Obasanjo’s Book Sells Out, Security Agents Block Importation Of More Copies

We learned that copies of the much-anticipated and politically controversial autobiography by former President Olusegun Obasanjo have sold out a mere three days after their release on Tuesday.

“Baba [President Obasanjo] sold all the copies that were brought in,” an associate of Mr. Obasanjo’s told SaharaReporters.

The three-volume book brims with sharp criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, and former Governors Bola Tinubu, Bukola Saraki and James Ibori.

Hours before the book was scheduled to be launched last Tuesday, Buruji Kashamu, an associate of Mr. Jonathan, obtained an order from a High Court judge barring the book’s publication. But Mr. Obasanjo proceeded with the launch of the book, stating that the book was already published before the judge gave his order and that the order did not prohibit him from launching the book. Lawyers to Obasanjo have now appealed the ruling of Justice Valentine Ashi at the court of appeal in Abuja.

A source close to Mr. Obasanjo told SaharaReporters that agents of the Department of State Security (DSS) had put stumbling blocks in the way of the former president’s efforts to bring in more copies of the book.

“The SSS [an alternative name for the DSS} people have told us that they won’t allow more copies of the book into the country,” one source close to Mr. Obasanjo said.

Asked how Mr. Obasanjo had reacted to the impediments placed in his way, his aide said, “Baba expected such behavior. He is just watching them [the government] laughing.

SaharaReporters exclusively reported that the content of the book was unsparing of Mr. Jonathan, whom the former president accused of myopic vision, incompetence and weakness.

The former presidential decided to go ahead with the publication of the book despite the fact that Mr. Jonathan made a phone call to persuade him to postpone the publication and that the president sent a strong delegation to plead with Mr. Obasanjo.