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My Watch Volume 2: Political and Public Affairs
"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.
- 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.
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First published January 1, 2015
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About the author
Olusegun Obasanjo
40 books139 followersChief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo served as Nigerian President from 1999 to 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 11, 2015
I read the 3 volumes out of sequence and this was my first read and the one from which I extracted the most information and knowledge by way of the history of Nigeria, the nature of Obasanjo and why we, as Nigeria, have continued to falter. Again, in my opinion, this was the best written of the three.
This volume 2 dealt with Obasanjo's civilian presidency. In it he shone light on his vision, his strategy and his handling of his presidential "troops". Perhaps most topical of all he discussed (perhaps one may say obscured) the "3rd term issue". All told his narrative is a broad acquittal from most of the "crimes" of which he is frequently accused. Most readers will of course say that is to be expected, but what is not to be expected is that his thinking and rendition of his odyssey as president is mostly logical and does not betray the usual cant or sanctimonious sentimentalism that is rife amongst our Nigerian "leaders". No, he says it as he saw it even if some of it was as seen in hindsight. His legendary bluntness is deployed to best advantage in writing this book.
What was not very good or endearing? First of all, as in all the 3 volumes, he quotes himself in extenso. I suspect that even those of us who have not read all or any of his previous books would have rather preferred the cost or pains of acquiring them to the tedium of being forced to read copious paragraphs and chapters in rather small print and often out of context. The second problem with his literary style is that he often descends into humbug. But, that is natural territory for the know-it-all.
A book that is full of information and history. One that definitely demands a more discerning response than the accusation of "liar" that has been paraded by some and rather too widely publicised. I believe the press will acquit themselves a lot better by properly reviewing this book (after all court challenges are put to bed) than by propagating vulgarity and gratuitous offense.
This volume 2 dealt with Obasanjo's civilian presidency. In it he shone light on his vision, his strategy and his handling of his presidential "troops". Perhaps most topical of all he discussed (perhaps one may say obscured) the "3rd term issue". All told his narrative is a broad acquittal from most of the "crimes" of which he is frequently accused. Most readers will of course say that is to be expected, but what is not to be expected is that his thinking and rendition of his odyssey as president is mostly logical and does not betray the usual cant or sanctimonious sentimentalism that is rife amongst our Nigerian "leaders". No, he says it as he saw it even if some of it was as seen in hindsight. His legendary bluntness is deployed to best advantage in writing this book.
What was not very good or endearing? First of all, as in all the 3 volumes, he quotes himself in extenso. I suspect that even those of us who have not read all or any of his previous books would have rather preferred the cost or pains of acquiring them to the tedium of being forced to read copious paragraphs and chapters in rather small print and often out of context. The second problem with his literary style is that he often descends into humbug. But, that is natural territory for the know-it-all.
A book that is full of information and history. One that definitely demands a more discerning response than the accusation of "liar" that has been paraded by some and rather too widely publicised. I believe the press will acquit themselves a lot better by properly reviewing this book (after all court challenges are put to bed) than by propagating vulgarity and gratuitous offense.
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March 10, 2015MY WATCH BY OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
February 17, 2019
Good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2019
It would take you and I the believe In core values to make a a positive change. A very good read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews