What OBJ said about President Jonathan when he launched My Watch in London

“He is drunk.” Three words that have led to the downfall of many a politician. In this instance they could consign two to the dustbin of history, both the subject and author of the charge.
The damning accusation was made by the former President of Nigeria Olusegun ‘OBJ’ Obasanjo about his one-time protege and current President Goodluck Jonathan.
He made the damning allegation on the London leg of the world tour to promote his fantastically priced autobiography My Watch; £75 for the paperback edition of the three volume box set, £95 for the hardback edition.
And like all authors with a book to sell OBJ has been shooting from the lip, causing maximum controversy and maximum damage for Jonathan wherever he goes.
A hint of what to expect in London had emerged only days before when, while launching My Watch in Nairobi, the PDP chieftain was reported as declaring his support for the opposition APC candidate General Muhammad Buhari.
OBJ denied it, as he denied much else by blaming the “messenger” – either the papers and even ambassadors – during the 90-minute audience hosted by the Royal African Society (RAS) at the West End HQ of the Royal Society of Medicine in Wimpole Street.
But he couldn’t disguise his contempt for his one time protege – not least because his interviewer, former FT journalist and RAS Executive President Richard Dowden wouldn’t let him.
“You’re very critical in My Watch of two previous Presidents, Yar’Adua and Jonathan,” said Mr Dowden. “Yar’Adua you describe as ‘tardy, shoddy, selfish, unpatriotic and reckless’ and you describe his presidency as ‘the looting of Nigeria’. These are harsh words.”
He continued, “On President Jonathan you refer to his inability to deal with Boko Haram and you speak of his ‘ineptitude, ineffectiveness, inefficiency, carelessness, callousness, insensitivity, cluelessness and selfishness’. These are very tough words, your words not mine.” Shaking is head OBJ delivered a devastating critique of the man he groomed for power.
“It’s a very bad situation,” he said. “He is drunk. You normally talk of a disease. When I was growing up when you had a disease you were given a strong concoction to deal with it. Then you hope it will work.”
He then justified his right to be a harsh critic. “When you have spilt blood for your country and have been imprisoned for that country and then you see people frittering away all the good will. I know, I am not an armchair critic. I have gone through it. I know what can be done and I know what is not being done.”
He continued, “I go round the world and I say, well, Nigeria is not at the table. If Nigeria is not at the table what does Africa do? Then you expect me to come home and say well done, Jon; I go round the world and they say during your watch Nigeria is not at the table. And I am to say your are doing well.”
Addressing the audience OBJ said, “Of course, that is not what you expect me to do.”
Despite denying he had come out for General Buhari he clearly implied he had when he said, “When the time comes for me to vote I will consider the track record of all the candidates that are contesting and I will assess and based on my assessment of their track record to perform the job of Nigerian President, they will have my vote. And if anyone should know what the job of President requires I should know.”
He then asked, “Why should you die on behalf of one who is probably performing mediocre.”
Challenged that his explosive comments were dangerously overheating the political situation in Nigeria, OBJ defended himself.
“I don’t understand what you mean by overheating the politics, because I’ve never made fire. When things are going bad and you cannot speak out you are an accomplice. What am I afraid of that I cannot speak my mind. If you can prove that I’m wrong I’ll be the first to apologise. Where we are today shouldn’t people be talking?”
In contrast he spoke of General Buhari with respect, leaving little doubt as to which man he would prefer to take Nigeria forward. But irres-pective of the eventual winner of the election he was positive about Nigeria’s prospects.
“Nigeria’s future is rosy, rosy, rosy,” he declared. Having been through a civil war, military coups and much more beside he said the country would emerge from its current situation stronger and more unified.