Obasanjo's august book launch

Coupled with the brouhaha  2015 elections is already raising in the country, Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday launched his book, a bombshell certain to rock the Nigerian nationhood to its very foundation

Obasanjo who spoke at the presentation of his autobiography: ‘My Watch’, which contains his memoirs, told the attendees of the launch that his decision to criticize President Goodluck Jonathan stemmed from the president’s lack of listening ears.

“You will see a few letters I put in the book that were correspondence between me and the president and how I described my frustration of going privately to the president, taking up issues with him and getting no reaction.

“When I was president, I had my predecessors who would come to me, some with written notes and I would give answers and react and if I cannot give answers and react there immediately, I will say: ‘give me time, let me do something’ and I would react.
“So if you have audience but you have no receptive ears, then you must have another way of communication. That’s what has happened.”
Buruji Kashamu, one of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had secured an injunction against the presentation of the book as, according to reports, he believed that there are portions of the book that dents his allegedly dented reputation.
“The book had been printed and published before that man went to court. I don’t regard that.
“Even the judge who gave him that order, in a normal society, a strong judiciary, he should be sanctioned and I hope something would happen.
Another thing you don’t know is that the man went to court and today (the day the book was presented) was fixed for hearing.
“If there is anything illegal, you know I won’t be part of it. We are here lawfully, legally and we will continue to act lawfully and legally.

“That’s the way I believe it should be. He should be able to come, talk to me and I give you an answer. You would see in the book some of my reactions in the past.

Obasanjo further reproved the judge who had granted an injunction against the presentation of the book saying in saner climes, such a judge should have been sanctioned for going against the ethics of his profession.

But while responding to a question on why he refused to obey the court injunction, Obasanjo told the guests he completed the production of the book three weeks before the presentation. Thus, the court injunction against him was in error.

“After that, he went to another judge to get injunction at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. What is that?

Obasanjo also used the opportunity to emphasize his love for Nigeria calling himself an incurable optimist in the Nigeria project. He stated that his belief in Nigeria makes him hopeful that a successful Nigeria is possible and will be achieved through patience and steadfastness.