“The loser at the hazard, when the game breaks up/ Sadder, sorrier lingers on alone Replays each throw and drinks of wisdom’s cup” – Aligheri Dante, 1265-1321, in Purgatory. For me, this is one of the most painful articles I have ever had to write in 39 years of writing for VANGUARD. In a fight between older brothers, friends and political associates on the one hand, and, a barely tolerable opponent on the other side, I naturally stand by the former – and damn the consequences. This is the first exception. With all due respects to my senior brothers in the South-West, the recent controversy between former President Obasanjo and former Governor Osoba, can most aptly be regarded as “the same stale old stew, warmed up and served in new plates” (Apologies to ex-President Babangida). Nothing substantially new was added to what we knew already before the fresh outburst. I know why we are again being treated to another round of recriminations. I will discuss that later. I was never a party card holder; but, my family had been in the progressive camp ever since my eldest brother, the late Chief Sanu Sobowale, joined the Action Group Youth Wing with the late Chief Bola Ige. I had the privilege of knowing Ige when he and my brother attended Ibadan Grammar School. Ige was the Kaduna Boy; my brother was the Zaria Boy in their class. They exchanged visits and that was when I first came across the man later nicknamed Cicero. I remember, as if it happened yesterday, my encounter with the late Chief Ayo Adebanjo; lifetime stalwart of Afenifere, in his chambers at the Western House, Broad Street, Lagos Island. I was sitting watching the NTA News, for days before the meeting, when it was reported that the leaders of AD/Afenifere had reached an agreement with President Obasanjo not to field a presidential candidate for the 2003 elections. Despite the fact that Nigeria and the world were still several years from when government-controlled media agencies broadcast barefaced lies, the announcement was still incredible to me; principally, because it made no sense for AD. REQUIEM FOR AD/AFENIFERE “To know/That which before us lies in daily life/Is the prime wisdom, what is more is fume” – John Milton, 1608-1674, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 275 There was only one way to find out. I wrote an article the Sunday after the announcement titled REQUIEM FOR AD. Briefly summarized, my position was this: First, given the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the presidency is the only position any political party should aspire to hold. My political arithmetic convinced me that, unlike the US Constitution, the Nigerian president had more clout than all the 36 governors combined. Any party not vying for the presidency is heading for the graveyard of politics. Second, AD/Afenifere controlling the six states of the South West should aim at expanding its influence nationwide, while still contesting for president; and hope that superior governance in the zone would attract support from other states. Third, and this was perhaps the most important, Obasanjo should not be trusted, the agreement announced sounded to me like the lion asking the leopard to form a hunting partnership; every success to be shared equally. The leopard might soon find itself on the lion’s menu. Fourth, I ended by asking the leaders of AD/Afenifere to withdraw from the deal. That was the main presentation – which characteristically was full of global precedents as well as one of local examples. The article appeared on Sunday; I received an urgent message from the late Chief Ayo Adebanjo, highly respected, almost worshipped, who I visited several times before. It was a most unhappy meeting for both of us. The late Chief Adebanjo, like most great men, sooner or later, invest themselves with infallibility. They can never be wrong; and they don’t tolerate younger people trying to correct them; more so, when it was a group decision made by older, more experienced politicians and wiser than me. He proceeded to lecture me on the details of the agreement. The more he revealed, the more alarmed I became. I couldn’t believe that our most trusted leaders in the progressive alliance could be so easily duped. The meeting turned combative when I asked a question. “Sir, you said Obasanjo agreed to leave your governors untouched. What if he reneges on that promise? It will be too late to make amends.” “Obasanjo is a senior military officer; they keep their words.” “Sir, that is precisely my fear. Deception is fair in war; and politics is like war without shooting.” “Are you saying that the president of Nigeria can be distrusted?” “Yes Sir, on a matter like this.” “Dele, please walk out of my office.” Unfortunately for the progressives, the leaders had been lured to their own self-destruction. One victim of this catastrophe was of particular interest to me. SEGUN OSOBA,
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