When Former President Obasanjo Said “I am not a Miracle Worker” at 1999 Inauguration
By Prince Olalekan Olagunju
Attaining political stardom, power, iconic strides, or becoming great in any society comes in diverse ways. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR had been fortunate to rule as a Military Head of State and Civilian President in the political annals of Nigeria. According to Shakespeare, “some are born great, some achieve greatness through hard work; while some had greatness bestowed on them.” While late Professor Chinua Achebe said “looking at the king’s mouth you will think he has never suck his mother breast.” Without pejorative inclination and regardless of schools of experience Obasanjo might have passed through; his name will stand out as outstanding former Military Head of State and Civilian President like the first President of the United States of America George Washington in the renaissance or rebirth of democratic system of government in Nigeria.
God told me he would succeed
My humble relationship with the General (RTD), Chief Matthew Olusegun Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo has been in two folds. The first was telepathic in the year 1999 during his inauguration speech as a civilian President of this great and enviable nation, Nigeria. Mounting the podium, his maiden statement before reading the content of his thought provoking speech was “I am not a miracle worker.” Instantaneously, “God told me he would succeed.” The Holy Writs says “I will honour those who honour me.” As a result, I was enamored with his activities as our President and his monthly Presidential Media Chat vents used as searchlights to illuminate national issues and updates to Nigerians on the progress the administration was making.
In retrospect, some exploits (not limited) of Chief Obasanjo were advancement of communication technologies with the introduction of Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) for which most Nigerians are grateful till date. This fit has tremendously facilitated businesses, commerce and industry; and publishing, news gathering, reporting, production, dissemination and information production on broad horizon.
News gathering and reporting, an important aspect of media roles/duties through which numerous private and government agencies are earning incomes made easy with application of technology. Examples of agencies established with policy trust or mandate to gather and process news are Associated Press (AP), Agence France Presse (AFP), United Press International (UPI), Reuters, Pan African News Agency (PANA), and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Etc. Without exaggeration GSM has helped reporters, press photographers, freelance journalists and media houses to give their reports or news on Real-Time whether in Nigeria Presidency, National and State Assemblies, Governors’ offices, Airports, Sea Ports, Security Surveillances, Law Courts, Concerts, Universities Matriculation and Convocation Etc.
The Media and News Convergence has been enhanced with the coming together of various media such as radios, television, print (text), pictures, video clips Etc. on a single platform. With the assistance of the Internet, a website can present contents in text, on radio and television as well as still and motion pictures. Advancement from analogue phones, button phones such as Nokia 3310, Motorola, Ericsson and Samsung among others has led to sophisticated android and iPhones of various brands and cutting-edge functions and advantages. According to Don McKinnon, the New Media means “you can walk, talk and read the news all at the same time”. This simply means mobile delivery of information, education, entertainment and business activities.
It is interesting that the era of former President Obasanjo engendered establishment of private Universities. For instance, the Ministry of the Apostolic Faith considered the Nigerian Government’s deregulation of the education policy as a golden opportunity for the Church to participate in the upgrading of educational standards in the country, by establishing own educational institutions. In the National Policy on Education 1960 till date, Nigeria had adopted education as “Instrument per Excellence.”
Consequently, Crawford University was a bold attempt by the Church to project values of education with godliness in order to address social/ economic challenges and mitigate lacuna in the education sector.
Crawford University received operating licence from the Federal Government in 2005 as well as Ajayi Crowther University, Al-Hikma University, Al-Qalam University, Bells University of Technology, Bingham University, Caritas University and Crescent University.
Currently, Crawford University is few months (2024) shy of 20 years of her inception in 2005; while it is gratifying that the Alumni Associations in Nigeria, United Kingdom and in diaspora are projecting the godly, academic, expertise, entrepreneurship and moral values built into their systems in the course of acquiring tertiary education at Crawford.
My physical interaction with the former President Olusegun Obasanjo was Saturday 12th August, 2017 at Apostolic Faith Church, Campground, Igbesa, Ogun State, Annual Convention Concert. I was privileged as a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Special Marshal with other members of my units to lead his convoy to and fro the venue. Here, he was highly impressed with musical renditions of the choir and orchestra while he wished to sing among the heavenly host.
In his remark during the concert, he said members of Apostolic Faith Church who had worked with him no one have ever disappointed him. Saying “Jesus Christ came to the world to show us the way to salvation and eternal life. We have a good heritage and we have everything to be proud of.”
invite God into their lives collectively and individually. “We have a lot of things wrong with this country, if all Nigerians are sincere, “Nigeria can be fixed by God but we have to invite Him into our lives. What we have to do about this country is in our hands. “God’s grace abounds when we do not abuse it,” he said.
Fortunately, Crawford University was established on mantra of “Knowledge with Godliness.” With Core Values – Godliness, Intellectualism, Integrity, Entrepreneurship and Community as the Ivory Tower aspires to higher pedestal of excellence.
Olagunju writers from Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, South West Nigeria.
