Former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has responded to the

criticisms that have trailed his controversial condolence message on
the passing of Buruji Kashamu, a former senator and leader of the
Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State.

Mr Obasanjo, in the condolence message, said late Mr Kashamu, who was
wanted in the U.S for alleged drug offences, was able to escape
justice but could not evade death.

“Senator Esho Jinadu (Buruji Kashmu) in his lifetime used the
manoeuvre of law and politics to escape from facing justice on alleged
criminal offence in Nigeria and outside Nigeria,” Mr Obasanjo said.

“But no legal, political, cultural, social or even medical manoeuvre
could stop the cold hands of death when the Creator of all of us
decides that the time is up.

“May Allah forgive his sin and accept his soul into Aljanah, and may
God grant his family and friends fortitude to bear the irreparable
loss,” he added.

Several Nigerians have attacked Mr Obasanjo for his remarks which they
say demonstrated disrespect for the dead.

A former governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose said, “He (Obasanjo)
should also remember that his own end will come too and nobody knows
how the end will be.”

Mr Fayose who took to Twitter to post his comment said the former
president was not a saint, and should, therefore, stop behaving like
one.

“Can Obasanjo say in good conscience that he did not at some point collaborate with Kashamu and most of the things he (Kashamu) did
politically were not with his collaboration?” Mr Fayose said. 

“I thought that our culture is that every fight ends once one of the
parties die?” Joe Abah, a policy analyst, said of Mr Obasanjo’s comment.

Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state and a national leader of
the All Progressives Congress, in his condolence message, said people
should be kind to the dead since everyman would die someday.