Although retired, he is not tired of research and writing. John Iliffe’s latest book out of retirement is an unsolicited biography of one of the enigmas of modern Nigerian history. The good thing about the book is that Iliffe has presented an objective weaving of many secondary sources available to us. For most writers, it may be diffıcult to turn “good journalism” and “lively Nigerian political press” into an informative and readable book (ix). However, his reliance on Obasanjo’s critics and supporters, and metropolitan records in England and the United States without oral interviews with him and close associates (e.g., Aare Afe Babalola) limits the comprehensiveness of the analysis and the historical objectivity. A good example is the Oshiomole/labor union threat and blockage of the airport tarmac, which ended with “Mr. Fix-It” (Aare Afe Babalola) litigation that brought about a speedy resolution and a victory for Obasanjo. Although Iliffe may be right that “many sources needed fo...
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