Autobiography: Obasanjo Reveals More

The Cable has seen portions of former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s autobiography where he addressed the issues raised against him by his estranged daughter, Iyabo Obasanjo.

Obasanjo and Iyabo in a PDP rally when the going was good

Obasanjo alleged that Iyabo was coerced by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to write the letter to him in a bid to embarrass him. The former president claimed he had been warned that the Jonathan administration was making attempts to turn two of his daughters against him and he warned them about it.

He opined that  Iyabo fell for the plans of his political enemies because of “her character” and “the influence of her mother” – who is the Owu chief’s first wife.  This is the first time the retired general is responding to his daughter’s allegations.


Obasanjo went on to write about how a “cabal” working for late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adau framed corruption charges against Iyabo while she was a senator all in a bid to get back at him for his criticisms of the Yar’Adua administration.  He wrote: “My adversaries tried other means to get to me, If Obasanjo could not be cut down to size, they must have thought, what about those close to him, including his daughter? “

He continued: “The fact that my ordeal, and that of my daughter, occurred under the administration of President Yar’Adua, who was brought into power by God through me, did not surprise me. I have always held to a belief that any person who expects commendation, praise, eulogy, or credit from any human being might die a frustrated wretch.”

He named some members of the “cabal”  which include Yar’Adua’s chief economic adviser, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, Secretary to the then federal government, Babagana Kingibe and two former governor’s Senator Bukola Saraki and James Ibori of Kwara and Delta States respectfully.