The Egbas are celebrating the Lisabi festival today. Actually, it has been a week long affair culminating in today’s grand finale.
I gather a visit will be made to the Lisabi forest, the men’s cult, oro will come out and when it comes out, women must be indoors.
T’obinrin ba foju k’oro
Oro a gbe.
A carnival should follow thereafter at the stadium-like forecourt of the Alake!
Incidentally, an important Egba son is also celebrating his eightieth birthday anniversary on this same day.
Of course, Abeokuta will certainly be a bee hive of activities today.
The general is a force to reckon with beyond these shores. He is very popular outside this country. This is because he is the first soldier to peacefully hand over power to a democratically elected civilian government in this country.
But, please permit me to do a rewind.
He came from a humble background. His father was a farmer and his mother a trader. Both parents were not lettered. Therefore, the general does not know the date of his birth. He was told that he was born on his village, Ibogun’s market day.
He attended the famous Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta.
He then joined the army.
He participated in the Nigerian civil war between 1967 and 1970. He got shot but survived it.
He later became the Federal Commissioner for Establishments in the General Gowon regime. He was to later participate with others, in removing Gowon in a peaceful palace coup d’etat in 1975.
General Muhammad became the Head of State while he became the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.
An attempted coup led by Lt Col Dimka happened on February 13, 1976. Gen Muhammad was killed and Obasanjo became Head of State. As Head, he foresaw the economic hardship and he launched Operation Feed the Nation. He also saw to the end of apartheid in Southern Africa among other achievements that are too numerous to be itemised.
He organized transition elections leading to the enthronement of a civilian regime on October 1,1979. This move made him an eminent person internationally.
He was jailed because he criticised Gen Abacha on his infringement of human rights. He was released after Abacha’s death.
He later became a civilian president from 1999 – 2007.
In retirement, he has spent his time qualitatively. He is pursuing his doctorate degree at the open university. He has also written some books.
Baba General, ebora owu, Happy Birthday!
However, a man can not be totally good.
When the Nobel laureate, professor Soyinka went to the east before the civil war, he met with Obasanjo and briefed him. Soyinka was later detained for twenty months by the Gowon
regime which Obasanjo was a prominent member of.
Who was the head of state when Fela’s commune Kalakuta Republic was burnt down by soldiers in 1977. The frontline musician was grievously wounded and his mother was thrown from the window of the storey building. The mother later died as a result of the wounds she sustained. She was seventy seven.
The winner of probably the freest and fairest presidential election in Nigeria was never acknowledged by Obasanjo. Apparently, things were not the best with the couple before the death of Abiola.
Where was Baba on February 13, 1975? Can we blame Baba for the problems Nigeria has founded itself in? So many questions are begging for answers. Maybe Baba will answer the questions someday!
However, Baba has said he is not a populist, so if he did not favour the common man when he was in power. No be him fault. No we cause am!
But there’s no doubting the fact that Baba has lived his name, OLUSEGUN which means God is the conqueror!!!
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