This says much about freedom of speech/ freedom of the press in Nigeria, especially now that things are hotting up in the lead-up to the presidential elections in mid February next year. In my humble opinion President Jonathan who opines that he is the best Nigerian president ever is probably taking Olusegun Obasanjo too seriously.
The release of the book was timely since it's been said that it does the reputation of some great Ogas grievous bodily harm. The timing itself could be said to have been malicious, but we must give credit to the author Olusegun Obasanjo who has been giving ample warning / indications of his intentions and the kind of book, long in advance , as we are to surmise from his ardent criticism of Goodluck Jonathan over the past year.
Who said that the Court is usually cowardly? The problem is that now there are those who will rush to the conclusion that the court is disposed to doing Goodluck Jonathan's bidding – otherwise those most adversely affected could take the author to court for defamation of character, libel and slander, whatever. Understandably too, depending on the seriousness of the complaints, once the book is out and read/ serialized in some Nigerian or foreign newspaper, the damage would have already been done. There's no denying that. There's also the danger that the unauthorized version or versions could still become underground best sellers…
Court finds Obasanjo guilty of contempt over book launch; to rule on punishment in 21 days
Well, there was the famous case of "Publish and be damned!" but this is far from being that sort of thing.
Hadn't Doyin Okupe warned that they would not tolerate any insults to Mr. President just before this mother of all elections? Some people still do not heed his cry?
Isn't it the nature of political autobiographies even not so juicy, but still immensely readable, gentlemanly ones, such as Michael Heseltine's Life in the Jungle and Tony Blair's A Journey, that here and there they contain what others say amounts to "the most unkindest cut of all"? Inevitably, political autobiographies sometimes deliberately step on some other people's toes/ corns with the sole intention of causing maximum damage or discomfort to their foes...
Impounding the book is Mr. President's pre-emptive strike - before it becomes a runaway best seller and Mr. President himself becomes damaged goods. The fallout from the ban and the impending punish-ment could be even more devastating than the book itself...
For us who do not belong to any political class even our true stories and therefore slightly fictionalised...
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