"Umaru started well by making all the right noises - rule of law, due process, electoral reform, bla, bla, bla and he appears to be on the right track. But if you are on the right track and you are moving but don't move fast, you will be over-run.This was a statement made by former Minister of Defense, General Theofilus Yakubu Danjuma (Rtd.) in a recent interview with a Guardian reporter last week. In his four hour interview, he went on to assert that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo (AKA Baba, OBJ) controls the nation. Danjuma asserted,"Right now, we are standing still and the handlers of Yar'Adua tell us that it is because of the court case; that after the court case, he'll start performing. I doubt it. Even if Umaru has no case, for as long as Aremu of Ota is allowed to control the party and to manipulate things, so long will the standstill continue."
"Third Term hasn't failed; we are still in Third Term. Obasanjo is still in charge. Aremu of Ota is the de-facto ruler of this country, sitting in Ota and manipulating... the government through Umaru (Yar'Adua)."
Regardless of one's opinion on this issue, I must say that I find the frankness of Danjuma's comments refreshing. My initial reaction to the first quote was laughter. Not because Danjuma is a class act comedian, but because, if I daresay, his comments reflect the way a lot of people feel. It's just that as a powerful and well-respected General, he can say what he thinks and fear little recrimination. Well, maybe. I am sure that there will be those who will attack him for his opinion.
Nevertheless, based on what I know about General Danjuma, I am quite sure that there will be no 'withdrawals' unlike Senator Aliyu did shortly after proclaiming that the National Assembly was full of 419 fraudsters. I applaud him for speaking his mind. It is never easy to do so, especially when there could be seriously negative consequences.
Oh, and let's all hope that it is indeed full steam ahead for Yardy and friends.
Hattip to Vince A. for always sending out Nigerian news and info.
Further Reading:
- Yar'Adua Holds On To Aso Rock
- Evidence & The Election Tribunal: A Response To Akin
- Nigeria: No Country for Brave Men, A Tale of Two Nuhus (Omodudu.com)

7 Curiosities. Add Yours.:
Is this the same Yaradua whose actions during the Biafran war are deemed by many as questionable?
Nigerians are too forgiving. He can as well zip it. Please come back next life.
Thanks for the shoutout.
He may yet surprise us all.
gosh, it took me 15 mins b4 being able to leave a comment
The british govt under thatcher hinted that TY Danjuma 'stole' more than even ibb, to the tune of £6b or so, so its alright for him to talk now.
Lol @ Jinta, true the man don tief and might even be as rich as Baba for all we know, but it's nice to see those who have the power to get away with little recrimination call Yar'Adua out on his inaction, since the rest of us are too unknown to hit that raw nerve with out comments.
As for his take on the third term...interesting. I am not aware of how many strings Baba is pulling behind the scenes so will wait and watch.
I think the man is sitting on his ace card...hopefully???
very refreshing.
I think he must have swallowed the truth pill early that morning or maybe na juju.
Honesty and Politics often times do not go hand in hand.
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