In a candid statement reflecting growing concern among political observers, Honourable Comrade Onifade has publicly advised former President Olusegun Obasanjo to fully retire from active politics and refrain from interference in the personal and political matters of other leaders.
The counsel comes as a measured caution wrapped in wisdom, suggesting that at Obasanjo’s stage of life and political journey, the time has arrived for him to embrace the dignified position of an elder statesman rather than continue wading into contemporary political affairs.
A CAUTIONARY TALE: THE FAYOSE INCIDENT
Onifade’s counsel is further underscored by reference to a telling incident involving former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose. In a public show of displeasure at a birthday celebration, Obasanjo visibly raised his anger and made his grievances known, transforming what should have been a moment of celebration into a platform for airing personal discord.
The incident revealed a troubling lapse in judgment. As Onifade pointedly noted: “Someone who invited you, even if he offended you, you should not brought your anger and grievances to his birthday celebration. That is not good enough and shows a lack of maturity befitting an elder.”
What followed was equally significant after the birthday event, Fayose maintained a dignified silence and did not publicly respond to the affront.
This restraint, in sharp contrast to Obasanjo’s display, became a clear indication of how one’s reputation and personality can be washed down in the mud through such unguarded moments.
THE BROADER PATTERN OF EMBARRASSMENT
These incidents are not isolated occurrences. Rather, they paint a picture of a former president increasingly finding himself at the center of embarrassment and disgrace coming “from both left and right”, a telling phrase suggesting that criticism of Obasanjo’s continued interference spans across the political spectrum.
“He is not the only one who has been at the helm of affairs of this nation’s politics,” Onifade emphasized, adding weight to a fundamental truth: “He will never be the last.”
THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE
“By now, he should have retired from anything called politics,” Onifade stated, emphasizing that strategic political withdrawal at the appropriate moment is a mark of true statesmanship rather than weakness.
The observation carries particular weight given that recent incidents—notably Alhaja Titi Atiku Abubakar’s public warning to Obasanjo to stay clear of her husband’s personal and political matters, suggest that careful restraint may no longer be guiding the former president’s actions.
As Nigeria moves toward the 2027 presidential election cycle, the tension between active political participation and respected elder statesmanship continues to define legacy and influence among the nation’s senior political figures.
THE LESSON FOR LEADERS
The broader message resonates across Nigeria’s political landscape: true power and respect in one’s twilight years often comes not from continued meddling in affairs, but from the wisdom to know when to let go.
