In the newspaper articles (pg. 30,Daily SUN, January 26 2017)) and (The Sun, Wednesday January 26, pg.12) it is stated that a former head of state, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said that he would wish that whenever the time would come for a fresh election, the country (Nigeria)would elect as its next President a man of Igbo extraction.
Although Chief Obasanjo stated that this desire was only his own personal view point, his statements elicit grave concerns, and the realization that under the leadership of persons like Chief Obasanjo, the fortunes of this great nation could never progress. For what is the meaning of choosing a person from the basis of his geographic origin? How can Obasanjo feel that from rough assessments of regions, states and ethnicity only, presidents of great countries can be elected? How does Obasanjo feel that he can countermand the dictates of Almighty God, with his (Obasanjo’s) penchant for choosing Heads of State for Nigeria? Obasanjo is thereby “playing God.”And this Obasanjo must stop! Was it not Obasanjo who (for reasons best known to him) foisted on this great country (Nigeria) a Head of State (Umaru Yar Adua) who was already known to be afflicted with a terminal disease? And did Nigeria not wobble and fumble about under this action for a period of two years, due to Obasanjo’s act of mischief? And what track record does Obasanjo possess for having to select appropriate Heads of State for this great nation? In his attempt at doing this he has invariably fallen far off the mark! And furthermore, a great blame falls on all those politicians, job seekers and cronies, who habitually gravitate to the great mansion of Obasanjo at any, or every opportunity, to curry favour from the eighty year old ex-president.
The damage Obasanjo has inflicted on this country is not limited to his exploits while in political office. It must not be forgotten that it was Obasanjo who sent his army to Odi in Bayelsa state, which army reportedly wiped out the entire population of men. But it is not only Obasanjo that has a special status in Nigeria. Thus we have Ibrahim Babangida, who is above the law, and who cannot be summoned before any court. It is the humble opinion of this writer that Obasanjo should now take a back seat, and earn himself his well-deserved rest. This is because from all indications he has been Head of state for over three terms. And that is the puzzle of the man. Obasanjo even wanted to extend his tenure to an unbelievable Third-Term. Yes, this was Obasanjo’s intention, to extend his rule, and to enter (albeit in a more subtle way) into the notorious company of such infamous sit-tight dictators as Charles Taylor, Samuel Doe, Laurent Kabila, and Yahya Jammeh. Yes Obasanjo’s hands cannot be said to be clean in the June 12 1993 Presidential election which was “widely-believed to have been won” by the business mogul (Chief M.K.O.Abiola).What was Obasanjo’s role in the detention of Chief M.K.O Abiola, and the “annulment” of the 1993 election? It seems to be Obasanjo’s view that Nigeria cannot progress without him. But this premise is false. The sky will not fall if Obasanjo stops meddling in the affairs of Nigeria. The great Niger River will not cease to flow on the day Obasanjo finally steps aside from his self-appointed meddlesome task of choosing Nigeria’s presidents. Obasanjo should stop regarding himself as the king maker of the country Nigeria, or kingmaker of its various states. Hear Obasanjo:
“The Hausa has ruled, as well as the Yoruba. We preach equity, and so the Igbo should have it by 2019. I was disappointed when some of our leaders supported the South -South, but it was understandable.” (pg.30, Daily SUN,26.1.17).In continuation of his meddlesome nature Obasanjo also states:
“With regards to Ogun State, in the interest of Justice and fairness, Ogun West senatorial district should be given the slot to produce the next governor of the state.” (Daily Sun, pg. 12, January 25, 2017).
This writer would wish to delve further in explaining the damage that Obasanjo is doing. Let us refer to the Holy Bible (which is a text that billion of Christians make reference to).The Holy Bible in the book of Jeremiah t states:
Then the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Before I formed you in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ORDAINED thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1: 4-5).
In this excerpt it is demonstrated how the prophet Jeremiah was pre-natally chosen, and pre- natally equipped for his spiritual assignment. Jeremiah was not selected, or elected by any kingmaker in the mould of an Obasanjo. In Jeremiah’s case there was no conflict of interest, no issue of north, east, west and south. In Jeremiah’s case there was no issue of rotation, federal character etc.
This argument extends to the example of the ascendancy of David, when the prophet Samuel anointed him as king over and above his elder brothers. The Holy Bible explains what transpires:
And the Lord said unto Samuel, how long wilt thou mourn for Saul seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided me a king among his sons ).
It is necessary to note that appointments into offices must have the sanction of Almighty God. Obasanjo must realize that in a way similar to the ascendancy of David, leaders will need the approval of God if they are not to become ”false or puppet leaders,” who would hardly succeed, because such leaders have not received their mandate from Almighty God, but have only received it from men!
So while this writer can voice his apprehension about the way and manner that Obasanjo seeks to have his stooges placed in political power, it might prove worthwhile to explain how such leaders are really meant to emerge according to natural law (or the Law of God). A leader can emerge in any of several ways. Men are prepared by Almighty God to have the opportunities and the training for their particular office. Therefore elements of Destiny emerge in the placing of certain persons in certain positions. That is why “true” prophets, seers, mystics, fortune tellers and psalmists etc. are also already able to forecast the opportunity and direction of a man’s life, and the path his career is likely to take. But when a man like an Obasanjo enters into the fray of these sensitive threads unraveling in the carpets of fate of such a man, such a man (like an Obasanjo) is merely trying to play God, because Almighty God did not send him on any errand to select leaders on His behalf. So a humble plea is made to Obasanjo to stop feeling that he can presume to be able to choose presidents for Nigeria.
So in conclusion Obasanjo can ruminate on the great words of the Psalmist which state:
For Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south, But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another ( Psalms 75: 6-7).
