To former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Obasanjo’s criticism of the Jonathan administration’s handling of Boko Haram is “highly irresponsible”.
The doyen of accounting, Mr. Akintola Williams, also lashed out at Obasanjo.
Both spoke in Lagos on the sideline at the launch of a book, “Stay at the top”, authored by a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Omoniyi Komolafe.
Other eminent Nigerians at the book launch included the Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, the former Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Samuel Olowe, the Vice Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Prof. Sola Fajana and representatives of Lagos, Osun and Ogun governors.
Speaking to The Nation, Gen. Gowon said: “Obasanjo is highly irresponsible to have made such comments about the present government.
“Many people have condemned what he (Obasanjo) did in Odi and Zaki Biam.
So, it was irresponsible for him to defend it or accuse the present administration.”
Gen. Gowon urged Nigerians to support the government so that the current challenges can be tackled collectively.
He said: “I know people are concerned about the security situation in the country, but I can assure you that the government is doing everything possible to tackle the situation.
“I remember during my time as Head of State, when we also had grave challenges. Some people said it was impossible to unite Nigeria and that we could not achieve it. Some also said we could not move the state capital from Lagos to another city.
“But, eventually, we were able to subdue the security challenges. I can tell you, we would not have been able to do it, if we did not enjoy the support of Nigerians.
“I urge our people to love and defend the unity of this country at all times. The government should be given the needed support so that it will be able to function.
“I am not saying government should not be criticised when it is doing wrong, but we should not say or do things that will cause more tension and confusion in our land.”
In Williams’ view, Obasanjo should be more circumspect.
“I am sure if he considers his statements, he would not say such things.
“When I was in practice, I had confrontations with him, but we grew to respect each other.
“I would have expected him to observe complete silence, especially commenting on offices now held by somebody else other than himself.”
Obasanjo, speaking in Warri last Thursday at one of the events, marking the 40th anniversary of Rev. Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said President Jonathan’s response to Boko Haram’s insurgency is tepid.
Obasanjo said when faced with such a situation, he nipped it in the bud, saying Dr. Jonathan should have tackled the insurgency at the outset.
“My fear is that when you have a sore and you don’t attend to it early enough, it festers and becomes very bad. Don’t leave a problem that can be bad unattended,” Obasanjo said.
But President Jonathan chose the occasion of his Media Chat on Sunday to respond to Obasanjo’s criticism, saying Obasanjo’s administration’s military attack on Odi in 1999 after some policemen were killed, was a disaster, which failed to achieve its objective.
Jonathan alleged that contrary to Obasanjo’s claim, no militant was killed in the invasion.
He said as the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor at the time, he and (then) Governor Dipreye Alamieyeseigha visited Odi. They saw “some dead people, mainly old men and women and also children. None of those militants was killed. So, the bombardment of Odi was to solve the problem but it never solved it.”
Obasanjo’s former Adviser, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, On Tuesday replied Jonathan on behalf of his principal.
He said: “The truth is that the killing of security agents and soldiers with impunity by Niger Delta militants virtually stopped after the operation in Odi.”
Gen. Gowon, in his address as chairman of the book launch, said he was fascinated by the title of the book, adding that trust and transparency are qualities a good leader must possess.
“As Head of State, I religiously ensured that I reached out to people across all strata through contacts and visits in order to determine how government was perceived or to see how government fared.
Shonekan, who was the guest of honour, said the book was devoted to value reorientation.
He said the author had also brought to the fore the fact that it is never easy for anybody to get to the top in any field of endeavour. It requires a lot of humility, sagacity, commitment to duty and diligence to realise such lofty dreams.
“From experience, I can say that staying at the top is more difficult because for a number of factors, those at the top often lose their staying power. Their successes often get into their heads, their values become warped and sometimes, they cannot move with the dynamics of the time and in the process, they are overtaken by other contenders for the top position.”
Prof. Fajana reviewed the book.
On what ground should The former head of state criticizing the president. During is time in office what was he capable of doing, is killing the indegenes in part in bayelsa. This a propaganda.
ReplyDeleteWhat Obasanjo said @ warri was not bad but 4 Gowon calling his colleague an irresponsible man is out of point. Akintola Williams what are u saying? Do u remember ur firms' role in d Cadburys' inflated financial reports? Stop condemning pple cos of little favour 4m d present govt
ReplyDeleteWhen the people's hope on the government is not forth-coming there is posibility of all manner of comments. so whoever criticized Dr Goodluck government as the right to do so because it is only when someone is been criticize that he tend's to sit up!
ReplyDeleteCan General Gowon please tell us what was wrong in what President Obasanjo said? Obasanjo's statement was not incitive nor abusive, it was rather a simple observation of laxity on the part of Jonathan administration to rise quickly, urgently, and squarely at the onset to nip this horrible problem in the bud! For Gowon to have called Obasanjo 'irresponsible' shows that there is more to it than what we think. So many precious lives have been lost and are still being lost! Nigerians are living in fear daily. That word 'irresponsible' from Gowon is too much!
ReplyDeleteAll of them na wash. The same ten and ten pence. Same children of same parents. Mtchewwww
ReplyDeleteIt is surprising General Gowon could throw away his calmness ,Bro Gowon where is the virtue of praying giant,
ReplyDeleteCalling an adult irresponsible,means a lot
Pls Gen try and use decent language,
anti-corruption crusader and a disciplinarian is what we need in this country to clear the mess and not first class material from any university. with the existence of this monster called PDP,poor man will never see good. Diamond being the hardest metal cut other metals and is also used to cut itself.therefore GEN BUHARI is the answer for now.
ReplyDeleteThese old and irresponsible men should shut up and allow the new generation leadership to do their own thing in their own way. Is not obvious that their own solution has failed this country woefully, hence we need a completely new approach to the problems.
ReplyDeleteRide on Mr president, make your own mistakes and learn from them because in the end it will be Jonnathan's era and not that of OBASANJO or Gowon!
Look at the type of leaders (rulers) that we have been having, it is no suprise that we are a failed state now. No leaders has integrity or vision, they are no different from being like a mafia don.
ReplyDeleteThe two great men(Obasanjo and Jonathan) are pple i respect a lot but my former president shuld pls advice his political son secretly and with respect bcos is d Nation president.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to be Obasanjo, I woun't drag any issue with Gowon. Even if he used more stronger abusive language than that irresponsible. I think bokoharam operates around his domain there. If it is his joy for them to continue killings and maiming d innocent pple like that so be it. But all I know is that no sinner will go un-punished. The blood of d innocent is crying is crying. And all perpetrator of this dastardical act,shall surely pay for it one by one.
ReplyDelete@Olukoya, what do u expcts of Goodluck.to b inhuman by killing innocent pple in d name of Bokoharam? Let's mind ow we talk in public places.
ReplyDeleteGowon can say whatever he likes; he knows what he gets from GEJ of course, you know he got nothing from OBJ and I do not think he can get any.
ReplyDeleteHe is lucky he hasn't in anyway be affected by BokoHaram action, I wish gets the feeling.
its better to have people like OBJ around anyway, reason been that, he gets to say the matter as it is, rather than covering up and it look like every thing is okay, i mean we all know everything is not okay. such words from OBJ keeps the president on his toes, which i think it is good for democracy.
ReplyDeleteWhen did Gowon begin to talk on national issues? Uhmm... He was accused by Achebe and was to be tried by the current administration and the next thing we hear is that he is supporting GEJ. GEJ said old men and children were killed in Odi, why has he closed his ears to the cries of youths being smothered by his forces in Maiduguri? If he thinks Obasanjo's method didn't work, why is he using a more deadly approach that has being likened to genocide? And even when international organisation cried foul play, he simply pretend not to hear them. What a president! What a disaster to the nation!
ReplyDeleteGen.Gowon haa.I respect u too much,but u disappointed me by ur statement to Baba Obasanjo.What baba said is not bad,it will make Goodluck to sit rightand fine solution to the problem of boko haram,but why u people criticis Obj.Jonathan be warn.
ReplyDeletePeople just post gabbage because they have access to computer. Do we know the meaning of the word "irresponsible"? The issue of Boko Haram is dealt with as a national issue across different parties and not politicised. It is a universal cankerworm and in other countries, ruling parties and opposition put heads together to solve the problem, but here in Nigeria, idiots are looking for a reason to insult the president. I've seen someone post a picture of dirty toilet at a railway station in Lagos and blames the President.Do they have a station manager.Was the rail in operation before the current administration. Oh no, my wife burnt her food this afternoon, and it is Jonathan's fault. I've never heard anyone blane the chief security officers(Governors) in the states concerned.
ReplyDelete