Posted by By Eric Osagie on
'I hope I am not raising my voice too high," he asked for the second time. His voice was high, even as he asked the question. 'I am trying not to raise my voice."
'I hope I am not raising my voice too high," he asked for the second time. His voice was high, even as he asked the question. 'I am trying not to raise my voice."
You could feel the subdued anger at the other end. He was bitter, but he tried to hide it.
'Look, I am not angry with you. You did your job as a journalist, but I am sorry to say, you wrote out of ignorance. Most of you who have been writing about me don't really know me, so you write fallacies and lies."
Even though he tried to be a gentleman, you could sense the bitterness he felt The guy was talking loud and fast at the same time. And when people who don't know you before their call do so, there is usually an axe to grind. And this caller was no exception.
Sure, I was surprised at the surprise call. But I, nevertheless, asked the caller not to lose any sleep over his high decibel voice level. He was the owner of his voice, I reasoned, and he had the right to use it as he pleased.
'Just go ahead," I said. 'You are free to use any words you like. I am a journalist, and every journalist is a public personality and at the mercy of his readers."
'Well, I don't mean to be insulting," he calmed down a bit, ' but you wrote out of ignorance, I mean in your column in SATURDAY SUN[last week's]. Just like others who have written about me, you didn't bother to do your research properly. You didn't do enough homework, so you wrote like the others."
The caller? Gbenga Obasanjo, son of Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was calling to register his protest over a column I had written that day [last week] in which I called on him to speak up on sundry allegations [against him], including accusation that he had been cornering for himself fat deals, in the name of Babacracy, a new coinage for government of Baba, for and by Baba's friends [well, some say family], and all those who believe in Baba-ism.
I had challenged him in that column to speak up like a man that he is, instead of allowing his dad, the president, do so. What would people without dads do when accused of a wrong? Who will speak for the fatherless? Who will speak for those not lucky to have dads who can swear they know 100 percent all the things their kids get into, like Gbenga's dad seemed to have done on public television and the print media?
And why, I posited, should Baba speak in defence of a guy old enough to do deals running into several millions, the type Gbenga is alleged to have gotten his hands into?
Those were the issues I raised in my column which provoked the call by the president's son this Saturday. And for the next few minutes, almost 30 minutes actually, the younger Obasanjo went on to defend himself against allegations of ‘grab' which have been hurled at him in the media by his and his dad's army of critics.
The president's son spoke on his alleged COJA and CHOGM contracts, his alleged foray into oil and gas, and indeed, all sectors of the economy. And by so doing, unwittingly, gave your favourite newspaper, THE SUN, an exclusive story. It was the first time Baba's son would be reacting to the numerous criticisms against him, including the alleged 22million dollars allegedly found in several of his accounts.
Was I surprised at the call? Well, I have already admitted I was. Was I convinced by his defence? That, I guess, is left for the readers to decide. I am no judge or jury. But, I suppose, there are still a couple or so questions our friend hasn't exactly answered, just like my friend and colleague in THISDAY, Segun Adeniyi, pointed out on Thursday in his Verdict Column. I shall examine them later...
My impression of him? A young man caught in the paroxysm of pleasure and pain. A prisoner of fame. A young man who is enjoying the perks of being Baba's son, yet doesn't quite think the criticisms against him and his dad are justified or justifiable. Should those in the kitchen complain of heat?
For those who missed out on the telephone rejoinder of the president's son, let's go over the salient points he made, in a nutshell. He says he didn't do COJA contracts. A friend of his did, and he didn't collect a dime as cut, kick back or kick front. He didn't do CHOGM contracts. He has never had a ride in a hummer jeep, not to talk of owning one. He has no shares in Virgin Atlantic Airline, even though he ‘encouraged' the airline group to come to Nigeria and do business. He has no shares in Ajaokuta company, even though he also ‘encouraged' them to come to Nigeria and do business, because he loves his fatherland and wants the best for her.
On the alleged 22million dollars allegedly found in his accounts, the president's son was evidently pained that anyone could believe such bullshit. Where in the world would he keep such money and the authorities won't be breathing down his neck even if he were President Bush's son? Why couldn't his accusers provide a scintilla of evidence to substantiate the allegation, like bank account numbers, etc.
He narrowed all the allegations against him to the work of 'bad belle people", those who are not happy with the anti-corruption war his dad is waging. 'Can't you guys see they are blackmailing my dad," he asked? But he didn't say who the 'they" are. I can only guess he left that to our imagination.
Before he ended his call, Gbenga threw a bombshell, just like his tempestuous dad would: Nigeria is being bought up by some people. He didn't mention names. But he mentioned the failed Pentascope deal, as example of how they are buying up the country. He said we all should be worried as he was, that Nigeria is being sold and bought up by a group of people, and that sooner than later, we all will soon discover that we have become slaves in our country. Weighty words. But the president's son didn't have either the patience or the courage to name names. And I throw that challenge once more to him, for him to have the balls to bell the cat, if he has evidence that Nigeria is being parcelled and sold to the highest bidder. Will he?
I
n the course of the chat, I asked Gbenga if he could truly say he hadn't made money or cut deals since his old man became No. 1 citizen? He didn't give me a straight yes or no answer. He only explained that if he was in US doing his medical stuff, he wouldn't be a poor man. He would be making a cool 500,000[five hundred thousand] dollars per annum.
I also asked him if the name Obasanjo has been a blessing or burden to him? He didn't mince words in saying that he has suffered more from being the president's son, than enjoying benefits or sweetness. He's gotta be kidding, don't you think? The army of hungry, angry, unemployed Nigerians wouldn't mind switching places with him if he won't mind.
The day his chat with me was published, the younger Obasanjo, called to react to the story. He wasn't happy with the paragraph where I said he introduced Virgin Atlantic and the people who bought into Ajaokuta company, to Nigeria. He said he didn't tell me he introduced the two companies to Nigeria. He said he used the word 'encouraged" them to come to Nigeria. Well, decode the meaning of 'encourage" and 'introduce" by yourself.
And as I prepared to do this column on Thursday, the president's son again called my line. He wanted me to write about the proposed sale of NEPA. 'Please, let's shout about it. Help shout about it: those who are buying up Nigeria, are again ready to buy NEPA!"
Now, just like Segun, I am getting worried: Is there something the president's son knows that we don't? Is he playing his script or someone else's script? Is he a patriot who loves his country so bad and wants the best for her, or just a guy spilling the beans because he feels hurt by sundry allegations against him?
But even as he spoke, someone else asked me to ask the president's son why he can't go to America? Why he hasn't been there in the last six months? I beg, me I don tire for this our country!
By Eric Osagie [ericosagie@yahoo.com 08055001946]
Saturday, April 30, 2005
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Letter to Gbenga Obasanjo
By Eric Osagie [ericosagie@yahoo.com 08055001946]
Saturday, April 23, 2005
I hope you don't mind that I have to address you through a public medium? I would have loved a face-to-face chat with you, to discuss with you, as frankly as possible, what I am writing in this column this week.
But where would an ordinary reporter like me get access to the first son of Nigeria, nay Africa, when I am neither an oil exporter nor a big businessman nor the son of a top government official? So, I have chosen the medium readily available to me, to ventilate my views on this issue that worries me and I guess many of our country men and women.
Anyway, what does it matter now, my explanation on this letter. It is already open and Nigerians are this morning reading. The world via the net may also be reading. Now, you know we ain't kidding, as the Americans would say.
Like your famous dad, our president, the chairman of African Union and the locomotive engine of West Africa[apologies to Alhaji Inuwa Baba], I don't know if you read Nigerian newspapers and news magazines . So, I can't be dead sure that you will receive or get to read this piece. A letter from a reporter to the president's son. A letter that tries to say it as it is, without malice or hatred, bias or prejudice. A letter you will do well to take with all seriousness, because the issues involved are serious. Ask Baba to tell you how serious the issues are, if you don't believe me. I am sure you know that Baba had to publicly speak in your defence the other day. This is to underscore how important the issues are. Oh, I hurry too much. We shall get slowly to the heart of the matter...
Even if you don't read Nigerian newspapers, I suppose, being a young man, you will have friends who do and will be able to tell you what's going on. And what's going on in a nutshell, my brother, is that your good name is being bandied around as the guy who has been going round the country using the influence of being Baba's son to corner for himself, juicy deals that run into several hundreds of millions.
I don't know if anyone has brought it to your notice or, perchance, you have heard about it yourself. Ugly news or rumour or whatever you may call it, have been flying everywhere that Gbenga (you) has his fingers in many pies, including COJA, COGHM, oil and gas and so many other deals. And now, I confess, it is getting a bit difficult for many trying to figure out where you have business interest and where you don't.
Only the other day, a national newspaper said a whopping $20million dollars had been traced to several of your accounts scattered around the United States, and that the
United States government had written Nigeria and your dad to complain about such obscene cash lodgement.
Our Baba, your dad, has since publicly dispelled the gist as mere 'rumour by smear campaigners bent on tarnishing his image and the country's." He also described the news of your alleged shady financial deals as handiwork of blackmailers bent on getting back at him. You could see the anger in Baba's eyes and voice as he fought hard to absolve you of complicity in any monkey business.
Lucky you, Gbenga, to have a dad speaking on his behalf so doggedly. Those without dads would, indeed, be feeling green with envy with the way Baba defended you so fiercely as if he knew 100 percent all the things you get into.
May be Baba is right in what he said, may be not. But the truth, Gbenga, is that you ought to be worried, if you aren't, that your name is being steadily associated with such unedifying stories. Why is it that any time your name is mentioned in the public domain, it often has to do with how you have in six or so years used your dad's influence to hit the big time, just like the Abacha boys? Really, I don't know how much government business you were doing before Baba became president or how financially you were before you became first son. But the story all over town is that you have suddenly transformed into a super-rich guy, since your dad became our president.
Now, don't get me wrong. No one is saying you have no right to the good things of life simply because your dad is president, or that you have no right to do business. What people are complaining about is something called ‘due process,' that you have been unduly using your advantage in the corridors of power to grab juicy deals, and that the reason why there can't be sustained probe into COJA, COGHM and some other areas where Nigerians believe things didn't go as straight as they ought to, is that your hands are there.
Now, I am not saying I believe or disbelieve the stories flying around you. But you haven't spoken out. And in these circumstances, I don't believe silence is golden.
If we were in a military regime, silence would have been understandable, even if not acceptable. But this is democracy - government in the open. Why can't you simply call a press conference to speak on all these allegations, rumour or gist? Why can't you tell the world what you know or don't know about COJA, COGHM or $20million dollars? Why give Baba the extra pain of defending you, a full-grown adult, when he already has the burden of grappling with the problems of a nation as diverse and complex as Nigeria?
In a country virtually over-run by sycophants, I won't be surprised if some self-appointed spokespersons begin to take on the job of defending you against imaginary detractors who they will convince you are bent on tarnishing your image and Baba's. They will leave the substance and begin to chase shadows. But, believe me, you will be doing Baba and his government a world of good if you can respond by yourself to the ugly tales concerning you.
In a country where Baba is championing anti-corruption, and where some fat cats are being led to slaughter in Golgotha, Baba, I am sure, is not finding all these allegations against you funny. I am sure that's why he had to quickly speak out in your defence, and also annul the housing allocation which had the first family's in-laws as major beneficiaries.
But, even then, there are Nigerians who are sniggering: what else do you expect a father to say about his son? There are Nigerians who are also insisting that Baba should declare his own asset publicly, for us the people to know what he had before he became president and what he now has, after climbing the exalted stool of president. Will he?
Well, you have read my views, digested its contents (I hope) and now the ball is in your court. Gbenga, the choice is yours on the path to follow.
Tafa's loneliness
Lonely is Tafa Balogun's middle name. Lonely is the man who used to call the shots as the No.1 cop in the land. Now, since his fall from grace to disgrace, Tafa knows the meaning of being alone, all alone. Gone are all those who used to wait on his every word. Gone are the hangers-on. Gone are the high and mighty who used to court the powerful man for favours in his days of glory. All of a sudden, Tafa has hit rock bottom and is unable to secure his bail because he can't get sureties. The mighty Tafa! How truly are the mighty fallen!
Tafa's ordeal should be a lesson for all men and women of power: no condition is permanent. Power is like powder: ephemeral and transient. And at the end of the day, all men are equal even if some may appear more equal than others at one time or the other. Poor Tafa now knows what a lot of people don't: life is vanity!