EDITORIAL ; OBASANJO AND THE SEARCH FOR REDEMPTION

As a person, I have scant regard for Mr. Obasanjo. He is a narcissistic opportunist with a god complex. A man with an entitlement mentality, and whose moral pontificating is in direct opposite to his actions.

But as a national institution and the most visible beneficiary of the Nigerian project. I doff my hat to Mr. Obasanjo's consistent attempt to serve as the conscience of the nation. Not for any of the altruistic or nationalistic reasons he claims, I admit, after all OBJ is the classical example of the selfish, self centered grouchy old man who loves to throw tantrums if or when he could not get his way.
But somehow, this foxy old dude has this uncanny ability to tap into subconscious by making himself the voice of our collective angst. The man who sums up our feelings and disenchantment with the rulers of the day, and thereby positions himself as a people's champion.
He did it to Shagari, Buhari, Babangida, Shonekan. He also tried it with that Kano born Chadian, Abacha, who promptly kicked his behind into jail.
Even after his rehabilitation by Abdulsalam and eight years in office, he is still using the same playbook to deal with Yaradua, even in his grave, and Jonathan.
Just goes to show that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
I have absolutely no issues with Mr .Obasanjo and his psychotic need to claim credit for every success and blame others for the failure,my grouse is with his unwillingness to accept responsibility for all those characters he foisted on us as his successors.
All Shagari wanted to be a Senator, but Obasanjo wanted a weak successor he could manipulate, ditto for YarAdua who just wanted to leave the Governor's lodge alive, and Jonathan who looked like all he wanted was to be left alone in the creeks.

Mr.Obasanjo cannot atone for his sins by constantly putting down his successors, no matter how much they deserve it. And he cannot get redemption by distancing himself from the monster he helped create. It is obvious that Mr. Obasanjo is not the solution, he is the genesis of the problem.
My ten kobo.