SaharaReporters has 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.
Cover of former President Olusegun
Obasanjo's book
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.
http://saharareporters.com/2014/12/11/obasanjo’s-book-sells-out-security-agents-block-importation-more-copies
