Obasanjo to face criminal contempt charge over new book

It has been predicted that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s new autobiography, “My Watch”, which was launched today would be sold out owing to the weight of the words it hammered on a host of political players in the country, including President Goodluck Jonathan, APC presidential hopeful and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as well as the Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South-West, Mr. Buruji Kashamu.

Now, Kashamu has threatened to sue Obasanjo over the content of the book.

He had earlier obtained an injunction to stop the former president or his agents from publishing the book, because he believed that the book criticised President Jonathan.

In a statement released on Tuesday, he said:

“I have asked my lawyers to press criminal contempt charges against him(Obasanjo) and all those who assisted him in flouting the orders of the court.

“I will ensure that they are all dragged before the court, and particularly, Obasanjo, without his cap, to show why he should not be punished for criminal contempt.”

“Everybody knows that good governance is based on the rule of law, due process and respect for constituted authorities.

“It beats my imagination that this man can be sermonising about good governance when he shamelessly advertises all the elements of bad governance.

“In short, he is bad governance personified. He is the worst advertisement for the product he is trying to advertise – good governance. He has shown that he does not have respect for the judiciary, and that he is above the law.

“Certainly, President Goodluck Jonathan and his predecessor, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, and others he criticised in the controversial book, which I am reliably informed he did not write, are made of a sterner stuff than him. They are true democrats and gentlemen to the core.”

Check out extracts from the new book: Obasanjo opens hot secrets in new book, “My Watch”