and ‘Why Buhari as Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister Respects Obasanjo So Much’

Kenny Martins, an in-law to former president Olusegun Obasanjo, in an interview with Vanguard says Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has utmost respect for Obasanjo due to a bond they formed when Buhari was Obasanjo’s minister of petroleum resources in the 80s.

“Let me reveal this to you. Sometime in 1995, just before Obasanjo was put away by Abacha, he sent me to General Buhari and he said I could buy oranges for him. I said I would buy a carton but Obasanjo said ‘no, don’t waste money, just buy six pieces and give him’

“So, when I got to General Buhari, I gave him. He called for a knife, and after it had been washed, he cut and started sucking and I became confounded; so I had to ask this question, ‘General, what is it about Obasanjo that you people treat him like a demi-god? Look at how you feel so pleased with just six oranges as if your father sent them to you’.

“He said, ‘Let me tell you why I respect the man. I was his Minister of Petroleum for three years and, during that time I was in charge of selling crude oil, I built three refineries – I can’t remember how many he said; but this man never asked me how and who was lifting crude. I just report to him regularly as was the practice at that time for the purposes of planning’.

“He said ‘the only day he ever called me was one morning. I got to work very early and the C-in-C sent for me. And when I got to Dodan barracks he asked, what has Ghana done to you? I told him Ghana was owing us some money on oil-lifting contract and I canceled it. The man asked me if it was my contract or Nigeria’s contract. Obasanjo asked me ‘What is your problem.’

 “He then told me that he knew from Obasanjo’s Afrocentric policy of that time that he did not want Ghana to suffer fuel shortage and I restored the contract. We then staggered the payment and he said that was the only time Obasanjo looked into what he was doing then as Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources.