Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has responded to criticisms over his condolence message to Late Senator, Buruji Kashamu.
OBJ, shortly after Kashamu’s demise last week, issued a condolence message disclosing that Kashamu was wanted in the U.S for alleged drug offences adding that he was able to escape justice but could not evade death.
“Senator Esho Jinadu (Buruji Kashmu) in his lifetime used the manoeuvre of law and politics to escape from facing justice on alleged criminal offence in Nigeria and outside Nigeria,”.
“But no legal, political, cultural, social or even medical manoeuvre could stop the cold hands of death when the Creator of all of us decides that the time is up.”
The statement did not go down well with a lot of Nigerians who were quick to condemn the former president for ‘disrespecting’ the dead. Former Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, slammed OBJ via twitter stating that “He (Obasanjo) should also remember that his own end will come too and nobody knows how the end will be.”
National leader of the All progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu also expressed displeasure stating that “people should be kind to the dead since everyman would die someday.”
Responding to the criticisms, Obasanjo in an interview on Sunday said; “As you know, I say my mind as truthfully as I know them and in line with my convictions. People are free to say whatever they want about my comment. I don’t begrudge people for holding opinions on whatever I say or do.”
“Let people say whatever they like when I transit. Now that I am alive, am I not being abused? Whenever I transit, let people say whatever they know or think about me. Let them say it as it is. What my maker thinks of me is what matters most,”.
OBJ thanks for confidently saying what’s on your mind. You are not like some who pretend to be good but deep down inside them they are evil
We are all hypocrites. We try to hide the misdeeds of the dead. This is against the teaching of the Bible and Quaran. All bad people in the Bible were mentioned with their offences even after their death e.g. King David’s adultery with Uriah’s wife. We are still telling the story till today.
We know that death is inevitable. Nigeria law permit freedom of expression and I think OBJ is free to express his mind. Tinubu, Fayose should learn from OBJ words instead of criticizing him.
Am with obj on this.who kashamu help.after all he never face those crimes he was accused of, instead he kept running away from Justice.He was not a good and exemplary leader.But be it as it may may his soul rest in peace
Don’t follow the crowd, Always be principle. Up OBJ. Kashamu is back to dust.