The damning 11-page letter allegedly written by Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, first daughter of former President Olusegun Obsanjo, topped the list of trending topics on social media on Wednesday.
In the letter entitled “Open Letter to my Father”, which has since gone viral online, Iyabo purportedly scathingly attacked his father.
While issuing a disclaimer that the controversial letter “is not in support of President Jonathan or APC or any other group or person, but an outpouring from my soul to God”, Iyabo purportedly described his father as self-serving liar and cruel man.
The former senator’s controversial letter came barely nine days after her father slammed the President also in a letter .
But this new development has since stirred a debate online as Nigerians are divided over the authenticity or otherwise of the said letter, moreso that the alleged author of the letter is said to be away abroad.
A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who had initially taken to Twitter to deny the authenticity of the letter on behalf of Iyabo backtracked, stating that he was confused as to his initial claim.
He cited various “conflicting reports” as the reason for his sudden change of posture noting that the supposed letter by Iyabo should not sway Nigerians from demanding a reply from Jonathan on the sundry allegations leveled against the President as contained in Obasanjo’s letter.
Fani-Kayode, a former spokesperson of ex-President Obasanjo, said there was no need to start poke-nosing into the “privately family matters” of his former boss, saying he will now rely on whatever is said personally by Iyabo.
“(I) don’t know what to believe about who wrote the letter to Obasanjo published by a national newspaper anymore. Let Iyabo Obasnajo herself talk because there are conflicting reports. I am more interested in the letter that OBJ wrote to GEJ and the issues raised there than OBJ’s private family matters,” Fani-Kayode wrote on his Facebook page.
Also, a former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party, Chief Dele Momodu, expressed skepticism over the said letter. “If it is true that Iyabo Obasanjo did not pen that controversial letter to her dad, whoever did deserves a Nobel Prize in Literature!” Momodu tweeted.
A prolific Twitter user, Babatunde Rosanwo, aligned himself with the argument of Fani-Kayode and accused the Presidency of attempting to distract Nigerians from the main issues raised by Obasanjo.
He noted that the same scenario played out during the fuel subsidy scandal involving Femi Otedola and House of Representatives Committee saddled with the investigation of the alleged fraud.
He said, “There is no evidence to say Iyabo wrote the letter or not. I am simply saying it should not distract us from national issues at hand. Obasanjo wrote a letter of grave national consequences to the President, “Iyabo” wrote a letter of no such consequences to her father.
“The distraction here is the Presidency and their spin masters wanting you to follow “Iyabo” and forget about Obasanjo’s letter. This Presidency is the master of distraction. The Iyabo letter is for toddlers, it’s a simple pattern.
“The fuel subsidy era brought in Otedola to neutralise Farouk Lawan Committee report. Here too, they are bringing in Iyabo to neutralise ObJ’s letter.”
One Marian Awolowo also wrote on Facebook that the content of the said letter written by Iyabo should not be enough reason to distract Nigerians from the allegations levelled against Jonathan by Obasanjo, adding that the President needed to dignify Nigerians with a response.
Marian said, “I will urge Nigerians never to allow these few malicious evil detractors to win. It is all propaganda tools that have never gotten them anywhere apart from creating untimely death along their path.
“So Nigerians need to be awake and not be distracted,” she wrote. The Presidency has yet to respond to the allegation that it sponsored the campaign, a message on the Twitter page of the Presidential Assistant on New Media stated, “When God fights for a man, the man does not even have to lift a finger!”
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Mariam, Rosanwo and co shld STOP demanding a reply from the PRESIDENT to a man, who ca not manage his HOME.
ReplyDeleteIf IYABO can be accusing her father in this manner, I wonder what his son- whom he OBASANJO slept with his wife will say. All those supporting one MUMU YAROBA man against the PRESIDENT will be put to SHAME. Pls BABA fix Ur HOUSEHOLD before counselling GEJ on how to RULE.
Guys aunty iyabo don finally talk oh:
Delete"I Did Not Write Any Letter to My Father, IYABO OBASANJO Speaks Out! December18, 2013 IYABO OBASANJO (On Rainbow FM):
"I have never seen or heard this sort of fabrication in my entire life!
I, IYABO OBASANJO never contemplate writing a letter to my Loving Father. I speak with him almost on daily bases.
"Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo is the best father in the world. He gave birth to me, he raise me up and gave me the best of Education.
I wouldn't have achieved whatever I did without my father.
IN FACT, WHO AM I WITHOUT MY FATHER? "As a father he never disappoints his children in any way, he is a father anybody wish to have.
"If President Jonathan want to reply the letter my father wrote him, he should be man enough to reply direct.
Why are they trying to make me a scape goat?
I know my father very well and I don't question his judgement, I believe my father wrote his letter in the best interest of the nation.
If Mr. President disagree with some of the allegations in the letter, let him be man enough to talk directly to my father, he should stop involving me in an issue I know nothing about.
"How can you write a letter to insult my father and claim I, the daughter is the source.
If that is how Ijaw people insult their father, I am a Yoruba Woman; we respect our parent in all circumstances.
"I IYABO OBASANJO did not write any letter. Nigerians should please take note.
"The purported letter is a malicious lies intended to rubbish the good name of my family, when I get to the source of the letter, I will waste no time to take the necessary legal actions.
"I love my father and I never disrespect him."
El-matosky,pls watch ur mouth oh!!
ReplyDeleteel Matosky or what animalistic name do you call yourself,watch your tongue.
ReplyDeleteI have been watching you since, and you seem to lack common sense and good home training.
Why do you like attacking The Yorubas?
I cannot generalise by abusing The people of the Niger Delta,it is you that I will focus my attention on.
I doubt it if really you are a graduate at all because of the shallowness of your thinking.
You don't think straight and you have allowed sentiment to derail your senses of reasoning.
You support GEJ dogmatically,learn how to be objective.
Always act reasonably and responsibly like a graduate that you purportedly claim to be. You are being closely watched now for your uselessly and idiotic hatred for the Yorubas,whereas you make a living out the geographical zone that you so much hate.
Be careful!!! A WORD THEY SAY IS ENOUGH FOR THE WISE
Yes the reply from presidency should only be necessary if the source of the letter in the first place is morally qualified to write the letter. I will advise those nigerians who sincerely wish this country good to initiate letters to the president and should expect immediate replies. Obj is not qualified to write such a letter hence should not expect a reply. Nigeria is not OBJ's estate.
ReplyDeleteGuys aunty iyabo don finally talk oh:
ReplyDelete"I Did Not Write Any Letter to My Father, IYABO OBASANJO Speaks Out! December18, 2013 IYABO OBASANJO (On Rainbow FM):
"I have never seen or heard this sort of fabrication in my entire life!
I, IYABO OBASANJO never contemplate writing a letter to my Loving Father. I speak with him almost on daily bases.
"Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo is the best father in the world. He gave birth to me, he raise me up and gave me the best of Education.
I wouldn't have achieved whatever I did without my father.
IN FACT, WHO AM I WITHOUT MY FATHER? "As a father he never disappoints his children in any way, he is a father anybody wish to have.
"If President Jonathan want to reply the letter my father wrote him, he should be man enough to reply direct.
Why are they trying to make me a scape goat?
I know my father very well and I don't question his judgement, I believe my father wrote his letter in the best interest of the nation.
If Mr. President disagree with some of the allegations in the letter, let him be man enough to talk directly to my father, he should stop involving me in an issue I know nothing about.
"How can you write a letter to insult my father and claim I, the daughter is the source.
If that is how Ijaw people insult their father, I am a Yoruba Woman; we respect our parent in all circumstances.
"I IYABO OBASANJO did not write any letter. Nigerians should please take note.
"The purported letter is a malicious lies intended to rubbish the good name of my family, when I get to the source of the letter, I will waste no time to take the necessary legal actions.
"I love my father and I never disrespect him."
I have always say that this boy called El- matosky is a Basterd he has never contribute any thing meanihful to any discousion. Oloshi omo eran
ReplyDeleteEl Matosky, this is ur most sensible write ever..i agree with u
ReplyDeleteEl matosky rock......if u guys don't like him, then go and hug the transformer.....Mumu tribe without culture.
ReplyDeleteEl matosky is right and he rocks too.if u guys can't stand him, then go and hug the transformer. .. mumu tribe without culture.
ReplyDeleteobj oldfool
ReplyDeletefamcily affirs
ReplyDelete