In his controversial
condolence message, the former President said the late Kashamu who was wanted
in the United States of America for alleged drug offences, was able to escape
justice but could not evade death.
Obasanjo's comment
attracted criticism from some notable Nigerians including former Governors of
Ekiti and Lagos states, Peter Ayodele Fayose and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
However in an
interview with Premium Times, the former
President said it is okay for people to mourn every death but that the living
including himself, must draw the right lessons from the lives of those who have
died.
He said;
“When I was growing
up, in our community, when anyone known with bad character died, we usually
only mourn him and bury him. No eulogy. No praise-singing.
“There is an English
saying that urges us never to talk ill of the dead. But in this case, we are not
talking ill of the dead. We are only drawing lessons from the life and history
of the dead. I am not gloating over his death. It is sad for anyone to die and
we must mourn him.
“But we must learn
from such a passage. There will be bad lessons. There will be good lessons. But
we should not just be praise-singing or eulogising the dead, especially when
there is no need to do so.
“We should not cover
up bad histories and conducts so that the right lessons can be learnt."
Obasanjo added that
he does not care about what people would say about him when he dies because he
had said the right thing about Kashamu.
The former President
added;
“As you know, I say
my mind as truthfully as I know them and in line with my convictions. People
are free to say whatever they want about my comment. I don’t begrudge people
for holding opinions on whatever I say or do.
“Let people say
whatever they like when I transit. Now that I am alive, am I not being abused?
Whenever I transit, let people say whatever they know or think about me. Let
them say it as it is. What my maker thinks of me is what matters most."
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