WHY WE STRUCK. By Adewale Ademoyega

The earnestness and seriousness of the author here is striking; he is a very focused man, and a patriot to boot. Incredibly he hardly ever jokes throughout this book ( 250 pages-plus); but then again it is not easy to have been so close to death so many times, and be in jail for many years. Such is the lot of this intelligent author.

We know of course that he was one of the major brains behind the first military coup in Nigeria which engendered so many deaths, massacres, horrors, including the civil war. In this work he remains intensely loyal to his comrades and aides, Nzeogwu, Ifeajuna, Banjo etc. But it is clear that he has little love for Ironsi, and his assassination. He writes: "it was the dramatic end of the regime of deceit, bad faith, ambivalence, misdirection and misrulership. Ironsi's regime was a colossal failure" (pg 165)

  The author had been through a lot - as if his travails re the first coup were not enough, he finds himself involved in the Biafran war, reluctantly fighting for the rebels though he is beleaguered. And incarcerated once again. We read about the horrors and pains of imprisonment, especially hunger whilst he was trapped in Biafra and had to "manage" non-existent food.

He survives through prayers, hope, yet even after the war is over he continues to be imprisoned - later under brutal conditions. His revulsion over the execution of Ifeajuna, Banjo etc is crystal clear - allied to his shock when he learns that Nzeogwu has perished. Despite all the blood spilled in the course of these events, we find out that we retain a lot of respect for the author as an unwavering man of integrity and purpose. 

This book stands permanently as a chronicle for researchers and scholars in respect of a turbulent time in Nigerian history

BITTER-SWEET: My Life with Obasanjo By Oluremi Obasanjo

Does General "Baba" Chief Oloye Olusegun Obasanjo need any introduction? Certainly not to Nigerians, and essentially he is a renowned personality all over Africa. Military Head of State of Nigeria decades ago; then two-time President of same most populous country in Africa. He must have winced when he learnt that his first wife, Oluremi - the author of this book - was publishing a book on their life together.

This book is definitely a warts and all tale - one that would make most, especially the so-called civilised world shudder. After all, we all have our private lives and the partners in our lives know everything about us, especially our weaknesses! And mama Oluremi does not spare Baba at all here in this book!

We all know that Baba could never have been a shrinking violet, a "softie", but to learn how he's been a specialist in beating up "his" women - dishing out blows and punches and slaps liberally might not be pleasant to read. Since he had - has many wives all of them had to become punching bags of sort every now and then. And when the General really loses it, he apparently brandishes a knife and scampers after the erring woman!

As’ Africans’, many would say: "what else can one expect from a military man?"; yet considering the times we live in now (women more or less well liberated) Baba comes out looking like a monster, a serial woman abuser; a bristling, unforgiving draconian patriarch who must always have his way. Ah!

But one has to be fair. The author, Oluremi also fondly remembers how loving and caring Obasanjo was when they were very young, and starting their lives...she also benefitted a lot as an unofficial First Lady, travelling to many other countries, and garnering so many connections at the highest level.

In a country like Nigeria, such connections are priceless...and mama Oluremi can beam with satisfaction that all her children are highly educated and the top echelon connections will always remain. Incidentally, the title of this book (Bitter-sweet) is excellent and apt!!
- Eric Malome