Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is standing by her earth-shaking letter published this morning in Vanguard newspaper and reproduced by News Express as well as some other media.

“We have contrary information. We have spoken with her several times today and she’s standing by her letter. We have her on record, so it’s not a problem,” Vanguard Editor Mideno Bayagbon said when News Express called minutes ago to get his reaction to the news making the rounds that Iyabo has disowned the letter.

Asked what he made of the radio programme in which Iyabo reportedly denied writing the letter, the Vanguard Editor said: “I did not watch or listen to it, so I do not know who appeared on the programme.”

Bayagbon disclosed that that Vanguard has more on the issue, saying: “We are doing an update tomorrow.”

It would be recalled that in the 11-page explosive letter dated December 16, 2013, Senator Iyabo described retired Gen. Obasanjo as a liar, manipulator, and two-faced hypocrite determined to foist on President Goodluck Jonathan what no one would contemplate with him as president.

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo further accused her father of having an egoistic craving for power and living a life where only men of low esteem and intellect thrive.

She berated Obasanjo for orchestrating a third term for himself as president, cruelty to family members, abandonment of children and grandchildren, and also, a legendary reputation of maltreatment of women.

Iyabo told him pointblank that he does not own Nigeria and should stop deceiving himself.

From the tone of the letter, it is obvious that Iyabo, first child of the former president, strongly believes that her father ought to be in jail on account of his numerous atrocities. She started the letter titled, Open Letter to my Father with a 4th century Chinese proverb by Mencius which states: “The great man is he who does not lose his child’s heart.”

Iyabo wrote in the introductory part of the letter: “It brings me no joy to have to write this but since you started this trend of open letters I thought I would follow suit since you don’t listen to anyone anyway. The only way to reach you may be to make the public aware of some things. As a child well brought up by my long-suffering mother in Yoruba tradition, I have been reluctant to tell the truth about you but as it seems you still continue to delude yourself about the kind of person you are and I think for posterity’s sake it is time to set the records straight.”

The former senator denied any political motive for her letter. As she wrote, “This letter is not in support of President Jonathan or APC or any other group or person, but an outpouring from my soul to God. I don’t blame you for the many atrocities you have been able to get away with, Nigerians were your enablers every step of the way. People ultimately get leaders that reflect them.”

The former senator, who was provoked into writing the letter by Obasanjo’s recent 18-page letter to President Jonathan, has ruled out further communication with her father till death.

•Photo shows Senator Iyabo Obasanjo.

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