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That Obasanjo Book Launch …The Other Face Of Contempt
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is not an ordinary Nigerian citizen. He has infact, assumed the status of a father of modern Nigeria, a political colossus, a great farmer and, in his own right, a national patriot.
These, perhaps, account for why, in months leading to the various political parties’ primaries, Obasanjo’s home in Ogun State, became a political Mecca of sorts, where, countless politicians paid homage and sourced valid advice concerning their ambitions.
To many others, Obasanjo is larger than life and one who is never afraid of courting controversies. From his public letters to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan to the launch of his recent book – My Watch -, Obasanjo cuts the picture of one eager to tell his own side of every story.
These actions have often been criticised by some Nigerians as un-presidential, considering the fact that as one of the many Presidents and Heads of State, he should have appropriate channels of communication with the President in-power. Yet, others consider Obasanjo as a spent-political force seeking relevance or still desirous to govern Nigeria by proxy.
To such critics, Obasanjo’s public letters to Jonathan are merely diversionary, the principal intent being to be recognised in history as the most successful leader of government Nigeria has ever produced.
In which ever divide one finds oneself, there is no debate over the fact that Obasanjo wields tremendous power and influence even out of government, being the only Nigerian who has governed Nigeria both as military Head of State for more than two years and as democratically elected President for two-terms of eight years.
During these years, he enjoyed the loyalty, respect and obedience of many especially the judiciary, some of which Chief Judges’ appointments he okayed before National Assembly approval.
Such a towering figure ought to be feared by any judge or any court no matter how fearless such a judge may claim to be. That was perhaps why it came to the former President as a huge surprise that any court in the land could grant an injunction restraining him from carrying-out his book launch, an autobiography.
An Abuja High Court has on Friday, December 5, this year restrained Chief Obasanjo from publishing or have someone publish on his behalf, a new autobiography titled: My Watch.
Media reports said Justice Valentine Ashi made the restraining order while ruling on an exparte application filed and argued by Alex Izinyon (SAN), a lawyer of a PDP chieftain, Mr Buruji Kashamu.
The politician’s lawyer had argued that the content of the book related to issues contained in Obasanjo’s letter to President Goodluck Jonathan and a former PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, December 2, 2013 where he, (Obasanjo) claimed that Kashamu was allegedly a fugitive, wanted in the United States.
He contended that since the content of the letter was the subject of the libel suit his client filed against Obasanjo, which is still pending before the court, it was wrong for the ex-president to be allowed to proceed to comment on, write books about or make publications on the issue yet to be decided by the court.
Justice Ashi, in a ruling, restrained Obasanjo from either publishing the book or have it published on his behalf by anybody, pending the determination of the main suit still before the court.
“The defendant, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, whether by himself, his agents, servants, privies or any other person by whatever name called and howsoever described, is hereby restrained from publishing or cause to be published in the yet to be published book, ‘My Watch’, or any autobiography or biography and any extracts of same, by whatever name called or howsoever titled, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice hereof,” Justice Ashi ordered.
The Judge further restrained Obasanjo and his agents “from further writing, printing, publishing or causing to be published or printed or circulated, or otherwise, publishing of and concerning the plaintiff, the statement contained in the Daily Sun, (Pages 47-49) and The Leadership Newspapers (Pages 3 to 8) on December 12, 2013, and which statements are alleged to have reproduced in the letter to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria titled: ‘Before It Is Too Late’ or similar statements pending the determination of the motion on notice.”
The Judge also ordered the applicant to “execute a bond the Registrar of the court to pay such damages as shall be assessed should it turn out that the order ought not to have been granted in the first place.”
He then adjoined hearing on the main suit to December 10.
Shortly after Obasanjo published the open letter, ‘Before It Is Too Late,’ Kashamu had sued the author for alleged defamation of character. He had argued that the defendant (Obasanjo) “maliciously and recklessly published a letter, which contained words which Obasanjo knew to be false.”
In his writ of summons, Kashamu stated that the criminal imputation made against him by Obasanjo in his letter has injured him (Kashamu).
It was for these and other reliefs sought that the Abuja Court issued the restraining order against Obasanjo’s book publication.
But the book was not only published, it was publicly launched amidst pomp and pageantry. A vintage Obasenjo spoke during the launch and decried the issuance of such a restraining order.
“If it were when we have a Judiciary that is worth its salt, such a judge that issued an injunction on Friday ought to be sanctioned. How dare he issue such an order,” Obasanjo queried.
For that action, Chief Obasanjo was found guilty of contempt by the court which ordered the withdrawal of copies already sold or displayed in public places.
Obasanjo has since appealed against the court’s ruling explaining that the injunction was issued after a completed event. “As at the time the order was made, the book had been published and circulated,” Obasanjo’s legal team argued.
This attempt is not to delve into the rightness or wrongness of the book launch against a subsisting court order and defamation suit, because that is the responsibility of the court. Any attempt to attempt may appear prejudicial to the case or this writer may risk contempt, and not being as influential as Obasanjo, could spend this Christmas in prison.
That’s exactly the point. Why should a judge issue an injunction against the planned programme of a man like Obasanjo? A former Military Head of State and a former democratically elected President of Nigeria for two terms. The Third Term attempt was truncated and many blamed Obasanjo for its sponsorship.
‘My Watch’ was supposed to provide Obasanjo an opportunity to among others, shift the blame, sorry tell his own side of the story. And he did so by explaining that The Third Term agenda was not his, but that of some state governors, who he said hoped to benefit from it. That he had no hand in it, didn’t like it, but also didn’t or could not stop it?
If Obasanjo had obeyed the court order, when would the book launch take place? It was properly timed to come up the time it did, before the elections when, uncertain of electoral fortunes, politicians of the day will increase the possible minefield of likely friends, donors and sponsors. Such a number leans out after elections. And that’s a risk no general can take.
My Agony is that the court did not consider the urgency of Obasanjo’s defence against the third term agenda, before issuing the order stopping the unveiling of the book. If Obasanjo had obeyed the court order, how would we have known that the former President did not have a hand in efforts to give him a third term opportunity?
Even courts ought to know that some Nigerian citizens are above the law and do enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution, like contempt. Even out of office, Obasanjo belongs there, though not legally but by force of history.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
Obasanjo
Front Pix
DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.