By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja

A former Edo State governor, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, has described as false and pure fiction, the account of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai about what happened during the controversial third term bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Osunbor disclosed this as the book reviewer at the public presentation of the autobiography of Chief Edwin Clark titled, “Brutally Frank” in Abuja yesterday.

Clark in the book quoted a portion of a book written by former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, “The Accidental Public Servant”

The author explained the roles played by Osunbor in the entire saga.

But Osunbor in his first official reaction to the claims in the el-Rufai’s book, created a stir when he told his audience on the occasion that it was a figment of imagination of the former Kaduna helmsman.

He, however, explained that Clark’s brutally frank makes very interesting reading.

He said the author’s clear memory and recollection of dates, names, places, and events was impressive and phenomenal and that it could partly be attributed to good record-keeping.

Osunbor said, “The book is not without flaws, though minor, many of them typo and spelling such as “constant tenants” instead of “customary tenants’ (p. 64), “Justice Omo Eboh” written as “Omoibo” (p. 159) and “Awkunanaw” written as “Okunanu” (p. 167).

“At times, the language is intemperate such as using the word “stupid” (P.359).

This is obviously in anger but not appropriate in a book.

“The most serious shortcoming is the author’s copious reproduction, reference to, and reliance on the statements and opinions of other people many of which may be unreliable and unverifiable.

“An example of this is on page 559 where he quotes in extenso excerpts from Mallam El-Rufai’s book “The Accidental Public Servant.

“In the relevant portion, the author refers to a discussion at Aso Villa between President Obasanjo, Senate President Ken Nnamani, and others as they mulled the idea of stopping live television broadcast of the Senate debate of the Third Term.

“Chief Tony Anenih is quoted to have said that he will get Professor Osunbor to move the motion.”

Osunbor read, “The following day, we learnt that Professor Osunbor went to the clerk of the Senate and asked that a motion be raised of urgent national importance, with no topic.

“This allowed – any senator can move to table a motion of urgent national importance” with no further detail.

“The clerk put the motion in the order paper. On the appointed day, Professor Osunbor fell miraculously ill and had to be admitted to hospital, so there was nobody to raise the motion”.

Responding to the text of el-Rufai book quoted above, Osunbor said, “This is pure fiction and fallacious.”

He said, “First, it is the prerogative of the President of the Senate to decide whether to allow a motion of urgent national importance and if satisfied, would direct the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business to put it on the Order Paper.

“The Clerk of Senate has nothing to do with it. At any rate, a motion on the modality of Senate Debate will be a matter of PRIVILEGE which can be raised by any Senator without notice at any time, and once the relevant Order has been invoked it cannot be refused and must be allowed by the Senate-President, much less the clerk of Senate.

“At no time have I fallen miraculously ill and from 1999 when I entered Senate till date, I have never been admitted to any hospital. Importing such falsehoods into a book diminishes its quality.

“All in all, ‘Brutally Frank’ is an excellent literary work, rich in political history (ancient and contemporary) of Nigeria.

“It deserves to be in every library as an invaluable reservoir of knowledge. The finishing is good and the memorable pictures which adorn some 35 pages speak more than a thousand words.”

The book reviewer now created laughter when he said, “Oh, there is a big omission.

“The author tells us that his great-grandfather had 100 wives, his grandfather had 40 and his father had seven but he was silent on the number of wives he has married. Maybe he is still counting.

“I congratulate our courageous leader, the author, for writing this great work, at 96. I commend the book to all.”

*Bear current pains with me, Tinubu begs Nigerians at Clark’s book launch

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to bear the current hardship and pains they are undergoing following the removal of fuel subsidy because better days were ahead.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said this at the public presentation of a book on the autobiography of Chief Edwin Clark, titled, “Brutally Frank”, in Abuja yesterday.

The President commended the septuagenarian politician for committing himself to the unity of Nigeria from a youthful age till now.

He extolled the numerous roles played by Clark and encouraged Nigerians especially the youths to extol his sterling qualities.

Tinubu said, “We are going through a difficult phase in the history of this country but these pains are pains of birth, the birth of a new nation, and that if you want to celebrate a child, a baby then the mother must go through some pains.

“At the end of the day, there is joy in merriment when the baby arrives and we will certainly be there. Solutions to problems can never be as instant as coffee but we must certainly be there.

“I know the removal of fuel subsidies has created some pains and that is why palliatives are being put in place. One hundred trucks of fertilizers have been sent to the states, one hundred trucks of grains have been sent and more are coming and more are also coming.

“We can endure this for a moment but what we are going through today is for a better tomorrow. Our citizens have hoped that tomorrow will be better than today and we won’t disappoint them.”

Tinubu also commended Gowon for the roles he played in leading the country to the path of prosperity, peace, and unity after the civil wars.

 

FG approves N5bn to each state, FCT as palliative

*Gowon, Jonathan others charge youths on the nation’s unity

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), who was the Chairman of the occasion, expressed joy that the book presentation on Clark attracted prominent Nigerians who undoubtedly are the country’s political, traditional, and economic leaders.

He said, “It is deserving to a man such as E.K. as some of us more fondly call him, that at his ripe age of 96 years, the Nigerian nation could gather in this befitting manner to honour him and pay our deserving respects to his towering legacy of national service.”

Going down memory lane, Gowon said his relationship with the Clark family, unknown to many, had been enduring over the years and has been expressed in deep bonds of friendship and mutual respect.

He said, “Even before the circumstances of our shared national service brought E.K. Clark and I close, which I will explain shortly, I had become very close to his immediate younger brother, Ambassador B. A Clark, who was one of the finest diplomats that Nigeria ever produced and rose to the pinnacle of the service.

Gowon said, “The period when I came into public limelight brought me close to his other close brother, the world acclaimed playwright, Prof. J.P. Clark.

“Along with J.P.’s friends, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the first Noble Peace prize winner in Africa, and others, the government which I headed at one of the most difficult times in the history of our country, got a lot of consciences pricking and encouragement from these men of great letters.

“Even though they were pungent and rabidly critical of those of us who were in uniforms and jackboots, I enjoyed greatly the favour of their very useful and constructive contributions.

“The period in which Nigeria emerged from its most challenging political turmoil needed great dexterity and empathy in the arduous task of reconciliation, rehabilitation, reintegration, reconstruction, and rebuilding our bonds of oneness.

“I had an exceptional cabinet of some of the pioneers and best personalities that the country ever produced. Besides personalities like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Dapa Biriye, Dr Nabo Graham Douglas (SAN).

“My cabinet also included my military constituencies such as Admiral Akinwale Wey, Governors and Administrator, Ukpabi Asika, there was also the very courageous and resourceful communicator, Chief Anthony Enahoro from the Mid-West and my team of dedicated civil servants.

“For those who have read Nigerian history, it was Enahoro who in 1953 moved the motion for Nigerian independence and remained one of the most respected voices on the need for the rebuilding of Nigeria.

“Enahoro served as Federal Commissioner (i.e. Minister) of Information in our government. However, he opted to exit because of other commitments and there was a search for a qualified and equally passionate Nigerian.

“This was what took us back to the Mid-West State and brought Edwin Kiagbodo Clark to enter the big shoes left by Enahoro. Several things qualified Clark for that job as I had briefly mentioned in the Foreword to this book.

“Principal among this being the fact that as erstwhile Commissioner for Education in the Mid-West State, he had gone ahead without pressure but with encouragement from me, Governor Ogbemudia, and the Federal Government in initiating reconciliation with the war-ravaged states of the East Central and its people at the time.

“He went to the extent of using his first daughter, now Mrs Rebecca Okorodudu, who was a teenager in one of the best schools in Mid-West at the time as a kind of guinea pig, moving her to Queen’s School, Enugu, which had a great impact from the unfortunate years of conflict

“As if that was not enough, he also extended a hand of solidarity to the northern States by sending hundreds of science teachers to various parts of the northern States from the Mid-West and also attracted some of their young persons and gave them places in the best schools in his home state.

“There was no better Nigerian for the job of information Minister at that time when we needed to show our warmness and empathy for one another as a people. He did the same for the East-Central States, sending help to the University and other institutions in the war-affected areas.

“The need to fill in the void created by Chief Enahoro’s exit was what gave E.K. the job of Minister in the government which I headed.

“He became my confidant and the voice of the government, fearlessly defending the government and projecting its image. I found comfort in discussing government and other issues with E.K., most amicably at all times.

“However, considering his strong personality, there were times that he would vehemently disagree with his colleagues Commissioners and Military Officers and worked hard to convince them on why his position is better than theirs and any other.”

Gowon added that the book, “Brutally Frank”, therefore, is a very useful chronicle of what had transpired in Nigeria during his lifetime of service.

He said, “I am hopeful that the younger generations will be better informed on our experiences which have brought the country to what it is today, on which our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is here with us, represents the centre of our common aspirations of peace, unity, and progress.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan said Clark believe in the unity of Nigeria and that he demonstrated it in his book, personally written by him.

He said, “I wouldn’t be surprised because your boss, our father, General Gowon believed so much in the unity of this country and each territorial dignitary and that is why 70 years after the war ended, sometime in 2015, President Obama had to appeal to Nigerians not to do anything to undermine the integrity of our country and to respect the wishes of the people by invoking your mantra. To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done

“Chief Edwin Clark belongs to that very rare of extraordinary men, patriots who had any point in time would be relied upon to stop any effort that could lead to the dismemberment of this country, we are greater when we are introduced as Nigerians than when we are introduced based on ethnic.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said “Edwin Clark has remained “Brutally Frank” in his submissions over the years.

” I am therefore, not surprised that his autobiography is titled “Brutally Frank”, as those of us who know him closely, will attest to the fact that Chief Clark will not fail to tell you the brutal truth at all times.

“I do not doubt that through the lens of this autobiography, we shall gain insights into the struggles, triumphs, and pivotal moments that have shaped not only the life of our Leader but also the trajectory of our nation, Nigeria.

Some of them were former and serving National Assembly members; serving and former governors; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero other first-class monarchs across the country and Mr. Peter Obi.