The military coup in Nigeria in 1966 was incited by foreign interests. Their governments found it very difficult to manipulate our well-educated, nationalist politicians.
So, to enable to continue with their policies in Nigeria, they orchestrated the overthrow of our democratically elected government.
The damage military rule did to Nigeria is irredeemable till time indefinite. The military became populated with officers, who jumped ranks and some had to jump out of the army.
Early retirements led to ex-military men getting into political governance and into jobs they were neither educated in nor suitable to hold.
The most notorious case was General Olusegun Obasanjo’s inexplicable, vaulting ambition, “not made of a sterner stuff” to be Secretary-General of the United Nations Organisation.
When General Ibrahim was the Military Head of State, I applied to become the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Foreign Minister General Ike Nwachukwu invited me to his official residence, through Dr. George Obiozor. I affirmed my interest and suitability.
I was later told that General Ibrahim Babangida had nominated General Olusegun Obasanjo, as Nigeria’s candidate, as a mark of respect and espirit de corps. It was an inexpedient, but wrong decision.
When General Obasanjo’ candidacy was discussed, the Security Council decided that they “needed a Secretary, NOT a General”
In 2001, the vacancy for the post of the Secretary- General of the UN was advertised. I again applied because I was sure in my judgment about my qualifications, relevancy and suitability for the job.
I sent my application through the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the President of the United Nations Security Council for consideration.
In 2001, I was on sabbatical leave . Mr. Anyim Pius Anyim, who just became the Senate President, had invited me to produce some manuscripts for him.
On April 17, 2001, I travelled to my University, Great Ife, to do some research for the books I was going to write for the Senate President.
On April 23, 2001, I returned from Ife to Abuja. At about 1.30 am, Pius phoned me, saying that he had an urgent message from one Col Goomsu, who wrote from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the President on behalf of President Obasanjo. The letter, dated April 19, 2001, was intimidating but meaningless.
The letter informed the Senate President, that a Nigerian, Dr. Emmanuel Omoh Esiemokhai, had applied for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The letter said that the Federal Government has endorsed Kofi Annan.
I told the Senate President that I had applied for the post, when Olusegun Obasanjo also applied, when Babangida was Military President.
I told Pius that the United Nation’s post is not a ministerial appointment, to which the president could appoint people he endorsed.
I told Anyim that I specialize in law, International Law and Diplomacy, had attended The Hague Academy of International law, and had lectured in the Law of the United Nations in the five continents and had written extensively about the United Nations, since 1968
That I AM LISTED IN WHO IS WHO IN THE WORLD {1997} and WHO IS WHO IN AFRICA {1974}.
I am listed as Cambridge Man of the Year 1997.
A good and well-informed National Security Adviser should have placed these facts before the President, whose national pride, should have overcome the TROJAN HORSE.
Then I recalled and sang the song about a jealous heart.
A rational attitude by a polished person would have been to examine the merits of my application and invite me to explain his subjective endorsement of a non-Nigerian, who is an economist and who came with an irresistible Trojan horse, whose galloping skills, we cannot disclose.
I then swore to an AFFIDAVIT at an Abuja High Court, declaring that an aspiration was not a criminal offence, nor a National Security issue. I expressed my position firmly in 46 paragraphs.
I went and presented the AFFIDAVIT to Anyim Pius Anyim, for onward dispatch to the National Security Adviser for forwarding to the President.
I published the story in my book, IRAQ: The New Carthage; International Law and Diplomacy in the Iraqi Crisis at pages 145-153. The book was requested by the Library of Congress.
A good source told me that in 2001, President Obasanjo instructed the security services to comb through my file at OAU, Ife.They did and found nothing but excellence induced by hard work, no bribe-taking, dutiful attitude to intellectualism, not control and manipulation.
Recently, at the celebration of Chief Afe Babalola’s 50th Anniversary as a legal practitioner, Olusegun Obasanjo sang that he has “decided to follow JESUS”
I wonder who he had been following all these years. I hope there will be no turning back. eesiemokhai@yahoo.com
Those in transient power, which must come to end, one day, should be reminded of their noble or ignoble acts.
