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By Aare Amerijoye Dotb
I find it imperative to respond after witnessing the astonishing intellectual inconsistency displayed by Joe Igbokwe on his Facebook wall today. In yet another predictable attempt to cast aspersions on Atiku Abubakar, he, like other APC propagandists before him, resorted to posting a selectively extracted quote from Olusegun Obasanjo’s book, *My Watch*. This deliberate cherry-picking of narratives to serve a political agenda is not only disingenuous but also a glaring example of how selective reasoning is weaponised to mislead the public.
Ordinarily, I would have engaged him directly on his page, but having been blocked by him several years ago,perhaps due to his reluctance to entertain critical perspectives,I will instead address this issue here on my Facebook wall, in the hope that reason and fairness will prevail over political bias.
It is both ironic and regrettable that APC loyalists like Igbokwe selectively reference Obasanjo’s book when it suits their agenda while ignoring parts that do not align with their political objectives. The very same Obasanjo who, in his book, expressed certain reservations about Atiku, is the same Obasanjo who, in 2019, publicly endorsed Atiku as the most competent leader to steer Nigeria away from economic and political decline.
This endorsement is well-documented in widely circulated videos where Obasanjo, despite past disagreements, unequivocally acknowledged Atiku’s leadership qualities and recommended him as the best candidate for Nigeria’s presidency. Any fair-minded observer would recognise that a later endorsement,especially one given with the weight of national interest,holds greater validity than a past expression of political frustration.
Furthermore, it is important to recall that under Obasanjo’s presidency, Atiku was subjected to multiple panels of inquiry and investigations, including scrutiny by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). If any wrongdoing had been established, it would have been brought to light. Yet, *after nearly two decades, no evidence, court ruling, or official indictment has linked Atiku to any criminal activity, be it certificate forgery, financial misconduct, drug trafficking or any other allegations unlike some people.* This is a fact that cannot be ignored.
But since Igbokwe and his fellow travelers insist on referencing *My Watch*, let us remind them of what that same book says about their principal, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In *My Watch*, Obasanjo made several critical observations regarding Tinubu’s political style and governance. If they consider Obasanjo’s words authoritative, then these excerpts, drawn directly from the book, should not be ignored:
*“Tinubu is a master of political brinkmanship and subterfuge. He is a man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, even if it means sacrificing the interests of the people he claims to represent.”* (Page 101)
*“Tinubu’s greatest weakness is his insatiable greed. He is a man who is always looking for ways to enrich himself and his cronies, even if it means looting the public treasury.”* (Page 102)
*“Tinubu is a dangerous man who must be stopped at all costs. He is a threat to democracy and good governance in Nigeria.”* (Page 103)
These are direct words from the same book that APC supporters conveniently quote when attacking Atiku. The question then arises: if they accept Obasanjo’s judgment on Atiku, why do they ignore these damning remarks about Tinubu? This selective memory and partisan cherry-picking expose the intellectual inconsistency at the heart of their arguments.
Moreover, if their grievance is that Atiku has been vocal about transparency in leadership, particularly regarding controversies surrounding certain political figures’ academic records ,alleged drug trafficking and past legal entanglements and the fear that he may raise some issues about it in future if more concrete evidence are available, then the appropriate response should be *fact-based rebuttals, not the regurgitation of outdated remarks from a book whose author later revised his stance and publicly endorsed Atiku for the presidency.*
Even in the 2023 elections, Obasanjo did not consider Tinubu suitable for Nigeria’s highest office. Instead, he endorsed Peter Obi, advocating for what he perceived as the South-East’s turn to produce a president. However, what remains indisputable is that at no point has Obasanjo ever endorsed Tinubu for the presidency. If his opinion carries weight for APC loyalists, why do they refuse to acknowledge this?
The reality Nigerians are now facing, ranging from economic hardship to growing international scrutiny,has only reinforced the concerns many had about the present administration. The challenges confronting the country today, including leadership legitimacy questions, have amplified the reputational burden Nigeria faces globally.
If Joe Igbokwe and his associates in the business of political propaganda are truly sincere, let them engage with facts and logic rather than resort to half-truths and selective memory. The Nigerian people deserve an elevated, intellectually honest discourse not partisan distortions aimed at shielding political figures from necessary scrutiny.
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