The Ijaw Monitoring Group has described the death of the ex-wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mrs. Mojisola Obasanjo, as a “calamity to the democratic forces struggling to return Nigeria to genuine democracy.”

In a condolence message signed by Comrade Andrew Elijah, Chief of Staff  to Comrade Joseph Evah, the group said Mojisola Obasanjo’s death has robbed the Nigerian nation of a woman leader and a courageous defender of the poor masses of the country.

“We salute the courage of this great woman of Youruba nation. She was the first woman in Nigeria’s history to challenge her ex-husband in government for tormenting the masses of this nation with policies targeted against the well-being of the poor. She was an embodiment of love.

We remember her great speech asking the Federal Government to develop Niger-Delta like Abuja.

She had made the speech as the Mother of the Day when the Ijaw Monitoring Group opened the first Niger-Delta Hall of Fame in 2005.

She took care of all categories of Nigerians including widows and the handicapped from Niger-Delta through her organization called Masses Movement of Nigeria.”

The Ijaw group expressed regret that Mojisola Obasanjo left the political scene at a time civil rule marked ten years.

“We regret her departure that coincided with ten years of civil rule. She was bent on giving Nigeria a genuine democracy where votes of the people will count against the present manipulation based on gofatherism and imposition.

We urged her husband, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to repent from heartless lifestyle and follow all the advice of his late ex-wife, Mojisola during her lifetime.

“People like Mojisola come once in a lifetime. That a woman who retired as a Senior Army Officer and went to some of the best institutions in the world yet humbled herself to identify with the poor masses with passion is no doubt a reference point in womanhood in Africa.”