Nigerians should applaud OBJ-Atiku’s new-found friendship

I am totally flabbergasted, to say the least, about the outrage and manner at which some people have reacted to the recent visit by the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar to his erstwhile boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

It is a common knowledge that at the twilight of their administration as president and vice president, their relationship for one reason or the other deteriorated. With due respect to those who have expressed their dismay at the uncommon courage exhibited by the hitherto warring duo (Obasanjo and Atiku), to bury the hatchet and reconcile their differences, I am really surprised that instead of applauding their rare leadership qualities and encouraging them, these people have refused to see the wisdom in what these leaders have done. I don’t understand why some people have refused to recognise the benefits of harmonious co-existence. Rather, they are needlessly portraying the visit as an attempt by the two leaders to re-launch their political career. When has it become a crime to forgive and put behind past events?

Constitutionally, Obasanjo cannot seek to contest the presidential election anymore. Though, it is not the same for his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar. Nevertheless, I beg to differ from those that paint the principal logic behind his visit as mainly to garner support for his presidential aspiration. Political office holders are determined by the entire voting population of a country and not just a group of people or an individual. Nigerians will decide who runs the affairs of this nation in 2011.

Our responsibility is to pray that the Obasanjo – Atiku peace moves benefit the country in the end.

No one to the best of my knowledge, suggested that what happened between them in those days of acrimony was in the best interest of the country. So, it is in the best interest of the country that they have sheathed their swords. No religion preaches vengeance, malice and bitterness among the people.

I was irked by the way a journalist, Sam Nda-Isaiah, took a swipe at both Obasanjo and Atiku; using uncouth words and unrestrained language . He went as far as branding them as “jesters” and not elder statesmen.

We should endeavour to use the media to promote peace and healthy co-existence. Peace is a recipe for the development of any nation, be it political, social or economical. Besides, no creation of the Almighty God would wish to depart this world with unsettled grudges.

It is a fact that when two people disagree, those who profit from such hostility will not want it to end. Posterity will, indeed, vindicate Atiku. Posterity will show that Atiku has taken the right decision in reconciling with his former political foes.

Whereas developed and some developing nations continue to call for peace among their citizens, the reverse is the case here in Nigeria for reasons I have strongly associated with pure selfishness. If we truly wish our country well, we would encourage our leaders to work harmoniously together to transform this nation into a strong, prosperous and stable country.

Lami H. Dauda,
Gwarimpa Estate,
Abuja.

Re: Saving the vision of OOU

I read with utmost interest Niyi Adeyemo’s article with the above title in your widely circulated newspaper. Adeyemo noted inter alia that as a result of “… the recruitment of many who did not share and were not in a position to share the fine vision and principles of those who laboured to establish and create a name for the university, it entered into a new phase where it lost direction and was taken over by elements who were more concerned with personal aggrandizement than the integrity of the university.”

I cannot but agree with Adeyemo. In fact, to my mind, Adeyemo has merely scratched the surface of the matter at Olabisi Onabanjo University. Suffice it to say that the situation is worse than what is portrayed by Adeyemo, at least judging by my own experience.

We graduated three sessions ago and up till now many of us have not been mobilised for the NYSC programme.

In Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, from where I graduated, two male lecturers have become the alpha and omega; they determine, among other things, those who graduate and who do not.

The lecturers hijacked the computation of results and thus it became easier for the camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for us to gain access to our results! Gaining access to result consequently became a potent instrument used by the duo to develop illicit sexual relationship with female students. In fact, a good number of those that have graduated officially did so by allowing these lecturers to “pass through” them or where affordable, drop big envelopes.

We have taken our case to constituted authorities in the school including the vice chancellor. But from all indications, the VC himself appears powerless over the matter as he keeps setting up one panel after another while we continue to wait. Another batch of Corp members will be mobilised come February or March but we are not sure if we will be considered this time around.

Permit me therefore, to use this medium to inform the Otunba Gbenga Daniel- constituted OOU Visitation Panel under the chairmanship of Professor Oye Ibidapo – Obe to help take, as Adeyemo has noted, “a critical stocktaking in order to separate those who have no business being in a university environment from the scholars and students who should be rightly empowered to do their duties to the university”.

Omolara Johnson.
omolarajohnson62@yahoo.com