Obasanjo Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize

Obasanjo

The African Child Foundation, hosts of African Child Prize and the Nigerian Role Model Awards, has concluded plans to nominate Olusegun Obasanjo for the Nobel Peace Prize, as it commended the former president for his outstanding role in peace building in Nigeria and Africa.

The foundation, led by the Country Director, Mr. Donaldson Onosakponome, stated that before Obasanjo’s administration, Nigeria’s GDP growth had been slow since 1987, and only managed 3 per cent between 1999/2000.

His words: “Under Obasanjo the growth rate doubled to 6 per cent until he left office. Nigeria’s foreign reserves rose from $2 billion in 1999 to $43 billion on leaving office in 2007. He was able to secure debt pardons from the Paris and London clubs

“During his tenure, he was able to check youth restiveness as well as militant activities in the Niger Delta, and not forgetting his role in enthronement of democracy in various African countries and more recently his peace initiative in Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau and South Africa.

“We should be modest to say that Baba is one of the greatest leaders in Africa. We must all be proud to have him in this continent.”

Obasanjo, Yar’adua, Jonathan Endorsed Malabu Agreement — Adoke Insists

Former attorney general of the Federation and minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) insisted, at the weekend, that the controversial Malabu oil Block Agreement was endorsed by the previous administrations of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

In a formal letter to his successor and the current Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Adoke narrated how Terms of Settlement on the controversial oil block were brokered and executed by Obasanjo’s administration before its implementation by Jonathan’s administration.

Adoke also urged Malami to investigate the matter thoroughly and if found wanting, should not hesitate to prosecute him.

“I believe it is your responsibility to explain to the public who are being sold a fiction that the transaction started from president Olusegun Obasanjo, under whose administration the Terms of Settlement were brokered with Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), as the then attorney general, who executed the Terms of Settlement before the tenure of president Jonathan, who approved the final implementation of the Terms of Settlement and my humble self who executed the resolution agreements. This is more so as the Settlement and its implementation were situated in the Federal Ministry of Justice.

“Honourable attorney general of the Federation, your response is crucial because it has become glaring that the actions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in respect of the transaction are not in the national interest; but rather in furtherance of a plot to serve the interests of some powerful families and individuals who are aggrieved by my refusal to accede to their requests to compel Malabu to pay them certain sums from the proceeds of its divestment in OPL 245, and the subsequent re-allocation of the Block to Shell/ENI. You will recall that I had, on several occasions, asserted this fact. I am, therefore, surprised that a national institution is being used to further the interest of individuals whose claim or shareholding, in Malabu, remains shady and prefer to engage proxies to fight their battles.”

On the recent filed charges by anti-corruption agency against him and others, Adoke stated that 

“recent actions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to impugn the settlement which was done in the national interest particularly their penchant to suppress facts relating to the transaction and the filing of criminal charges against me for conspiracy/ aiding the commission of Money Laundering offence and the latest allegations of bribe taking reveal very clearly that either your Office and that of the EFCC are not working in harmony or that something sinister is going on.

“Having given you the benefit of the doubt that you would not sponsor deliberate falsehood against me, my suspicion is that there is an orchestrated plot by the EFCC to: deliberately impugn a transaction that has been scrutinized and approved by at least three past Presidents and three Attorneys General; drag my name in the mud and paint me with the tar of corruption in order to attract public odium.”

Adoke also advised Malami that “As the chief law officer of the Federation, you have a public duty to 

speak on this matter so that Nigerians would know whether I acted mala fide or abused my office in the entire transaction leading to the final implementation of the Settlement. Nigerians need to know whether your predecessors in office from 2006 to May 2015 acted in the national interest when they brokered and implemented the Settlement.

“It will also be instructive for Nigerians to know whether your predecessors were carrying out their personal agenda or that their respective actions were carried out with the knowledge and approval of their respective Principals.

“if you find that I had breached my oath of office or abused my office, please do not hesitate to bring me to justice. However, if it is the contrary, as I strongly believe, that certain individuals who had vowed to even scores with me are now being aided by state institutions such as the EFCC; I deserve protection from these unwarranted attacks and dehumanising treatment that I am being subjected to merely because I chose to serve my fatherland.”

Recently, EFCC filed charges against Adoke and some former officials over the Malabu oil deal.

Obasanjo Visits Late Maj-Gen. Adebayo’s Family In Lagos

Obasanjo

Former President, Chief Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday said the late Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo was an officer many looked up to in the army.

Obasanjo spoke with newsmen during a condolence visit to the Ikeja GRA home of the Adebayos in Lagos.

The former president, who arrived at about 8.00p.m., said: “He (Adebayo) was my boss and in the military; when we were acting militarily, we put proper decorum.

“But on a very serious note, Gen. Adebayo is probably the last of the officers that we looked up to in the army when we joined the army just before the attainment of independence.

“We had a lot to learn from them. After him, may be among the officers we will be talking of somebody like David Ejoor.

“So when the old order is being completely turned over and the new order coming up, I think the way things are going, in another five to ten years, there won’t be many of the officers that were commissioned before independence left.”

“Sincerely they have done their best and they yielded the ground to those who are coming behind; we just hope that they will do their best and yield the floor after that.”

Earlier, the former president chatted with the widow of the deceased, Mrs Dupe Adebayo, and some other family members and prayed that God would be with them.

Obasanjo praised God that Adebayo did not die in pain and anguish.

In the condolence register, he wrote: “Rest in Peace”.

Adebayo died on Wednesday on the eve of his 89th birthday.

The late general served as the military governor of the then Western region comprising Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo and some parts of Lagos State between 1966 and 1971.

Many dignitaries have been visiting his home to commiserate with the family.

Former President Obasanjo Builds Mosque In Abeokuta To Celebrate 80th Birthday

Former President, Chief Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo built a mosque complex and Islamic school in Abeokuta, to celebrate his 80^th Birthday anniversary.

The mosque was commissioned by the Emir of Ilorin. HRH, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Dan Kano and other dignitaries. Islamic Lecture was delivered by a renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Sulaiman Faruq Onikigipa.

President Buhari Called Olusegun Obasanjo To Wish Him A Happy Birthday — Femi Adesina

Report has it that President Muhammed Buhari who is on Rest vacation at the United Kingdom had called former President Olusegun Obasanjo to wish him happy 80^th Birthday.

According to the President’s Spokesman, Femi Adesina, President Buhari called in from London, where he is convalescing from an undisclosed ailment, Buhari told Obasabjo  that a time like this provided an opportunity to reflect on his invaluable roles and contributions to the unity and cohesion of Nigeria, the brotherhood of all Africans, as well as peace and amity over the globe.

Recalling their days in the military, President Buhari said: “Those of us who served under you in various capacities recall a man with boundless energy, with razor sharp mind, and one who does not suffer fools gladly. Working with you was a school in itself, and the lessons learnt are worth their weight in gold.”

The statement said Obasanjo in turn wished Buhari good health, saying he stands together with him in prayers, so that he can return soon to continue the good work he is doing for the country.

[PhotoNews] Obasanjo Hosts Osinbajo and Tinubu In Abeokuta

Former President, Chief Mathew Aremu Okikiola Oluwasegun Obasanjo Host Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu During The Commissioning Of Obasanjo Library 

Obasanjo Tied To Nigeria’s History — Osinbajo

Acting President Osinbajo on Saturday said former president Olusegun Obasanjo is intricately tied to the history of Nigeria in many ways.

He noted that Obasanjo was opportuned to make history and also document the account while still alive.

Osinbajo said the former president’s belief in a united Nigeria and his Pan-Africanism were among his legacies.

He said this at the inauguration of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) and the library’s central mosque as part of activities marking the former president’s 80th birthday.

“Very few human beings have a chance of making history and fewer still have a good fortune of making history and writing it as you go and live longer to even establish a library and write history in your own words,” Osinbajo said.

“History is the most compassionate teacher. At some point in time we were told in an adage that experience is the best teacher but now we know it is only half of a well wise saying.

“The full statement of that adage is that experience is the best teacher for a fool, a wise man doesn’t need the pain of experience, history is a kinder and a more compassionate teacher.

“President Olusegun Obasanjo is therefore a gift in various ways being so intricately tied to the history of Nigeria, few years away from independence to the civil war and then Head of State with the Nigerian people and then the transition to civil rule and them from retirement and farming and being twice elected as President of Nigeria and then handed over to another President.

“At every turn, he recorded his views and perspectives and his perspectives especially of the times in various books, articles, seminars and now in this amazing monument to add credible life of service to our continent and to our world.

“We are fortunate that it is not only a life participant and sometimes victim of the twist and turns of history of our nation and continent but it is an enthusiast, erudite and resources chronic life of his contours and his textures through the years.

“Aside from all else, his enduring legacy will be his belief in one strong, detribalized Nigeria and this is so evident in the gatherings of Nigerians here and also his belief in word and in practice in an Africa united in vision and thoughts.

“Again, that Pan-Africanist vision is evident in the large gathering of African serving and former Heads of governments here present. But we diminish his vision if we do not recognize his place as a world-state man. Even that is evident from the representatives of the world that are present here today.”

I Traveled To India To Search For My True Age — Obasanjo

Obasanjo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that loss of values in the society and high rate of criminality and delinquencies amongst the youth forced him to write ‘Tortoise stories’ books . 

Obasanjo who spoke in Abeokuta at 2017 International Youth Variety Day and Public Presentation of volume one of Olusegun Obasanjo’s Books for Children said it was sad that the youths of nowadays lack morals and values.

The former President who went down memory lane to recall his Yola prison experience during the period of his incarceration during the late Gen. Sanni Abacha-led military regime, said his interaction with the young inmates revealed that some of them were suffering from high level of loss of values which he said was responsible high rate of criminality and delinquencies. The event was part of activities of the Grand Opening of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) and 80th birthday of Obasanjo.

The former President accused the religious institutions, parents, teachers and community leaders of not living up to the expectations which he said has put the country in its present situation. 

He said, “One area of our lives where we have to do a lot of work is in the area of values. “When I was growing up, if people don’t know your source of sudden wealth, such a person was isolated and ostracised. 

“If your father went out at nights, it was likely that your father was a thief. And we other children were asked to keep away from children of such character. “How do we bring back these values? When I was in prison in Yola, I interviewed some young men in that prison,i was shocked with what i found out . Given the level of criminality and deliquencies in the society, you have to blame the teachers, schools, churches, mosques, community leaders among others.

“But where do we begin to make correction? One of the ways are the story books I have written. I started writing the ‘Tortoise stories’ while I was in Yola Prison. Now the Volume 1 is being presented today”.

Meanwhile, former President Obasanjo has disclosed that his desire to know the exact day he was born made him to travel to India where he met with astronomer , but, could not achieve is aim. 

Obasanjo who acknowledged that 1937 might not be the exact date of his birth, said, he was convinced that he was born around the year considering the age of some of his childhood friends. 

Obasanjo had insisted that, he was born in 1937 on market day in Ifo in Ogun State. He said “‎I do not know the date of my birth, then, I used to ask my mum that ‘mama they said we should come to school with our date of birth and my mum will say you are very stupid, you are born on Ifo market day. And whoever wants to know the date of your birth, tell them you are born on Ifo market day.

“She explained that all she could remember was Ifo market day. she was ready to go to Ifo market that day before she went into labour , before those that went to market comes back ‎I have already been bone. “That then led me into the trouble of trying to find out when I was born, I was not as lucky as some of my colleagues that have their date of birth .

In fact, I went to an astronomer in India, I told him to look at my palm and tell me my real age, but ,all he told me was that I will have longevity of life, but, that was not what I went to do. So, I concluded on the date that I have chosen.

While speaking on the Presidential Library, Obasanjo said there was institutional memory in the country, adding that the nation was careless with what it ought to preserve as a national treasures. He argued some of the national museums which he had visited are nothing to write home about.

He however , said that his Presidential Library which was modeled after the US Presidential library, saying, when opened would bridge the gap between the attitude and behavior of not preserving the national treasures. “One of the confusion in peoples’ mind is that Presidential library is the same as normal library. And I see many people sending books to me.

The Library is for the both young and old. I also believe that it might start bridging the gap in our behaviour and attitude about our carelessness in preserving our national treasures . One of our behavioral pattern and attitude is that we have no institutional memory; that is what brings about the idea of Presidential library. If you go into our national Museums it is pathetic”, he said.

I Don’t Know My True Age – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday admitted he did not know his true age.

He said his late mother merely told him she gave birth to him on a market day.

Mr. Obasanjo said this on Thursday at the 2017 International Youth Variety Day and Public Presentation of Olusegun Obasanjo’s Books for Children, as part of programmes for his 80th birthday.

The programme, organised by the Centre for Human Security, with the theme “Presidential Libraries Will Reduce Leadership Deficit in Africa”, held at theater hall of the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

Mr. Obasanjo said while growing up, he had the challenge of knowing his real date of birth, because his parents were illiterates.

“At early stage in my life, I had the challenge of knowing my date of birth, and my peers always asked, while in return I persisted in asking my mother, who was an illiterate and had no records,” he said.

The former president added that when he continued to pressure his mother, the information he was given by his was that she gave birth to him on an Ifo village market day.

“When I continued to put pressure on my mother, she told me that she was preparing to go to market on the said day, and went into labour, and before others could return from the market, she had given birth to me,” Mr. Obasanjo said.

Premium TImes

45 World Leaders To Attend Former President Obasanjo's Birthday

The Chairman, Publicity and Media Sub-committee of ‘Obasanjo at 80’, Dayo Adeneye, stated this on Wednesday while speaking with journalists.

Mr. Adeneye, who is the Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said the high point of the ceremony will include the commissioning of the multi-billion naira Presidential Library and Mosque.

He said the world leaders would witness the opening of the two major projects in Abeokuta.

He said the grand opening of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) attested to the popularity and honour bestowed on him as one who has continue to contribute to the development of the nation and humanity.

He said, despite the fact that the former president was no more in government, he still relates with present and past leaders in Nigeria and other countries, due to his vast experience in government.

Fayose: It Is Too Late For Obasanjo To Cry

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop making disparaging remarks that distract and discourage Nigerians from facing task of fixing the economy and building Nigeria as a strong nation.

Fayose reacted to a statement credited to Obasanjo, where the former president said his generation had failed the nation. The controversial Ekiti governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, condemned Obasanjo’s statement and said that, apart from the statement being misleading, self-serving and discomfiting, it was also not what the country needs at this time. “There is much suffering in the land. The people are hungry. Yet, one of those responsible for this unsavoury state of affairs relishes in adding insult to the people’s injury. He makes statements that are not only reckless but also untrue,” 

Fayose said rather than generalise, the former president should speak for himself.

“Obasanjo, truly, has failed this country many times over but not all members of his generation failed this country. There are shinning lights in that generation that have served the nation well,” the governor said. How about Emeka Anyaoku, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, late Prof. Ayodele Awojobi? The list is endless and they are to be found in all the nooks and crannies of this country, who belong in the same generation as Obasanjo, who have done this country proud,” he added.

Fayose, however, said that Obasanjo wasted all the golden opportunities he had to make this country great, first as a military head of state and later as a two-term civilian president. “It is too late in the day for him to now cry over other countries that have passed Nigeria by. This is mere crocodile tears when we realise that no other Nigerian leader had the opportunities that Obasanjo had to make this country great but he bungled them all. He should speak for himself and not rope his entire generation into his misadventure in governance. Here is a man who neither recognised nor encouraged any star except himself. 

Source: NigerianBulletin

Obasanjo Donates Books To Public And Private Schools In Ifo, Ogun State (Photo)

To mark his 80^th birthday, former president obasanjo donates tortoise story books  by him to some public and private schools in ifo local government area of ogun state.

The ceremony tagged: "story time with baba @ ibogun" witnessed reading of folklore, fables and drama presentation with pupils drawn from baptist day school, ewupe, baptist primary school, ibogun, beryl chrysolite school and olusegun obasanjo academy centre, all around ifo.

Obasanjo who was accompanied by his wife, bola and his close associates used the opportunity to enjoin the children to improve on their reading habits.

The chairman of the celebration planning committee and director of the centre for human security of the olusegun obasanjo presidential library (oopl), prof. Peter okebukola had earlier described the former president as a great writer and author with several writings to his credit.

2019 Presidency: Fayose Warns The Igbos Not To Take Obasanjo's Word Serious

Fayose

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has advised South East people not believe words credited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo that an Igbo person has a shot at the presidency.

Recall that Obasanjo had recently advocated for an Igbo President in 2019.

Obasanjo had said, “Irrespective of the thinking of the people ahead of 2019, I personally think that South-East should have a go at the Presidency too.”

But Fayose in his reaction said the Ibogun-born politician, who had ruled Nigeria both as a Military Head of State and civilian President was only looking for relevance.

Speaking with The Sun, the fiery governor said, “Do you ever take Obasanjo serious? I don’t take him serious. By his nature, Obasanjo wants relevance at all times. We have worked with him and used to be his foot soldiers. I know him more than anybody in this country.

“He just talks, so that he would remain relevant. Do you see any other former President in the country running his mouth like his? If it is not the fact that he has a voice as a former head of state, where is Obasanjo’s constituency? Who are his followers?

“How many votes can Obasanjo win in his ward? We must say the truth and we must face the truth. Let’s give it to him, as a leader in this country, whoever has governed this country before would remain our leader, but he must equally recall and admit that he is becoming more fairly negative than working towards national building.”

"You Are Wiser After Leaving Office" — Obasanjo Tells Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday visited Ibogun, Ogun State, the ancestral village benefactor, Baba Olusegun Obasanjo.

The rare meeting between the duo who were bitterly divided in the run-up to the 2015 election saw Obasanjo tell his host how wise he (Jonathan) had become since leaving office.

“When leaders come, they have little or no experience. When they have to go is when they have really amassed a lot of experience, where they have wisdom, their experience is in high demand.

“Those like you and me who have the grace of God to bow out gracefully, if there is now what I call constitutional office, we have residual responsibilities for Nigeria," Obasanjo said.

With Jonathan on the trip, which observers branded as fence mending yesterday, were former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Kabir Turaki; a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Suleiman Abubakar; King A.J. Turner; and a former Chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Jide Adeniji.

They flew into the village in a chartered helicopter at about 11.30am.

The visit lasted about four hours of which Obasanjo and Jonathan alone spoke behind closed doors for 40 minutes.

No member of Jonathan’s entourage or Obasanjo’s associates was allowed into the inner room where the secret talks took place.

Obasanjo received his visitor in company with ex-Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was ousted as National Secretary of the then ruling PDP by Jonathan and his loyalists.

Obasanjo took Jonathan round the village for a door-to-door greeting of the elders and the residents.

Obasanjo, welcoming Jonthan, said: “The first point I want to make is to thank you very sincerely and most sincerely for taking it upon yourself to pay us a visit at this point in time and at this location. Secondly, since you left office, you hardly have time to sit down and relax like you have been able to do today and I hope, I sincerely hope and pray for more such relaxed situation where we can reminisce on situations of the past that we have been through in this country and we can also look at what the future portends."

An inside source described the meeting as "a reunion of Baba and his son."

Obasanjo Apologized To Awujale Of Ijebu Land

Nigerian ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo has reported apologized to the paramount ruler of ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona in his letter to the Awujale to debunk allegations leveled against him in the monarch’s autobiography.

Obasanjo had earlier described the respected traditional ruler of being a peddler of falsehood and a rumormonger in his letter dated December 30, 2016 and addressed to the monarch. This was in response to the unpleasant remarks about Obasanjo and his alleged use of Nuhu Ribadu’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to witch-hunt and extorts Globacom Chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga during his tenure as President.

But Sun Newspaper on Saturday gathered that due to the tension generated so far, Obasanjo picked his phone to call the Awujale on Thursday January 5 and make peace with the Ijebu monarch.

A reliable source very close to Obasanjo confirmed to SUN newspaper that “Baba Obasanjo pleaded with the Awujale not to allow the media come in between them.”

Ironically, Obasanjo made the call on the same day his letter to the monarch was published widely by some national newspapers.

Ex President Obasanjo Launches Initiative To End Hunger By 2030

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has launched a Zero Hunger Strategic Initiative to end hunger and poverty in Nigeria by the year 2030.

The four states of Ebonyi, Benue, Ogun and Sokoto would kick-start the five-year pilot programme aimed at exploiting the agriculture potential of the country.

Obasanjo, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum, at the launch of the Strategic Review Report, said the country has begun a new journey that would redefine the destiny of hundreds of millions of people in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.

The ex-president explained that the actions recommended in the report would be implemented in all the 36 states including the FCT from January 2017.

He added that the forum would support, encourage and monitor progress in the four pilot states, disclosing that the governors of these states have agreed to implement the Zero Hunger Roadmap.

Obasanjo further explained that the forum has put a time frame for the achievement of the goals, explaining that by January 2019 eight more states would be added to the focal states and by January 2021 all 36 states plus Abuja would be included.

The Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, said the report is innovative and IITA would offer advance technologies for all the four pilot states.

Tony Elumelu, who spoke on behalf of the sub committees, said the private sector has a major role to play in the achievement of the Zero Hunger and the federal and state government should be willing to provide the enabling environment.

Mike Adenuga Saga: Obasanjo Attacks Awujale Of Ijebuland In Open Letter

Ex Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described allegations made against him by Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, as resulting from a lack of common sense and a potpourri of wild rumors.

Obasanjo’s response was contained in a letter dated  December 30, 2016, and was a direct riposte to a welter of allegations contained in the traditional ruler’s 2010 autobiography, Awujale: The Autobiography Of Alaiyeluwa Oba SK Adetona, Ogbagba 11. In the book, the Awujale pointedly claimed that Obasanjo used his powers as president, among other things, to hound his cousin and Chairman prominent businessman, Mr. Mike Adenuga.

The former president described the Awujale’s claims in his book as products of bizarre rumors, which a traditional ruler of his status should not be seen propagating. “Common sense would suggest that wild rumors should not be perpetrated by an Oba of your caliber,” wrote Obasanjo, who added that he now thinks a lot less of the Awujale than he once did.

Writing on the 2006 experience of Mr. Adenuga with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in his book, the Awujale had accused the former President of harboring a deep-seated hate for the Globacom Chairman, an accusation that drew a fusillade from Obasanjo.

“Kabiyesi, the total sum of what you have put down in those pages of your book is that I dislike Mike (Adenuga). Maybe I need to remind you that if there was any iota of truth in such a position or mindset, Mike would never have been granted the mobile phone telephone license, which made him a billionaire. It was my prerogative as the President so to do. You may also be reminded that the first round of auction, which Mike did not make, the country earned $285million for each license. The country earned only $200million from the license transaction with Mike and in the subsequent transaction with Etisalat, the country earned $400million. It was a deliberate action on my part that a Nigerian should own one of the licenses. Anybody else but Mike could have been that Nigerian,” wrote Obasanjo.

As part of the dislike Obasanjo allegedly harbored for Mr. Adenuga, the Awujale wrote in his book that the former president used the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a personal battle axe against some prominent people, including the Globacom Chairman. Not surprisingly, Obasanjo also bristled at the allegation, saying the EFCC, with him as President, did its job as it deemed fit. Obasanjo accused the Awujale of carrying out hate propaganda against his person by the suggestion that he used the EFCC as a whip against certain persons.

“Kabiyesi, your cousin did not tell you that my Chief of Staff, Abdul Mohammed, put his reputation on the line by assuring EFCC that Mike would not go anywhere and they should trust him to give him his passport. I did not even know that Abdul had done that until the Chairman of EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, reported the case of my Chief of Staff seemingly colluding with Mike to run out the country. But I had implicit confidence in my Chief of Staff and I was to resolve the issue. Should your cousin not have mentioned to Abdul who guaranteed the release of his passport, his fears and intention to go on exile?” Obasanjo asked in the letter.

The former President ramped up his attack on the Awujale by exposing the traditional ruler’s decision to send him documents on Mr. Adenuga’s case with the EFCC, saying he paid no attention to those documents because he was not the EFCC and did not put the commission on a leash.

“Mike did not need to send anything to me to satisfy me. He needed to satisfy the EFCC, and so your sending any documents to me was insinuating that I am the one to be satisfied rather than the EFCC.

So, such documents were not paid attention by me. You, as a part beneficiary from Mike, as you have told me in the past, would not be able to see the tree from the forest viz-a-viz, Mike. If the EFCC was investigating anybody, I did not consider it right for me to be the President of Nigeria to be undermining the EFCC by hobnobbing with that person,” wrote Obasanjo.

On the Awujale’s allegation that Obasanjo deliberately arranged a photo-op with Mr. Adenuga, the former President said the traditional had fallen many notches in his estimation.

“Your assertion in the publication was a tissue of lies and untruths. Olopade is one of my best friends, and yes, I would be at his birthday celebration, but I would not have invited Mike, your cousin, to meet me anywhere other than my office or official residence as President of Nigeria. Kabiyesi, do you think I would set the press up for to capture Mike and me in a photograph for the newspapers? That would be puerile for me as President. Of course, I could not say that Mike could not do that,” wrote Obasanjo.

The former president also dismissed the Awujale’s claim that he was sore at the decision of Mr. Adenuga not to make financial contributions to the building of the library at Bells University. According to Obasanjo, Mr. Adenuga was invited by the then Vice-Chancellor of the University, who did not inform him of the invitation to the Globacom Chairman to contribute until the businessman pulled out.

Obasanjo said the Awujale has a reputation for propagating unfounded rumors. “It is not only in the case of Obajana Cement that you were rumour-mongering about me. You have done that repeatedly on many occasions,” he wrote.

The latest of such, said the former president, was last year when he said the Awujale told him that he heard he (Obasanjo) went to businessman, Razak Okoya, to ask to marry his daughter. According to Obasanjo,  it was the girl that came to him seeking his intervention in a disagreement with her father.

Obasanjo said he intervened and Okoya and his daughter were reconciled.

“I told you even then that it was unbecoming. Of course, I am used to such rumors, slandering, and insinuations since my days as Unit Commander in the Army, and I have developed a thick skin. If ten percent of the rumors ascribing businesses and properties I know nothing about were true, I would be the richest man on earth. But recently when Aliko (Dangote), yourself and myself were together, Aliko assured you that I never had a single share in any of Aliko’s business interests, but whenever he has called on me to help within and without to promote his business interests, I have always helped,” Obasanjo stated.

He added that it was during that conversation that Dangote revealed that one the directors in his cement company is somebody very close to the Awujale.

Obasanjo further accused the Awujale of wanting him, in and out of office, to act inappropriately to the benefit of Mr. Adenuga.

“It is of interest to me that Mike did not tell you that when he wanted a national honour, he came to me and I did not react until Babangida (former military president) recommended him and said: ‘Of all those I have helped, Mike is one of the most appreciative,” wrote Obasanjo.

He also dismissed the Awujale’s claim that he had frittered all the political goodwill he once enjoyed, asking why, if true, the traditional ruler contacted him when the All Progressives Congress (APC) was formed in 2014. Obasanjo added that the Awujale was even personally present when he received the APC delegation. “I probably have greater goodwill today, internally and externally, than I had in office,” bragged Obasanjo.

How Obasanjo Tried To Humiliate Mike Adenuga - Awujale Of Ijebu

The Awujale of Ijebuland

The paramount ruler of Ijebuland,Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona has sensationally revealed how former President Olusegun Obasanjo tried to rope in business mogul,Otunba Mike Adenuga in for corruption in 2006.


The case in question was the botched attempt to arrest Adenuga by security operatives that year.

The incident forced the multi-billionaire into exile.

The revered traditional ruler writing in ‘Awujale: The Autobiography of Alaiyeluwa Oba S.K Adetona, Ogbagba II’ recalled efforts made to stop Adenuga from alleged persecution by Obasanjo and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) led at the time by Nuhu Ribadu.
His words: “The EFCC in Lagos had come calling brusquely on Mike Adenuga (Jnr), Chairman Globacom on 9 July 2006. They broke his gate, swarmed into his house and kept him under ‘arrest’. When I heard about the arrest, I called the legal firms, of Ayanlaja SAN & Adesanya SAN as well as Professor Biodun Adesanya SAN to take up the matter and secure Mike’s release. They swung into action and gave indication that they would take the matter to court.

“By evening, it was no longer necessary to go to court as Mike, following his statement to EFCC, had been released with instructions to report regularly to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. Mike proceeded to Abuja, accompanied by his lawyer, Prof. Biodun Adesanya SAN. Indirectly related to this case, the EFCC had quizzed and released Mohammed Babangida, Ibrahim Babangida’s son. The EFCC purportedly were on the trail of some money belonging to the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF), but there was really more beneath the veneer.

“While Mike was in Abuja, he was counselled to see Obasanjo to extricate himself. For four days, he made attempts to see Obasanjo but was unsuccessful. After a few days in Abuja with no case pressed against him by EFCC, he returned to Lagos. Not long afterwards, and in the heat of this mess, Obasanjo did two things that puzzled me.

“He called Mike to meet him at a social event in Lagos –Engr. Olapade’s birthday celebration. Mike and Obasanjo were both captured by press photographers in the newspapers at the event. Following the celebration, Obasanjo asked Mike to accompany him to Ota. It was in Ota that he solicited for the construction of the Administration Block of his university, Bells University in Ota. Mike agreed and Carchez Turnkey Projects Ltd handled the project for him. It appeared the whole matter, the EFCC hunt, simmered and Mike continued about his business. On a trip to Ghana, he ran through his Nigerian daily newspapers and discovered that the situation was unfolding in a more revealing version. The EFCC had arrested Mohammed Babangida. Mike read between the lines and proceeded to the UK on exile. When I visited the UK, Mike came to see me, and wanted me to facilitate a meeting with Obasanjo so that he could present his side of the case. The allegations against him were as follows:

a. That Abubakar Atiku, the Vice-President, gave Mike Adenuga money from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) which were invested in Mike’s bank, Equatorial Trust Bank (ETB), and that the funds were used in paying for the Globacom licence.

b. That as a result of the connection in (a) Atiku was a major shareholder in Globacom. And Atiku used his clout to ensure that PTDF money got into ETB.

c. That General Ibrahim Babangida, the former Head of State, was also a major shareholder in Globacom.
“It was not enough for Mike to merely present his case to EFCC, for it seemed the EFCC was under some remote control. The Presidency was after Atiku. Atiku at some point was the Chairman of the PTDF; an attempt was being made to indict him for alleged illegal and unauthorized channelling of PTDF money into Globacom. All sorts of rumours were flying around and the Presidency wanted to pin down the case against Atiku. If Ibrahim Babangida also fell into the trap, so much the better.

“A wide opening presented itself and EFCC seized it.

“G. Subair is Mike’s second cousin. His father died young and he grew up, just as I did in my early life, living with Mike’s mother. He worked for Mike and was seconded, amongst other things, to open the Kaduna office for Globacom. In need of accommodation or office space, he leased, on behalf of Globacom, a house, at 2-3 Dawaki Road in Kaduna belonging to Mohammed Badamasi Babangida and used that address in official correspondence and memoranda. Mohammed is the first son of President Ibrahim Babangida. This was Babangida connection to which EFCC hung on when they were rummaging through Globacom documents. This was, according to them, irrefutable evidence that Babangida was a major shareholder in Globacom and that his son, Mohammed Babangida, or G.Subair or Mike was fronting for Babangida in this venture.

“Mike told me how he had raised money through the BNP Paribas Bank in France and how he paid to New York for the Globacom licensing fees. All the money involved could be traced with supporting documents to France and New York in the form of a huge loan. The Bank BNP Paribas on its part had a letter stating clearly their involvement in the transaction and Mike wanted to present this among other documents to President Obasanjo.

I called Obasanjo and relayed the facts as I had them from Mike to him. I requested for his fax number so that I could fax Mike’s letter explaining all the transactions and the Bank of Paribas letter to him. As soon as he gave me the fax number, I faxed the documents to him. Still, Obasanjo was not satisfied. It seemed that it was all a ruse because they were really after Atiku and Babangida and wanted Mike to implicate them. Mike refused to cooperate. If he was not going to cooperate, they thought, harassment would do it. On 19 August 2006, I made a statement to the press asking Obasanjo to caution Nuhu Ribadu, the head of the EFCC, about his mode of operations. I denounced the harassment of citizens by EFCC and urged them to go to court if they had anything concrete against anyone.

“While Mike was in exile, we shared a moment of relaxation together. We took a holiday together in south of France with some members of our families. I had with me my wife Olori Kemi, my daughter, Ronke and Oba Adekoya, the Dagburewe of Idowa. Mike came along with his two daughters and his niece.

“While on this holiday, the President of France, Jacques Chirac, was going to be holding a conference with African Heads of State in Nice. Coincidentally, we got to know that Obasanjo was booked to stay in the same hotel where we were staying. Later, we learnt he had changed his mind and would not be attending the conference. Then not long afterwards, we were told he had decided to attend after all. By the time he finally decided to attend, all the rooms in the hotel were fully booked and he was now booked into another, Embassy Hotel, which was a stone’s throw from when we were.

“I got to know that he would check in at 8.00am on the day of the conference. At 8.330am, I went to his hotel and took Mike along with me. From the reception, I spoke to him on the phone. “When he asked from where I was speaking, I told him I was downstairs in the lobby of his hotel! He said he would send someone down immediately to lead me up to his suite, and he did so. I left Mike behind in the hotel lobby.
“When I got to his suite, there were already a number of people in the corridor, in his living room and the dining room waiting to see him. His ADC took me straight to see him in his bedroom. I had hardly settled down when he started talking to me about his deputy, Abubakar Atiku. He was at daggers drawn with Atiku.

“When he exhausted all he had to say about Atiku, he jumped on Theophilus Danjuma, his estranged friend. They fell out after Danjuma had served him as Minister of Defence. I sat there just listening. He needed to get a lot off his chest. He told me how would leave the Chirac conference immediately after the opening because he wanted to attend a PDP campaign in Gombe at 5.00pm that same day. He was lead campaigner for the PDP and Umaru Yar’adua for President.

“He reeled off a number of events where he was going to be engaged in the coming months, including the opening of the Obajana Cement Factory. Wait a minute! Something struck me at the mention of Obajana Cement Factory.I told him that I had heard that he and Aliko Dangote jointly owned the cement factory. I told him that I heard Dangote was fronting for him in the venture. His reply was to query whether I believed what I heard.
“I countered by saying whether I believed it or not was irrelevant to the question that I had asked him. 

He said nothing further on this. Before we left his room, I pointed out to him that now that he was approaching the end of his term in office, there were some people to whom he owed apologies: Chief S.O. Bakare (Oluwalogbon) was one. Chief Bakare gave everything to support Obasanjo when he was down. In spite of Obasanjo’s condemnation by the populace, Bakare still stood by him. I had forewarned Bakare that Obasanjo would eventually dump him. Notwithstanding, he stood by Obasanjo. In the end Obasanjo walked away. A few months in office they separated as friends.

“I told Obasanjo that Mike Adenuga was in Cannes and that I had brought him with me. He was waiting in the foyer downstairs. I told him that the reason I brought Mike along was that it was not unlikely that Obasanjo would hear that Mike was in Cannes while he was in town and would deem it discourteous if Mike did not show up to pay his respect. Now that I had told him, that Mike was downstairs, it was now up to him, if he wanted to see Mike, to send someone to bring him up. Obasanjo objected to Mike coming to see him in his suite. 

Instead, he said he would see Mike downstairs on his way to the conference. At this point, I volunteered to go downstairs and wait with Mike. Obasanjo again objected, insisting that he and I should go down together. Soon after, his ADC came into the room to remind him about the time. He went into his bathroom, got ready and we went to the lift with his Foreign Minister.

“When we got down, Mike came forward to greet him. ‘I have nothing against you, it is a matter of principle’ Obasanjo told Mike. Mike in turn said, ‘Your Excellency, I understand. Thank you.’ “That was all the exchange they had.

“When Obasanjo left office in 2007, we met at the 90th birthday ceremony for Chief T.O.S Benson in Lagos on 23 July 2007. As a matter of fact, we sat side by side. In the course of our conversation, I told him I was going to be in Abeokuta the following day. He said he would be in Ota when I was there, but that he would specifically come to Abeokuta to host me for lunch. He kept his word. So much so that he called me on the phone when lunch was ready! I assured him that I would not miss lunch and I would be with him as soon as I was through with my meeting.

“I went as promised for lunch with Oba Adekoya, the Dagburewa of Idowa. When we got there, Obasanjo also had Alhaji Ola Yusuf from Owu, Abeokuta, who had come to see him and he too joined us for lunch. We were four at table. It was sumptuous lunch, and I had never been treated to anything like it in our long relationship.

“Mike Adenuga was still in exile abroad and Obasanjo steered the lunch talk in his direction. He asked me to ask my son meaning Mike Adenuga, to return home. I requested that he should leave the matter until after lunch and it would be tackled on a one-to-one basis between us. He agreed.
“After lunch, we went into his private sitting room. I declared that what Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman of EFCC, was doing in respect of Mike Adenuga was wrong and he was doing it at Obasanjo’s behest. I told him that I refrained from interfering because I wanted to see how the law would pan out on the issue. The kernel of the matter really, as I told him, was his disagreement with Abubakar Atiku, his deputy, and they had taken the matter almost life-and –death level. Mike Adenuga was a pawn in the crisis and he should be given the right to defend himself.


“I reminded Obasanjo that he was no longer in office and he should back off in his pursuit of Mike. I went further to let him know that if Nuhu Ribadu did not desist from molesting Mike, I would go into the ring with them. Here I made clear that I would take him and Ribadu to unnecessarily and unjustifiably pursue Mike. Obasanjo promised to see Ribadu and to ask him to back off. He further promised to give me a feedback on this.


“When I did not get his feedback, I called him a number of times, but the phone would ring and not be answered. Eventually, I called his aide, Bodunde Adeyanju, who on picking my call passed the phone to Obasanjo to speak to me. Obasanjo told me Ribadu was out of the country and he would get back again to me on Ribadu’s return. I told Obasanjo how difficult it had been to reach him on the phone. I offered a solution.

I would ask Mike to send him a phone which he would give his aide, Bodunde, as an intermediary. This way, all I had to do was call that number and Bodunde would pass it to him if he wanted to speak to me. He agreed and Mike sent the phone down the next day. But still Obasanjo did not come back to me on the issue.

“Mike remained in exile in London and nothing much was heard again or raised by the EFCC about him. Later in 2007, I called Mike in London and told him I wanted to know why he had refused to return home. Since he had no skeleton in his cupboard, then he should return home. I explained to him that the purpose of the wealth with which he had been divinely endowed was to care for his needs, and his interests. It was also for use to defend his honour and integrity. For these reasons, I urged him to return home.