My Watch Volume 1: Early Life and Military

by Olusegun Obasanjo

"During his watch, a watchman has no sleep and no respite."
- Olusegun Obasanjo
Following in the steps of his previous memoirs, My Command and Not My Will, Olusegun Obasanjo's My Watch is more than the story of the Obasanjo presidency told by the man himself. It is a memoir of a lifetime spent in service to country, of a man who has been destined with the watch, with the vigilance, with the responsibility to his people to speak up and speak out.
My Watch spans large expanses of time, from the pre-colonial Owu history, to early Abeokuta and the last throes of an independent city state at turn-of-the-century colonial Nigeria, to the early life of its author, his civil war experience, his stewardship of the transitional government of 1976-1979, the interregnum, his second appearance on the national scene as a civilian president on Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999, the completion of the first civilian-civilian transfer of government in Nigeria's history that inaugurated the Yar'Adua presidency and signalled the end of Obasanjo's tenure in office, and the years hence.
Presented in three volumes, this exquisitely narrated memoir, in turns intensely personal and broadly nationalistic and international, completes a trilogy of autobiographies—My Command, Not My Will, and My Watch—told by this sojourner of Nigerian and world history.

Genres: Politics, Nigeria, Biography

997 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 13, 2015

About the author

Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo served as Nigerian President from 1999 to 2007.

Reviews

[Adebayo Oyagbola · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the last I read of the three volumes. Other than for the author's birth and education before the army, this was little more than a compilation of subjects that had been dealt with in his previous books. On the original subjects raised and discussed, including the unknown date of birth and the various military trainings around the world, none was, to me, compelling enough to be in the biography of a significant leader and driver of the fortunes of Africa over the last 30 years and more. Perhaps that is why this book had to be in three volumes.

[OLASEMO OLADIPO A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Read

This is a very inspiring story of grass to grace to grass and then grace again. Can't wait to read volume 2.

[Jiru Bako · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical OBJ

I liked the simplicity of the book which made reading it easy. I will recommend it to all nationalists and students

[Bolaji]

Nice insight

[Olufemi Oladipo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography many have recommended for digestion.

[Joshua Ogbonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ex-President Obasanjo's My Watch Volume 1 is a leading way into a needed series of details by an experienced national leader. I am often at loggerheads with his self-adulatory style, but you can't deface or totally discount his experience as both a military and democratic leader in Nigeria.
The text provides a rich historical background with interesting lessons for future leaders and a point of sober reflection for younger and would-be leaders in the near future. I strongly hope that people pay attention to what he has said throughout this volume. It is also a concerted call for leaders to document their experiences in/with power.

[Yewande Akeredolu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autobiographies bore me out but this was fun to read. The writing style was very simple. Loved it.

[Ejere Ejere]

the book is good

[Paddyololade]

Masterpiece

[Jimada]

It's an eye opener for the new generation of what Nigeria governance has been like

[Hanafi]

So impressive and courageous to read and understand. Motivated and it's gives the reader an opportunity, bold and eager to keep hope on any current situation he is. My watch is not just a book to read but a moderator to guide