Nigeria: A Message Glued to the Messenger

18 December 2013

The received wisdom is that the message should be distinguished from the messenger. Not so when an Obasanjo elects to write the President of the Federal Republic a caustic letter in which grave allegations are levied against the Commander-in-Chief. From the tone and tenor of the document, it is as if the former president has decided to give his own version of the state of the union address outside power.

In the mixed reactions to the recent letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan, the messenger should not be separated from the message, according to some observers of the polity. Hence, even those who have called on the President to respond comprehensively to the weighty issues raised by his predecessor are quick to add that similar questions could also be raised about the administration of Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007. For them, in this unusual situation, the messenger should be interrogated on the basis of his message on corruption, insecurity, breach of rules, tyranny, mismanagement of the economy, persecution of opponents etc. Take a sample.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.