While in Secondary School(for the umpteenth time,let me tell us it's the prestigious Government College Umuahia),I used to have a teacher whom we,the sttudents,all hated because he was 'wicked'.Each time we committed a crime,he always threatened to literally tear us apart. We detested him.He was a devil,or if he weren't,why would he remember only the bad things we did and looked away from the good?We cursed him.May his children be treated the way he was treating us,we begged God.As is always the case,it was not until we left the school and tasted life that we realised we actually showered blessings,rather than heap curses on him.If anyone would treat his kids half the way he treated us,then they would be useful in life.
Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo was,or still is,like that teacher.He is determined,hard,always looking to do the right things his own way,oblivious of criticisms that trail him and is just nothing but what has shaped his life - a retired soldier.
Make no mistakes,Baba Iyabo has his faults.He could be arrogant,but he uses it to good effect.Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United would call it 'nice arrogance'.He could be outspoken,but he achieves the purpose for it.Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid calls it 'being a special one'.He could be vindictive,but that is only human.Former Tottenham Manager Martin Jol says it is 'getting one over your adversary'. But one thing Baba isn't is wicked.
All through his stay as the President of Nigeria,he has been vilified by everyone,including the mentally ill.If one's television packed up,then OBJ had caused it with constant power outage;if one's car had a fault,then the roads could be better;if one had malaria,then OBJ never cared to get the environment clean;if one was barren,then God had visited OBJ's curses on innocent citizens!!
While the above examples could be considered highly exaggerated,what we cannot deny is that the former president did the best he could.They might not have been good enough,but at least they were better than those before him.Nigerians naturally sulk,anyway.
But one thing I admire most about him is his 'I-don't-care' attitude towards criticisms.Spread rumours he has kicked the bucket,and he would tell you 'I dey kampe'.Challenge him,and he would tell you 'I deh laugh'.Contest the presidency while criticising him,and he would say 'I thought he wants to be Confederation of African Football(C.A.F) president'!
On a final note,it seems the curses heaped on him while in office by the aggrieved were actually showers of blessing,else he wouldn't be so much enjoying his retirement sniffing his inhaler,and mocking his adversaries!