*Says mourn me the way you like when I die
The late Kashamu
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has does not care how he is mourned after his death.
According to an online medium, the former president said Nigerians can mourn him the way they like when he dies.
Obasanjo was reacting to the barrage of criticisms that has trailed his condolence letter to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State over the death of Senator Buruji Kashamu.
In his message, the former president had insinuated that the late senator was able to escape judgment over his alleged roles in drug trafficking but was unable to escape the cold hands of death.
Before his death, Kashamu was widely believed to be on the run from the United States of America for alleged drug offences. But he never faced trial.
In his defence of what he said about the deceased, Obasanjo said, “When I was growing up, in our community, when anyone known with bad character died, we usually only mourn him and bury him. No eulogy. No praise-singing.
“There is English saying that urges us never to talk ill of the dead. But in this case, we are not talking ill of the dead. We are only drawing lessons from the life and history of the dead. I am not gloating over his death. It is sad for anyone to die and we must mourn him.
“But we must learn from such a passage. There will be bad lessons. There will be good lessons. But we should not just be praise-singing or eulogising the dead, especially when there is no need to do so.
“We should not cover up bad histories and conducts so that the right lessons can be learnt. As you know, I say my mind as truthfully as I know them and in line with my convictions. People are free to say whatever they want about my comment. I don’t begrudge people for holding opinions on whatever I say or do.
“Let people say whatever they like when I transit. Now that I am alive, am I not being abused? Whenever I transit, let people say whatever they know or think about me. Let them say it as it is. What my maker thinks of me is what matters most.”
