Against the backdrop of his consistent criticisms of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, at the weekend, accused the Nigerian media of fanning the flames of controversy between himself and President Jonathan, saying while the media focuses on negative and sensational issues, he has no problem with the President; insisting he remains Jonathan’s subject.
“Whatever is good is no news; what is adverse is news; so, even when there are no adverse news, you create them. The President and I have no quarrel; he is my President; I am his subject. Simple!” Baba said condescendingly; insisting that the London meeting with African presidents, including Jonathan, for the inauguration of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation (OOF) was on his own invitation and did not have any political undertones.
“It is an Africa-wide event, and President Jonathan was there, just like any other Presidents. The president of Ghana was there; the President of Liberia was there; the President of Benin Republic was there; and President Ali Bongo, who couldn’t be there, sent a video.”
The former President, however, declined to further comment on his reported frosty relationship and subsequent fence-mending moves with Jonathan. His insistence on cordial relationship comes against the backdrop of his consistent criticisms of the way the nation’s security and other challenges are being managed in the last few years. Hours before arriving Lagos for the event, Obasanjo had paid a courtesy visit to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in Benin City, after which he reportedly stressed that those in charge were not doing enough to curb the scourges of security and corruption.
Obasanjo was guest at a dinner and dance party organized by industrialist, Olusegun Osunkeye, and his wife Abosede, to mark the 80th Birthday anniversaries of Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Dr. Christopher Kolade at the Metropolitan Club, Lagos. Chief Osunkeye, a foremost industrialist and host of the Dinner/Dance, deliberately stirred the hornet’s nest by his choice of Obasanjo as the man to “profile” his celebrants.
Newest octogenarians in town (at least within the context of Nigeria’s socio-political elite) — Chief Anyaoku and his friend, Ambassador Kolade — had recently turned 80; and Osunkeye thought they deserve the fanfare that brought together the who-is-who in the Nigerian political and business arena to wine, dance and “cut the cakes.” And the former president did not disappoint his audience as he employed his caustic sense of humor to jovially pour encomiums on the two octogenarians.
