The 73 yearold war veteran was the chief of staff of the highly respected and dreaded third marine commando commanded by brigadier benjamin adekunle and later general olusegun obasanjo. Ajibade, the autthor of jailed for life and what a country, also said when alabi isama read obasanjo s account of the nigerian civil war and discovered that there were so many distortion of facts, he immediately dismissed it as a tapestry of inaccuracies. Alabi isama and obasanjo eating during the civil war in 1968. Apart from brigadiergeneral godwin alabiisama who has published a rebuttal denouncing what he called obasanjos compulsive career of lying and, more recently, wole soyinka who wondered if there could ever be an end to his obasanjos capacity for infantile mischief, and for needless, mindboggling provocations, i am not aware. Brigadiergeneral godwin alabiisama, was one of the nigerian soldiers who took part in the nigeria civil war 19671970. General ipoola alani akinrinade retd, nigerias chief of army staff from october 1979 to april 1980 and chief of defence staff until 1981, will clock 80 years in october this year. Obasanjos latest book, my watch, released last week, the former president launched a blistering attack on mr. With about 500 photographs and maps, the book dwarfs all other previous publications on this subject matter in terms of depth of facts, coverage and accuracy. In all of obasanjos books, it is easy to see a man of immense ego.
Alabi isama, as the chief of staff had already controlled the atlantic coast from bonny to calabar before col. Bola ige remarks that my command is the most authoritative account written so far about the prosecution of nigerias 30month long civil war, being the first account from an insider. He had never commanded a battalion or a brigade, now he had to command a division in battle. News and thenews, alabiisama described obasanjo as an incredible liar and said that if he had read obasanjos book before it was presented in lagos last tuesday, 9 december, he would have gone to the venue to challenge obasanjo he said the tragedy of our civil war is painful, but that obasanjo is publishing fiction about it is so outrageous. His later passport gave his date of birth as 5 march 1937, although this was an estimate, and there are no records of obasanjos birthdate from the time itself. Onthespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre is a chronological narrative of the war that lasted from july 6, 1967 to january 15, 1970. With about 500 photographs and maps and facts, told with accuracy, the wellorganised and efficient third marine commandos, earlier commanded by col. The lowest point of my life is meeting obasanjo brig. Oct 29, 2015 professor soyinkas forthcoming book will not be the first book to counter the content of a book written by chief obasanjo.
Obasanjo s tissue of lies, by godwin alabi isama premium times december 16, 2014 obasanjo s tissue of lies, by godwin alabi isama 20141216t06. Oct 27, 2019 godwin alabiisama loved the soldiers starched uniforms, music, berets, jungle boots, guns and swagger sticks. Alabi isama among others, had further proved the intellectual mettle of the nigerian soldiers. Onthespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre. Alabiisama reminds us many times that obasanjo, the blundering commander of 3 marine commando division had no battle experience and had never fought at any of the three fronts of the war. A nigerian war veteran, brigadier general godwin alabiisama rtd, has said that former president olusegun obasnajos memoir of the civil war, my command, is full of errors, adding that, the. Alabi isama reminds us many times that obasanjo, the blundering commander of 3 marine commando division had no battle experience and had never fought at any of the three fronts of the war. Reminiscences with gen ipoola alani akinrinade daily trust. The tragedy of our civil war is painful, but that obasanjo is publishing fiction about it is so outrageous. News newspaper from his base in ilorin, kwara state, the retired army general, while commenting on the book, described obasanjo as an incredible liar. The nigeriabiafra war 19671970 is spectacularly presented with photographs and maps giving a lively insight into the operations of the 3 marine commandos of the nigerian army, at the atlantic theatre. The lowest point of my life is meeting obasanjo briggen. Olusegun obasanjo has 26 books on goodreads with 8148 ratings. The third part is an expose on obasanjos book, my command.
Jul 19, 20 alabi isama added that obasanjo, in my command, claimed glory for the victory even when he was not present to receive the instrument of surrender from biafra when the war ended in 1970. In his book, the tragedy of victory, brigadiergeneral godwin alabiisama wrote extensively on obasanjos appalling performance as the commander of. He said, this was the same obasanjo who published a fake federal government gazette that i. On thespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre is a detailed chronological narrative of the war that lasted from july 6, 1967 to january 15, 1970. Mar 16, 2018 in his book, the tragedy of victory, brigadiergeneral godwin alabiisama wrote extensively on obasanjos appalling performance as the commander of the 3rd marine commando division. General alabi isama is someone i have liked almost from the first time i met him. Alabi isamas account of the civil war on july 27, 20 12. Onthespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre is a detailed chronological narrative of the war that lasted from july 6, 1967 to january 15, 1970.
General godwin alabi isamas the tragedy of victory. Early life and military kindle edition by obasanjo, olusegun. News and thenews, alabi isama described obasanjo as an incredible liar and said that if he had read obasanjo s book before it was presented in lagos last tuesday, 9 december, he would have gone to the venue to challenge obasanjo he said the tragedy of our civil war is painful, but that obasanjo is publishing fiction about it is so outrageous. The first part is an account of the authors early life and his first. He has also been talking about this book for at least a couple of years now. In 1960 the two traveled on the same train for their recruitment into the military. Why wole soyinka is quarrelling with olusegun obasanjo.
When a certain brigadiergeneral godwin alabiisama tendered his willful resignation letter to the nigerian army in may 1977, general obasanjoled federal government of nigeria kept mute but when the federal republic of nigeria official gazette was published in december 1977, the selfsame alabiisama who called obasanjo a fake engineer to. Obasanjo is an incorrigible liar and a fiction writer. Matthew olusegun aremu obasanjo was born in the village of ibogunolaogun in southwest nigeria. A certain nigerian brigadier general named godwin alabiisama used 163 pages out of his 621paged book titled the tragedy of victory. Brigadier general godwin alabi isama, former chief of staff at the 3rd.
Obasanjo was a blundering general alabiisama wars end but the memories last forever. Alabi isama, who narrated how he faced persecution in the army, said his book was to celebrate others whose contributions during the war obasanjo and others. What further fascinated him as he peeped out of the window of his school, situated at oke bola, close to pa obafemi awolowos residence, was the manner the soldiers marched in locksteps. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In his book, the tragedy of victory, brigadiergeneral godwin alabiisama wrote extensively on obasanjos appalling performance as the commander of the 3rd marine commando division. Baba iyabo is the quintessential hero in every drama of his own scripting or adaptation. Right from his book, my command, a memoir about his exploits in the civil war, obasanjo blamed every commander and active officer he could remember and praised himself alone from shuwa, to alabiisama, benjamin adekunle and to even murtala mohammed, obasanjo lambasted all.
Alabiisama criticises obasanjo over his new book legit. Below is an interview alabi isama granted thenews on the war as published in the 24 june 20 edition. News and thenews, alabiisama described obasanjo as an incredible liar and said that if he had read obasanjos book before it was presented in lagos last tuesday, 9 december, he would have gone to the venue to challenge obasanjo. Onthespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre, by godwin alabiisama, from simple to challenging one will certainly be an extremely beneficial jobs that you can take to change your life. A nigerian civil war veteran, alabi isama, has reacted to details published by former president olusegun obasanjo in his new book, lambasting mr. Alabiisama added that obasanjo, in my command, claimed glory for the victory even when he was not present to receive the instrument of surrender from biafra when the war ended in 1970. Alabi isama said that if he had read obasanjo s book before it was presented in lagos last tuesday 9 december, he would have gone to the venue to challenge obasanjo. I never thought my book biafra and nigeria will be so successful godwin alabi isama. Alabi isama and obasanjo eating during the civil war in 1968 throwback photo by nobody. General ga isamas the tragedy of victory is an indepth look at the conduct of the 3rd marine commando division 3mcd during the 30 month nigerian civil war. Onthespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre by gen. Join facebook to connect with olusegun alabiisama and others you may know.
On thespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre, by godwin alabi isama, from simple to challenging one will certainly be an extremely beneficial jobs that you can take to change your life. This is the object lesson to be gleaned from a new war memoir, the. Isama as a notorious figure who was fired from the. Nigerias democracy and the obasanjo paradox the guardian. My response to olusegun obasanjos my watch by godwin alabi. The generals and their books the guardian nigeria news. The latest person to condemn the former head of state on the contents of the book is retired brigadier godwin alabi isama. Olusegun obasanjos most popular book is my watch volume 2.
The author queries why the heroes of this war for nigerian unity ended up wallowing in abject poverty, discredited by their military leaders. Alabi isama said on one occasion, obasanjo was partying while his colleagues were at the battlefront. After all, unlike alabiisama, who was a combatant soldier, obasanjo had never fired a shot in anger. On thespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre kindle edition by alabi isama, godwin. Alabiisamas account of the civil war vanguard news. Obasanjos civil war book, selfglorification exgenerals. Dec 15, 2014 my response to olusegun obasanjos my watch by godwin alabiisama im gravely pained to be trading words with general olusegun obasanjo once again on the history of nigeriabiafra war. If he isnt the originator, initiator or lead actor, hush. Alabiisama describes obasanjos personality during biafra war. A new book written by briggen godwin alabiisama rtd has dispelled tales of personal heroics recounted in former president, chief olusegun obasanjos civil war memoir, my command. Onthespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre, the tragedy of victory, godwin alabiisama, spectrum books limited, ibadan, nigeria.
Brigadiergeneral godwin alabi isama, was one of the nigerian soldiers who took part in the nigeria civil war 19671970. It puts to lie obasanjos recollections about his civil war heroics in my command. On thespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre. In this edition of the platform, sam omatseye takes on godwin alabiisama on some major national issues subscribe to our youtube. Onthespot account of the nigeriabiafra war in the atlantic theatre kindle edition by alabiisama, godwin. Although i dont like obasanjo, i believed that it would amount to intellectual dishonesty and injustice to edit alabi isama s book without reading obasanjo s book page by page and without. Like a boy sleepwalkinig, alabiisama would follow the soldiers, hoping that one day he would be like them.
Alabiisama, as the chief of staff had already controlled the atlantic coast from bonny to. My response to olusegun obasanjos my watch by godwin alabiisama im gravely pained to be trading words with general olusegun obasanjo once again on. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Alabiisama said that if he had read obasanjos book before it was presented in lagos last tuesday 9 december, he would have gone to the venue to challenge obasanjo. Opinion there is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight. Nigerian democracy and the obasanjo paradox elombah news. The tragedy of victory onthespot account of the nigeria. He also takes pains to explain with a lot of pictures and anecdotal evidence that he was the brain behind operation pincer 2 which ultimately ended that war as opposed to operation tailwind which he says olusegun obasanjo just made up to claim credit. Professor soyinkas forthcoming book will not be the first book to counter the content of a book written by chief obasanjo.
Brigadier general godwin alabi isama, former chief of staff at the 3 rd marine commando during the civil war and lieutenant general alani akinrinade, one time chief of army staff, have come a long way. Alabiisama, as the chief of staff had already controlled the atlantic coast from bonny to calabar before col. Day biafrans shot obasanjo in the buttocksgen alabi. Alabi isama tells the story of the nigerian civil war in great detail showing off his interest in military strategy, tactics and history. Books by olusegun obasanjo author of my watch volume 2. Ode to baba iyabochuks iloegbunam the street journal. Alabiisama, who narrated how he faced persecution in the army, said his book was to celebrate others whose contributions during the war obasanjo and others. Alabi isama and obasanjo eating during the civil war in. An account of the nigerian civil war, 1967 to 1970 now available at sunshine bookseller. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the tragedy of victory. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading my watch volume 1. On the nigerian side, i have not seen many books except obasanjos. The first encounter of the 3rd marine commandos, under obasanjos command, with the biafran army was at ohoba.