By Dele Sobowale
“If you are looking for trouble, you’ve come to the right place” Notice on the wall of a tavern in Kansas City in the days of the Wild Wild West in the America c1760.

I feel sorry for the Federal Government already; its current leaders have not yet learnt that there are some battles you don’t fight because, at best, you will end up with a pyrrhic victory and, at worst, you end up with a bloody nose yourself. This is one such battle.

If, indeed,  PDP is behind the renewed interest in the prosecution of Bola Tinubu, it can only be regarded as another demonstration that the ruling party lacks deep thinkers. And, if the government is acting on its own, we have the clearest proof that it lacks a sense of priorities.

But, if history is our guide, they will end up turning a simple hero into a martyr. We don’t need to go far to find examples. Nigerian political history and our own recent past furnish us with more than enough.

When the British found Nnamdi Azikiwe too tough a nut to crack, in the 1950s, they started the Foster Sutton inquiries alleging the widespread looting of African Continental Bank, by the Eastern Regional Government led by Zik as Premier. It was intended to be a knockout blow. Instead, it rallied the people behind Zik as never before.

The Owelle of Onitsha escaped jail and became an even stronger leader of the struggle for independence.

Awolowo was the perfect case study in how dim-witted people in government and power turn mere heroes into legends. As the leader of the Action Group and  former Premier of Western Region, Awo had carved his name in stone by introducing free primary education in Nigeria.

He was feared by his two main rivals -Ahmadu Bello and Azikiwe; even when he became leader of opposition at the Federal level, he was still a threat. Soon, he was accused of treasonable felony and actually convicted and jailed. His political adversaries expected his political obituary to be written.

They waited in vain. Even in jail, Awo grew in stature. The battle for the control of Yorubaland, which had been seized by his enemies continued in his absence. He returned to hold sway all over Nigeria and the West and died a deity. I need not recount the story of Chief M.K.O. Abiola and June 12 which have become immortalized, instead of ending as another chapter in our history.

Instead of crushing Bola Tinubu, his political foes are about to raise him to another level in popularity as he is transformed to the position of genuine opposition leader. And, if Jonathan and PDP should falter, it is almost certain who will be the beneficiary of that failure.

Let me state right now that if the governmentexpects an easy walk-over, they are sadly mistaken. This case, if pursued, will last a long time. And Bola Tinubu has at least three  other factors in common with Awo and Zik, which give him a fighting chance of turning the tables on his detractors. They always constitute a major advantage in this type of battle.

At this point, let me quickly dispense with the accusations that will be made against me for taking sides with Bola Tinubu. The usual is financial gratification. I have not met the man for over four years and we have never discussed this matter. The second is double standard; the feeling that one who has fought corruption all along will defend someone accused by the government.

The answer to that is simple. The Federal Government has not accused Tinubu of stealing money and keeping the loot in a foreign account. Otherwise, money laundering would have been added to the charges. The charge is that he maintained foreign accounts while in office. In short, he kept his own money abroad.

So, no charges of theft are involved; unlike those of PDP former governors who are still walking the streets freely; years after they were charged with looting their states’ treasuries.

TO PRESIDENT JONATHAN: ON NATIONAL SECURITY  — 4

“No, far from it, I did not go there for negotiation; my visit was a learning process….I will make the recommendations. It is left for the people in government to do whatever they want with such recommendations”.

Former President Obasanjo, SUNDAY PUNCH, September 18, 2011, p 8.

“We have a fresh challenge on hand because everybody was looking forward to the peace initiative of Obasanjo”.

Undisclosed Military “Source”, in THE NATION ON SUNDAY, September 18, 2011 p 4.

The news report of former President Obasanjo’s visit to the family of the late Boko Haram leader and his presumed attempt to broker peace met me in Abuja the day after. With me was former SUNDAY VANGUARD editor, Fola Arogundade.

My first statement to Fola was, “irrespective of whether Obasanjo went on a private visit or was sent by the Federal Government, a great deal of unpleasant and unintended consequences will follow”. Fola, was not totally convinced. As you read this article, two unpleasant and unintended consequences have followed in quick succession.

The first was the cold-blooded murder of Babakura Fugu, in-law to the late Boko Haram leader, who met with Obasanjo; the second has been mixed reactions (to be candid almost 50-50) to Obasanjo’s visit.

The most angry denounciation came from Professor Soyinka who, despite the harsh language, actually decried the timing more than anything else. Obasanjo went visiting on the same day a memorial service was being held for the victims of Boko Haram bombing of the UN office in Abuja.

Irrespective of whether President Jonathan approved of the visit or not, it will be difficult to escape the issue of bad judgment regarding timing which Soyinka raised. The problem is: who will issue the apology? If the government issues it, that will amount to admitting, irrefutably, being an accessory to what happened – including the death of Babakura Fugu.

Otherwise, now that a bigger mess has resulted, government must distance itself from Obasanjo’s initiative – painful as that may be because it will only add to the catalogue of failures of the government.

Personally, I think the choice of Obasanjo, as the peace messenger, if that was what happened, has again rekindled the fear that the former President is still tele-guiding Jonathan. Here again, one of the inevitable outcomes of that is the fact that Obasanjo is a divisive figure.

For some, nothing he does can be acceptable. That is unfortunate; because, the role he has chosen, or been chosen, to play this time is a noble one – if only he had succeeded.

For once, I felt sorry for Obasanjo and also Jonathan. The arrangement was faulty and the objectives were also hazy but they desired peace which is proving elusive…

AUTHORITY STEALING CRUDE OIL: READ THE BOOK

Or how BPE was used as a conduit pipe for sharing loot; or how  PDTF account was embezzled; road contracts wasted and oil wells sold for a song.

Don’t wait for WikkiLeaks; read DeleLeaks and the great oil robbery. Find out in the Collectors item; only N5000. Less than 150 left.