By Tunde Fagbenle
It is the season of letters. I found one I wrote to Iyabo Obasanjo in this column of May 26, 2002 in response to one Iyabo had written to Nigerians urging us to vote for her father for a second term as president.
Iyabo, even in selling her father (aka Baba-Iyabo) to us then was almost as frank on her dad's demerits as she is in her latest merciless disavowal. She wrote: "I respect my father for the fact that I can look him in the eye and tell him exactly what I think ..." Hmmm.
But Iyabo's latest letter is a poisoned arrow straight into the heart of a dad whose "love" for her she trumpeted thus: "(A)ny African that can raise, love and tolerate an independent-minded daughter as (myself) is to be admired." There's a sense, therefore, in which Iyabo's pain in writing her latest letter could be greater than that inflicted on the dad.
I urge some editor to find that 2002 letter of Iyabo and republish it. It would make interesting and contrasting read. But here was mine to Iyabo, to be found on page 204 of my book " Nigeria - A Thousand Laughs, A Thousand Cries." Enjoy:
"Dear Iyabo,"We've never met, but I read your treatise on why Nigerians should re-elect your dad as President of Nigeria for a second term come 2003, published on the back page of ThisDay newspaper of Monday, May 20, 2002.
"I must confess that I enjoyed the piece, much contrary (you were right!) to my sniggering expectation of mere platitudes - after all, he's your dad and, ordinarily, which child would not back his or her parent in a bid for 'the presidency? But no, the article was well written, rather dispassionate (if that were possible), and shorn of nauseating emotionality.
"I thank you for permitting us a view of Baba Iyabo, within permissible bias - different, refreshing and ennobling. You are a worthy daughter, Iyabo, and, being a passionate father myself (if I may say so), I am a sucker for worthy scions.
"Be that as it may, it is important to point out to you where and how you grievously erred. And I'll try take it para by para.
"You hit the nail smack on the head in alluding to the ego your dad succumbed to first time around - namely, that "he was the only one capable of keeping (a falling apart) Nigeria together" - to get persuaded to run in 1999 against his initial disinterest. And, although you were quick to distance yourself from such silly "notion that there is only one person that can keep this country together," for otherwise, as you say, "we better give up now since we will be doomed after 2007," you still failed to see this gargantuan, obnoxious ego being back at play as, perhaps, the driving force behind his not wanting to quit now that the ovation is loudest.
"True, your old man came there much against his desire, but he's had four years to help the country re-order or restructure itself. Your father, being an intelligent man (and even with all his contradictions - of gaffe and coarseness - it is hard to engage him in national or international discourse without concluding thusly), during his travails in the 'shadow of death', dwelled sufficiently on the structural problem that accounts for Nigeria's malfunctioning and came out clear in his mind what needs doing as a priority such that if anyone else, even a fool, came on after him reversal to old ways would have been impossible.
"But what did your dear dad do? He got there, surrounded himself with some people of questionable integrity and unquestionable sycophancy, old Abacha praise-singers, and began on the dubious path of leaving the leprosy untreated while concentrating on the mere skin rash as if he has all the time in the world! But, you see, dear Iyabo, only God knows tomorrow for tomorrow may never come, that is, it may come too late, for our lives are in God's hand. Hence the imperative not to leave till tomorrow what can be done today.
"I have a line of argument, Iyabo, which I proffer when I talk to serious and sincere folks over the Nigeria-project. I say, if Obasanjo has been there and would continue to be there only to delay the inevitable, then we are unfortunate indeed. (But) I cannot agree with you more that your dad "totally believes in Nigeria," and that is why it is even sadder.
"You are a clever woman no doubt, but your attempt to sweep calamitous government intervention in community clashes, as in the case of Odi, Zaki-Biam, etc., under the carpet of cosmetic improvement in our major airports, especially the Murtala Mohammed Airport (welcome as it really is!), is being clever by half. The one far outweighs the other, and granted that you also took exception to the manner of your father's handling of such crises, cleaner and more welcoming airports mean absolutely nothing to the innocent thousands whose homes have been levelled by government's mindless display of arrogant force; mean nothing to the several thousands more orphaned, widowed, or childless through government's deed; mean nothing to the millions out there, throughout the length and breadth of the country, unsure of where the next meal would come from.
"You see, you may make a country's airport as welcoming as you can but, say, which investor in his right mind would come to that country whose peace is suspect? Say, who would long for that land where insecurity is rife and where(by evident every day actions or inaction) life of the citizenry means little or nothing? Go on our inter-city (Express?) roads and witness the carnage there; go on them, see the murderous state of the roads and tell me why the Minister in charge, whoever that is, should not live the rest of his life in jail. Yet, I hear, he is your father's most trusted hand - just as he was Abacha's, hehehe!
"Iyabo, we cannot put all the malaise of the country at the doorstep of your dad, and it would not be fair to knock him entirely. He certainly has chalked up some pluses. Most remarkably, the ubiquitous long queues at petrol stations have disappeared, gone with the terrible man-hours, oft man-days, lost to them. It is almost magical. Your dad means well for Nigeria, and truly not many are left with his passion and zeal to move the country forward, if only ...
"You said many nice things about your father that makes me wonder if we are talking about the same person. But, I guess, he is your father and fathers generally have soft spot for their daughters. You wrote: "I respect my father for the fact that I can look him in the eye and tell him exactly what I think ... " Good for you, Iyabo, your father has indulged you, as he should. But I have bad news for you. Those others who have tried to contradict your dad in argument, staff who have attempted to give him "constructive criticism" have had different stories to tell. They leave his presence literally with bloodied noses, if they still have their jobs that is.
"Nevertheless, you are right, "any African that can raise, love and tolerate an independent-minded daughter as (yourself) is to be admired." For you, Iyabo, if for nothing else, your dad's got my vote!"
