Gbenga Oke
12 November 2008
FRIENDS, families and well wishers of Mrs Oluremi Obasanjo, first wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, gathered yesterday in Lagos to launch the book written by her entitled "Bitter Sweet": My Life with Obasanjo.
The book, which talks of the life and times of Chief Obasanjo and his wife, Remi, their relationship, gives an insight to what led to the dissolution of the marriage.
Speaking at the event, reviewer of the book, Mr Sully Abu stated that anything written about ex president Obasanjo is always very controversial and volatile.
He said: "A book on Obasanjo is always controversial and volatile and after my encounter with him in Harare, I have always known him to be a temperamental person because if he had a gun that particular day, he could have put the trigger on my head".
According to the reviewer, "the author portrays Obasanjo as a kind soul, a romantic person, a loving husband and a man with ability to survive all intrigues".
Aside, Abu pointed out that "having been a loving husband and father, all of a sudden Obasanjo turned round to another specie, a temperamental husband who is no more loving and caring."
However, Mr Lanre Idowu of the Diamond Publications, publishers of "Bitter Sweet" explained that the book transcends to gender appeal at home and abroad.
"This story is a story of hatred and love, brutality and wife battering, expectation of love and betrayal and a life of a mother and wife and it is a story that took Diamond publishers 2 years before going to the press."
Commending Chief Oluremi Obasanjo for a job well-done, Idowu explains "She has done something highly commendable by putting pen to paper to write this book and we consider this publication as very crucial and we urge people and citizens of this country to put down their experiences because nothing beats putting together ideas and exchanging ideas".
Speaking at the event, the author of the book, Chief Oluremi Obasanjo gave thanks to God for sparing her life to write the book.
Her words "It is by God's grace that made it possible for this book to be published and I also give thanks to people who stood by me in the struggle, people like late Alhaja Simbiat Abiola, Bisi Onabanjo, Yomi Akintunde, Olorogun Michael Ibru, Senator Felix Ibru, Goodie Ibru, Olu Akinkugbe who are all dead now".
Further she stated "I also thank ex President Obasanjo for coming to my life, without his coming to my life, this story would not have existed, but I appreciate God that I lived to tell the story".
On why she wrote "Bitter Sweet", she explained "This book was written for me to share my experience with the reading public and to make people realize that I was innocent on many issues and it is important to share the experience with others for them to learn from my situation".
"I see the writing of this book as my fundamental human right" she added.
She however argued that the writing of the book is not out to torment or afflict anybody, she stated "I do not write this book to attack anybody or to talk negatively about anybody, I only told the truth, but I challenge anybody with contrary story should come out to challenge me or write his/her own just as she added that "what I have learnt so far is that all that glitters is not gold".
Urging Nigerians to also share their various experiences with other people, Chief Oluremi Obasanjo said "Nigerians should know more our leaders more than what we see outside and they should also put their experiences into papers so that others can learn".
Various dignitaries that graced the event includes, Mrs Busola Akande, one of the author's daughter, Yinka Akinlawon, brother to the author, Titi Olowokere, the authors sister, Professor Tam David West, Chief Duro Onabule, Dr Segun Akinolugbade, Professor Patrick Aina, Mr Ben Lawrence, Eddy Aderinokun, Barrister Dapo Fashanu, Mr Kunle Ajibade, Mr Muyiwa Adetiba, Soji Omotunde, amongst others.
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