A former director general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Colonel Peter Obasa (rtd), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit his retirement case with a view to restoring his military honour and get compensation.
Speaking at his book launch, titled, “House of Exile”, in Ilorin during the weekend, the octogenarian said that he had allegedly been constrained to live a stigma for 35 years.
The 81-year old retired military man, who served as NYSC DG between 1979 and 1984, said that he had received no letter of dismissal from the Army to have informed nonpayment of his entitlement, 35 years after he was compulsorily retired by the military.
Retired Colonel Obasa, who described his trial by the Supreme Military Council (SMC), headed by General Muhammadu Buhari, as illegalities of 1984, said that the SMC promulgated decrees that had retroactive effect.
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“The tribunal declared that I worked as an angel for three whole years. I would not dare compare myself with an angel but the tribunal saw angelic qualities in me for three continuous years. The tribunal declared that in the fourth year, I mysteriously, note the word, ‘mysteriously’ changed course to accepting kickbacks. The tribunal chairman read their findings so the records should be available somewhere.
“They convicted me on mysterious elements. They framed me up using a multiplicity of falsified documents, lies, and false witnesses presented into testifying against me. They literally bound my hands and feet, gagged me, and prevented me from defending myself. I was not even allowed to testify in my own defence. I was made dumb for as long as the trial lasted. I regained my liberty to speak at the end of the trial when everything had been tidied up and a pronouncement of guilt had been made. It was that bad. The tribunal agreed with me that indeed, there were elements of mystery in my case’, he said.
The House of Exile is a narrative about the author, who details his experience from July 1984 to late 1991, insisting that the truth shall prevail. He examines national issues besetting the country and suggested that the solution to the host of matters creating all forms of injuries most which he said are self-inflicted, added that Nigerians should play their game in a demonstrably honest fashion.
The tribunals of 1984, he sees as illegal structures erected on illegal foundations, saying that, “From whatever angle you survey them, they are the
height of injustice”.
The country present problems he suggested arise from dishonesty, hypocrisy and past crimes against innocent individuals.
“The book has a powerful spiritual base. It is hoped that Nigerians of all creed will find it interesting”, he said.
Meanwhile, the book reviewer, Segun Bayode, represented by Professor A.D. Olutoba said that “For history to maintain its aura of sanctity it must be preserved but unfortunately, history can also be distorted. When this happens, it is a total disservice to humanity. For this reason, the author of “House of Exile” wants to set the record straight by giving a vivid account of what led to his arrest in 1984 and the turn of events that followed up to late 1991. Noteworthy to say that up until now, only the military tribunal’s side of the story is being circulated in the media.
“Narrating the encounter during the trial by a tribunal, there were false accusations supported by a false witness just to indict the author. Unfortunately for the tribunal, their implementation didn’t work according to plan, but the tribunal still went ahead to apply veto power in getting him incarcerated.”
“The author is a lettered individual with a knack for continuous improvement. This he brought to bear in all the places he had worked. Being the kind of person that he is, the period of incarceration was also a productive time; he was able to closely monitor and examine the state of the nation, as well as proffer possible solutions. Some of the solutions are well illustrated in the book.
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“For the students of economics, it will be interesting to know that the author reeled out loads of economic data, supported by a mind-boggling comparative analysis of the impact on the state of the economy. His analysis is not complete without proffering simple easy to implement solutions.
“One of the stories I found intriguing in this book is the profile of late Sultan Abubakar Sadiq III who passed on in 1988. I never knew this story until I read this book and it is amazing to know that the Sultan was a man of impeccable dignity and a father of the nation. Although he did not occupy a visible political position in Nigeria, his de facto political influence was considerable and throughout his life, he worked towards the promotion of Nigeria’s unity.”
“What caught my attention the most is the seamless fusion of spirituality into the whole experience. The author exhibited a deep understanding of the Bible and the Quran. His ability to reference the two holy books makes him uncanny.
There is no doubt in my mind that this book has achieved the following objectives:
• To set the record straight and balance the story in the media space
• Leadership lessons to learn
• The author has also been able to pour out his heart which in itself is good for his wellbeing”, he said.
and then