Obasanjo’s Book Out, Declares President Jonathan Incapable Of Governing Well

An attempt by Buruji Kashamu, a close associate of
President Goodluck Jonathan, to stop the publication of
a three-volume book by former President Obasanjo,
appears to have failed as SaharaReporters can confirm that
the book has gone into circulation. A source close to Mr.
Obasanjo confirmed to SaharaReporters late last night that
copies of the former president's exhaustive autobiography
were already available to buyers in print form. The source
that the book would soon be available in an electronic
version that is beyond the jurisdiction of Nigerian courts.
Cover of former President Olusegun
Obasanjo's book
SaharaReporters has already obtained and read sections of
the book scheduled for formal launch in Nigeria in a few
days.
The book, whose three volumes chronicle the life of the
controversial former president from birth till this year,
aroused political interest after SaharaReporters exclusively
reported that Mr. Obasanjo devotes significant pages to
paint an unflattering portrait of President Jonathan. We
reported that the book characterizes Mr. Jonathan as selfish,
weak-willed, callous and incapable of rising to the challenges
of running a complex country like Nigeria. Mr. Obasanjo
also accuses the president of surrounding himself with aides
and political associates with corrupt tendencies.
Mr. Obasanjo's book dedicates several parts in the book to
point out some of Mr. Jonathan's actions and inactions he
considers ill-advised or disastrous for Nigeria. He depicts
Mr. Jonathan as a man who has not only destroyed the
Peoples Democratic Party but also led Nigeria in dire
straights.
The book focuses on several instances of policy somersaults
by Mr. Jonathan as well as deliberate actions by the
incumbent president that have imperiled Nigeria's progress
in the opinion of Mr. Jonathan.
An Abuja-based lawyer and critic of Mr. Obasanjo accused
the former president of seeking to use the book to earn
cheap popularity, adding that Mr. Obasanjo cannot get away
from responsibility for "sponsoring President Jonathan's rise
to political prominence and the Presidency."
"We have been saying it from day one that President
Goodluck Jonathan does not have the qualities to become a
true leader, but we cannot forget that Chief Obasanjo
singlehandedly put him and the late President Umaru
Yar'Adua in office," the lawyer said.
Mr. Obasanjo's book also castigates former President Umaru
Yar'Adua, former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, and former
Governor James Ibori of Delta State, Bukola Saraki, among
other political foes.
In the book, the former president also makes an incredible
claim that he was never interested in pursuing a third term
while in office.
"That is a clear lie," said Mr. Obasanjo's critic. "To even deny
what is so obvious to every Nigerian shows that Chief
Obasanjo has little regard for the truth."