The late Prof. Ola Rotimi, ace playwright, once wrote a comedy: “Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again”. Were he alive, he probably would have been tempted to write another: Ebora Runs His Mouth Again, but this time a tragi-comedy.
It’s all in the live unravelling of Olusegun Obasanjo, the all-wise, all-knowing, ex-President of the Federal Republic, in his twilight years!
Once as a callow young man, dazed by the empty dazzle of military power, he bragged in “Not My Will” — the second of his many narcissistic autobiographies — that what the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo craved all his illustrious life (federal power) he, Obasanjo, got gifted on the proverbial gold platter.
Well, 32 years after Awo’s death (the sage passed on in 1987), he still lives in his people’s hearts more than Obasanjo would ever do in anyone’s — even in 10 lifetimes, even after he had enjoyed a power second coming, as two-term elected president.
As a — doddering? — old man, Obasanjo just committed the gravest taboo in Yoruba tradition, in Iseyin, Oyo State: ordering Yoruba royal fathers to “get up!” and “sit down!” in public, like a bunch of errant urchins!
Since the old Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II’s royal rumble with the late Bode Thomas — which earned the illustrious Thomas dire consequences — it’s safe to say no Yoruba ever did what Obasanjo did in Iseyin: deriding a bevy of traditional rulers in full public glare!
That has put the Ebora Owu in a storm — and just as well, for he so loves to run his mouth over nothing, when what is required is loud silence.
Various Yoruba lobbies are calling for Obasanjo’s scalp, except he recants in public and offers an apology to the humiliated royal fathers.
Yet, what Obasanjo said was trite: sitting presidents and governors had authority over traditional rulers. Even local government chairs do. But the rude and crude gruff of it all! It could well be a mis-jive for which Obasanjo would rue for what remains of his life.
Indeed, this spectacular gaffe would appear a logical collapse for a man always craving honour and respect that he knows, in his heart of hearts, he hardly merits.
For all his power swagger, Obasanjo knows he has zero community value. As junta head, he stole power by the barrel of the gun. As two-term elected president, great controversies still follow his 1999 and 2003 “victories”. Post-power, whoever he backs routinely loses elections in Obasanjo’s polling units. So, Obasanjo has zero soft power.
Which is why he would huff and puff, and make a big mess of himself, over traditional rulers not standing up to herald his entry — and Governor Seyi Makinde’s — into the event’s centre. By the way, did Makinde grumble to him? Even if he did, don’t the Yoruba say whatever the wise whispers, only the insane blabs in public?
Will Baba Iyabo ever tower above the storm to come, over this grave error? We’ll see.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
