Obasanjo’s book, cheap attempt to rewrite history – Godwin Alabi-Isama

A former Principal General Staff Officer of the Nigerian Army and Chief of Staff of 3 Marine Commando Division during the Civil War, Brig.-Gen. Godwin Alabi-Isama (retd.), on Monday described former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s controversial autobiography, My Watch, as a cheap attempt to rewrite history.

He subsequently alleged that Obasanjo’s misrule destroyed the country.

Isama, in a statement titled, ‘My response to Olusegun Obasanjo’s My Watch,’ said Obasanjo was not in a position to criticise anyone as he failed to govern the country properly when he was in charge.



He said, “I am not qualified to comment on Obasanjo’s political achievements, if any, for this country. The people and posterity will do that. There is no President in this country that he has not condemned. He always thinks that he has the preserve of knowledge on how to rule this country. Did the country move forward when he was the Head of State or President? He destroyed the heart of the national security.

“We can see the result today. He destroyed education in many ways. We see the result today. He destroyed a lot of other things. As for how he has treated his family shabbily, his wife and children have openly made their comments. Those comments are in the public domain today and forever, even though Obasanjo cleverly brushes them aside in his current book. I implore Obasanjo to stop lying before he dies.”

He said Obasanjo was a bad soldier as he failed to implement professional military tactics during the Civil War.

Alabi-Isama said on one occasion, Obasanjo was partying while his colleagues were at the battlefront.

He said Obasanjo should not be taken seriously as he was fond of being economical with the truth.

He said, “This was the same Obasanjo who published a fake Federal Government gazette that I was found guilty by the Army when I was never tried. I have proved that Obasanjo was an incompetent commander. I have proved that he was a wily and cunning fellow, and an incredible opportunist who reaped where he did not sow.

“I have proved that he was an ingrate and a hypocrite. More importantly, I have proved that he was a coward, who ran away from the warfront to go and look for phantom ammunition. Rather than respond to my claims the way a gallant officer should, he has now responded by impugning my person.”