Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo today in Akure, Ondo State paid a condolence visit at the palace of the late Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida. Mr. Obasanjo, who commiserated with the family and subjects of the late traditional ruler, kept mum about recent controversies around his open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan as well as a blistering open letter by his own daughter, Iyabo Obasanjo, which described the former president as a liar, narcissist and megalomaniac.
Mr. Obasanjo’s condolence visit came 22 days after the late traditional ruler died of unknown health complications. Dressed in a blue traditional agbada and matching cap, Mr. Obasanjo arrived in a black Prado SUV with a Lagos State license plate, accompanied by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Prince Adelana Adesida, the late monarch’s younger brother, received the former president and his entourage.
It was the former president’s first public outing since the Nigerian Vanguard newspaper carried the text of an open letter from Ms. Obasanjo, a former senator, who castigated her father for his hypocritical attitude and disclosed that the former president had indeed sought to change the Nigerian constitution in order to extend his rule beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms.
Despite the somber context of the condolence visit, many reporters at the scene had hoped that Mr. Obasanjo would speak about the swirling controversy surrounding his daughter’s letter.
However, he focused entirely on the deceased traditional ruler, recalling that the late Deji was his former aide and friend who worked tirelessly and portrayed a good image. He described the death of the late king as huge loss to the Yoruba and beyond, stressing that the traditional ruler brought peace and sectarian harmony to Akure.
The former President prayed with the late Deji’s family before hurriedly exiting to pay another condolence visit at the palace of the Asamo of Akure, Chief Samuel Olusanya. There he also met with the Lisa of Akure, James Olusoga.
Both traditional figures, who are members of the Akure traditional council, praised Mr. Obasanjo for doggedly speaking the truth on the state of the nation.
Besieged by reporters at the scene after visiting the two palaces, Mr. Obasanjo kept mute and declined to speak. Pressed by the journalists to comment on the drama triggered by his recent letter to President Jonathan on the state of the nation, the former president merely said, “This is not the right time to comment.”
A source confirmed that Mr. Obasanjo’s condolence visit was unscheduled, even though the former president had alerted key leaders of the state chapter of the PDP about the visit.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State was reportedly out of the state capital of Akure when Mr. Obasanjo paid the condolence visit.
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