’s “armor bearers”, “food is ready columnists” are now in the Jonathan Campaign team. It will be interesting to see on which side they will line up – their former paymaster or their current benefactor. Certainly, truth or principle will not dictate their choice – only naked self-interest; as their families’ history, in the old Western Region, had amply demonstrated.

The last thing Jonathan should do is to send anybody to Obasanjo to beg. The damage has been done; the words are out and cannot be denied. The incumbent Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces is at war with the former C-I-C; Jonathan must fight it to win – or go down fighting. That is what courage demands.

APC SURPRISES THE RUMOUR MONGERS

“I have chosen a man of unimpeachable integrity, an excellent professional, a man of faith, a devoted family man and a role model…”

General Buhari, December 17, 2014; after the choice of Yemi Osibajo, SAN, as his running mate.

Surprise is a vital element in all wars; and politics has always been war by other means. For months, know-nothings have been driving themselves into a frenzy about APC fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket; or the party being a “Muslim Party”. One Oxford educated lawyer, who apparently cannot differentiate rumour from fact, decamped to PDP based on such fallacy. Good riddance to a load of rubbish.

As Nigerians digest the truth, namely, that a Muslim-Muslim ticket was the product of the over-ripe imaginations of such individuals, they have a major problem. THEY WILL HAVE TO INVENT ANOTHER LIE. Yemi Osibajo, the V-P candidate of the APC is not only better qualified than anybody on the other side, his integrity, is like that of Buhari.

The demonisation of Asiwaju Tinubu, for having legitimate political ambition, should ordinarily stop now. But, it won’t. Those who equate their own “god” with the true Messiah, Jesus, will not admit error. They will press on with more falsehood. But, I have bad news for them. Nigerians are wiser now. They know the government which had enriched one per cent of the population while impoverishing 99%. By contrast, they can trust the man who said: “The lives of the poor [99%] are bled dry, while of the wealthy [1%] soak in abundance. It is time to end this demeaning chapter in our nation’s history.”

Buhari had been in charge of great wealth before. He refrained from illicit self-enrichment. No foreign magazine listed him among the richest in Africa and the world. A man who could resist the temptation for avarice – at forty or fifty – will not start at 71. That is the difference between a pet dog and a wild dog; the difference between a real guard dog and a predator.

WAIVER PALAVER; OKONJO WAHALA

“Federal Government loses N24b yearly to crude import waiver” CBN Governor, Guardian, Dec. 15, 2014, pp 1-2.

For sixteen years of PDP rule, it means that N384b went into the pockets of “friends” of PDP to import crude. For five years of Jonathan administration, it meant N120b was given away to “supporters” of the “Transformation Agenda”. How much did you get?

LAST LINE: As 2014 comes to a close, can you honestly say your life has improved? If not blame GEJ and let him know it on Election Day.

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