Obasanjo's Legacy: Civil War Hero, Poor President

Apr

2007

By Ademola Bello

OBASANJO'S LEGACY: HE IS NIGERIA CIVIL WAR HERO BUT A POOR PRESIDENT

BY ADEMOLA BELLO

NEW YORK, NY

AB1126@NYU.EDU

In his novel titled "The Plague" French novelist, Playwright and thinker Albert Camus described a town called Oran this way: "What is more exceptional in our town is the difficulty one may experience there in dying. "Difficulty," perhaps, is not the right word; "discomfort" would come nearer."

How are the Nigerians doing under President Olusegun Obasanjo administration? it would be naive to suggest that our people are doing great. If you go to the street of Lagos or any other Nigerian city or town for that matter to sample the opinion of common folks; they will tell you without a doubt that life is tough perhaps miserable.

When he took over the reins of government in 1999, Nigerians didn't anticipated any miracles from Mr. Obasanjo. They're resillient people who have endured hardship during the military brutality rule. However, people have optimism that things would be better of for them and that Mr. Obasanjo would lay a solid foundation that would make the country and its people on a right path to progress.

Sadly, Nigerians are in difficulties and discomfort as things continued to get worse for the people as a result of Mr. Obasanjo so-called Economic Reforms. Poverty is on the rise! Unemployment is on the rise! House rent is on the rise! Civil-Servants salary are meager. Pensioners didn't get paid their peanuts. And there is no Economic Empowerement for the Poor. Mr. Obasanjo Economic Reforms only widen the dichotomy between the HAVES and the HAVES NOTS in Nigerian society. There are un-even scarcity of food, shelter, and clothing. there are many poorrer Nigerians today that are increasingly finding it difficult to spend twenty or thirty naira for their daily consumption.

Where do we go from here as a Nation? Supporters of Mr. Obasanjo administration would like to tell us that his government has brought real Economic reforms among other things like repaying or Rescheduling huge sums of Nigeria's foreign debts and that by fighting corruption "Epidemic" through Mr. Nuhu Ribadu led EFCC. Fine, Mr. Obasanjo deserves some commendation for these things, but the ultimate measurement of a good leader is what he is doing or has done for his people. All what Nigerian masses have been saying during the eight years of Obasanjo Presidency is that he should make life easier for them.

One other area in which Mr. Obasanjo apologists would like us to measure his success is in the usage of mobile phones across Nigerian household. Oh! my Goodness, many Nigerians now have cell phones that they've been using in calling the "business world." But I tell you this, it's a very minor success that doesn't add up to anything. It is laughable that Mr. Obasanjo is even claiming a credit for mobile phones whereas he's done nothing or little to fix up the country woeful transportation sector and terribly irregular electricity system. What about the Aviation sector? Do we have memory to remember countless Nigerians that had perished in many unprecedented Airplane crashes? Who cared anymore about them or the families they left behind? I say it one more time it's laughable that Mr. Obasanjo is claiming credit for mobile phones usage in Nigeria. It's simply a technology revolution that he couldn't stop. It's like saying President George W Bush of the United States claiming credits for IPOD and YOU TUBE.

The only thing that's cheap that people don't have to pay for in Nigeria now is death. Yes, death. People are not just dying young anyhow. They're dying untimely much younger than ever. Life expectancy in Nigeria now is thirty five. Mr. Obasanjo has failed to provide Primary Health Care for the citizens. Our Health Care Centers and Teaching Hospitals are in very bad shape with rotten facilities and unhygienic surroundings. Alas! all these things didn't seem to bother Mr. Obasanjo who has obsession for patrionizing the Western World Hospitals. It doesn't matter to him whether or not Nigeria's hospitals are well-equipped or functioning in as much as he and other members of his Kitchen Cabinet could afford to travel to Europe or North America for medical check up or treatment. This is not just a dangerous sign for our country. It's a bad omen, and a bad precedents from our leaders who ought to led by example by inspiring Nigerians to be patriotic and have faith and confidence in Nigerian hospitals and physicians.

This disturbing trend resurfaced resurfaced recently when Umaru Yar'Adua a presidential flagbearer of the ruling PDP and Mr. Obasanjo annointed successor was flown to Germany for his kidney disease ailment. It's pathetic that the person who is leading us and his annointed successor are un-ashamed of overseas treatment. Our leaders have erred. As a country we've eroded our pride and mortgaged our future.

Instead of Mr. Obasanjo to be truthful, candid, and forthcoming to Nigerians about Mr. Yar' Adua's health issues he chosed to fledge political muscle with his opponents by raining curses on those people he accused of peddling the rumors about MR. Yar' Adua demise. Cursing a political foe isn't part of the job of a President. Didn't Mr. Obasanjo realized that his political opponents are his fellow citizens and he has responsibility as the Commander in Chief for their safety. Cursing them is callous, demeaning, dishonourable, and undignified of the office of a President.

During the Second Republic we could find many good role models among Nigerian governors but not now anymore. The current system we have in Nigeria is not working, it's not even a genuine democracy in the real sense of it. It's a quasi democracy led by a President whose action and utterances is even worse than that of an Emperor. The kind of Politics currently being practised in Nigeria is not just dirty and filthy but worthless. There's no civility, no rule of law. Mr. Obasanjo should be ashamed for turning Nigeria's politics into an occupation for the adventurous barbarians where god-fatherism holds the sway.

According to the BBC article that I read in 2003, ten thousand Nigerians had died as a result of religious and ethnic strife since Mr. Obasanjo assumed office. Judging by the volatile and instability nature of our country I believe the numbers must have climbed higher than that now. Nigerians from all walks of life look up to Mr. Obasanjo for leadership and action but he has failed them miserably by not addressing the issue of religious bigotry, persecution and discrimination unleashed on Christians and other non- Muslims in Northern Nigeria. As a Muslim myself and as a person from Mr. Obasanjo home State of Ogun I'm particulary frustrated and sad about Mr. Obasanjo's weakness in tackling this issue.

Shall we talk about Mr. Obasanjo miniscule budget for education? OR the sorry state of our educational system from primary to tertiary institutions? Never mind that our schools are ill-equipped to handle the challenges of the twenty first century and our universities- we have them plenty now continue to produce half baked graduates filled with theories who cannot put their learning and knowledge into practicality. Obasanjo government lacks fore-sight and planning on education. Scrapping the Higher National Diploma (HND) is not the best way to fix up a bad education system; it only adds to the confusion. Also, attaching a University acronyms to nation top Polytechnics like Yaba Tech and Kaduna Poly adds nothing to the quality of the two schools training. Afterall, in the United States MIT is still MIT and Cal Tech is still Cal Tech.

Let's give him his due Mr. Obasanjo scored well in his mediation of regional conflicts in West Africa and Africa as a whole. Whenever, the history of a democratic and peaceful Liberia is written it won't be completed without the mentioning of Nigeria's involvement and Mr. Obasanjo's role in brokering peace.

However, Mr. Obasanjo has failed miserably in his handling of domestic crisis in his domain. For example, his weak handling of Niger-Delta conflicts where the incessant kidnappings of foreign oil workers is the order of the day. A major weak judgement of Mr. Obasanjo was his handing over of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun. A decision borne out of his selfish desire to boost his credentials for the Nobel Peace Prize that he's crazy about.

His government didn't put any real resssetlement plan in place for the indigenes of Bakassi before he ceded it over to Cameroun and that was done without consultations with Nigerians and the National Assembly. He's a President that just didn't care about those Nigerians he left behind in Bakassi amidst uncertainty and bleak future.

There's no doubt Mr. Obasanjo has his place in history as a brave soldier and the hero of the Nigeria's civil war who accepted the surrender of Biafra from Lt. Col. Effiong in the 1970. There is a parallel between him and General Ulysees Grant an American general and the eighteenth President of the United States(1869-1877) who accepted the surrender of his bold Confederate opponent Robert E. Lee. Many American historians ranked Mr. Grant very low as an undistinguished President even though he was their civil war "odysseus."

Still on Mr. Obasanjo, he would be remembered for his commitment to the liberation struggle in South Africa during his first tenure as Nigeria military Head of State in the 1970s. Also as the first African leader to visit Nelson Mandela in jail. Moreso, for his Pan- Africanism stance in the 1970s and for his advocacy of African supernatural powers in fighting the apartheid government in South Africa.

But sadly, his failed third term agenda and his bitter feud with his embattled and estranged Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is a big distraction from really accomplishing any meaningful things for Nigerians.

Mr. Obasanjo popularity among the Yorubas his kinsmen largely based in the South West has greatly eroded than ever. We the Yorubas wanted Mr. Obasanjo to be the embodiment of Yoruba IDEAS and VALUES and translate them to Nigerians through good governance that's based on fairness and equality that would make the country to be prosperous and peaceful. Alas! the reverse is the case. Mr. Obasanjo will go down in history as a poor president who has a second chance to make a difference in the lives of ordinary Nigerians but has failed again to do so.

Your Comments

Please make The Square an enjoyable experience for everyone by refraining from gratuitous ad-hominem contributions, defamatory comments and off-topic posting. Such posts will be removed.

Robot

# 1 | 01.04.2007 08:45

	OBASANJO'S LEGACY: HE IS NIGERIA CIVIL WAR HERO BUT A POOR PRESIDENT ...Read the full article.

oguzie j.j. oguzie j.j. is offline

# 2 | 01.04.2007 08:55

	Infact this Mr Bello is an overzealous pen protagonist who has no new ideas in his brain to write about. Men like him and Reuben Abati should spare us this celebral exasperation in the name of writing to be noticed.

akuluouno akuluouno is offline

# 3 | 01.04.2007 09:17

	I was trying to see the civil war Our Father fought after eight years in office where he emerged a hero, alas I did not know that it was in the ancient side of my a and m hymn book. Now let us see how our Hero would defeat the unarmed soldiers of hunger, bad road, phcn, petrol, education, food, bakassi, inadequate health care delivery, etc etc in a war. I thought once a hero always a hero? :D :D :D Well it is Palm Sunday let all Nigerians raise an ear splitting Hossanna because in a weeks time we shall all march with cudgels, broom and other arsenal to boot and shout Crucify him, Crucify Him. :smile: :smile:

Anon

# 4 | 01.04.2007 10:35

	=akuluouno;165149>I was trying to see the civil war Our Father fought after eight years in office where he emerged a hero, alas I did not know that it was in the ancient side of my a and m hymn book. Now let us see how our Hero would defeat the unarmed soldiers of hunger, bad road, phcn, petrol, education, food, bakassi, inadequate health care delivery, etc etc in a war. I thought once a hero always a hero? :D :D :D Well it is Palm Sunday let all Nigerians raise an ear splitting Hossanna because in a weeks time we shall all march with cudgels, broom and other arsenal to boot and shout Crucify him, Crucify Him. :smile: :smile: :lol: :lol: :lol: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :D :D Madam you will not kill me oh!

docokwy docokwy is offline

# 5 | 01.04.2007 13:43

	''Mr. Obasanjo popularity among the Yorubas his kinsmen largely based in the South West has greatly eroded than ever. We the Yorubas wanted Mr. Obasanjo to be the embodiment of Yoruba IDEAS and VALUES and translate them to Nigerians through good governance that's based on fairness and equality that would make the country to be prosperous and peaceful. ''. Pray, dear author, what are the Yoruba ideals? It will be interesting to know them, especially for an outsider. I wait with bated breath.

Eagleplustar Eagleplustar is offline

# 6 | 01.04.2007 13:51

	Dear Ademola, Your article is just another anti-Obasanjo commentary. But, as you can see from the few comments you've got so far (from the Igbo, of course), you messed up the article with just one item. Otherwise, you would have attracted a standing ovation usually accorded every writer of anti-Obasanjo article. Since you are a JJC contributor to the NVS, here is an advice: Whatever you write, don't ever touch on Obasanjo's role in the civil war. That is ONE major cause of hypertension to some guys here. They just can't bear to be reminded of Obasanjo's heroism in that war...it doesn't matter if it's a fact of life.

Tony

# 7 | 01.04.2007 16:24

	=Eagleplustar;165189>Dear Ademola, Your article is just another anti-Obasanjo commentary. But, as you can see from the few comments you've got so far (from the Igbo, of course), you messed up the article with just one item. Otherwise, you would have attracted a standing ovation usually accorded every writer of anti-Obasanjo article. Since you are a JJC contributor to the NVS, here is an advice: Whatever you write, don't ever touch on Obasanjo's role in the civil war. That is ONE major cause of hypertension to some guys here. They just can't bear to be reminded of Obasanjo's heroism in that war...it doesn't matter if it's a fact of life. @Eagleplustar: Go cover your head in shame. You guys from the West like to boast about something that you should actually be ashamed off. That the rest of Nigeria, Yoruba,Hausa, Fulani, Tiv, Idoma, Edo, Nupe, etc ganged up to fight only the Igbo, with an endless supply of arms from Great Britain, Russia etc while the Igbo was fighting without food and almost with their bare hands, yet Nigeria could not defeat Biafra for close to 3 years and you are hear boasting of Obasanjo being a hero. Shameless cowards. Can the Yoruba fight a combination of Igbo, Hausa and survive it for 1 month? If you know you can fight, why didnt you invite your civil-war heroes Obasanjo an co. to fight for you when June 12 elections were cancelled? Instead all the Yoruba leaders were running abroad on exile. Hero ko hero ni my yansh. By the way who would have fought for you, is it General Oladipo Diya the cowardly crying general, who was crying and begging Abacha? Germany conquered France in 2 weeks, and the whole of Europe in less than 2 months,yet you are here boasting about a war you could not win with superior numbers and superior weapons in almost 3 years. You guys are lucky, you didnt attempt to fight over June 12. The Igbo would have joined the North and other Nigerians to flog your arses, and conquer you in 2 weeks. Shameless empty noisemakers.

katampe katampe is offline

# 8 | 01.04.2007 16:53

	=Tony;165222>@Eagleplustar: Go cover your head in shame. You guys from the West like to boast about something that you should actually be ashamed off. That the rest of Nigeria, Yoruba,Hausa, Fulani, Tiv, Idoma, Edo, Nupe, etc ganged up to fight only the Igbo, with an endless supply of arms from Great Britain, Russia etc while the Igbo was fighting without food and almost with their bare hands, yet Nigeria could not defeat Biafra for close to 3 years and you are hear boasting of Obasanjo being a hero. Shameless cowards. Can the Yoruba fight a combination of Igbo, Hausa and survive it for 1 month? If you know you can fight, why didnt you invite your civil-war heroes Obasanjo an co. to fight for you when June 12 elections were cancelled? Instead all the Yoruba leaders were running abroad on exile. Hero ko hero ni my yansh. By the way who would have fought for you, is it General Oladipo Diya the cowardly crying general, who was crying and begging Abacha? Germany conquered France in 2 weeks, and the whole of Europe in less than 2 months,yet you are here boasting about a war you could not win with superior numbers and superior weapons in almost 3 years. You guys are lucky, you didnt attempt to fight over June 12. The Igbo would have joined the North and other Nigerians to flog your arses, and conquer you in 2 weeks. Shameless empty noisemakers. Hey Tony, Please tell me what will make you pleased with the Yorubas? I know for some the civil war is a living reality for some, but please tell me what is the sin of the Yorubas that weren't born before the civil war ? I think we can make our contributions productive.

Eagleplustar Eagleplustar is offline

# 9 | 01.04.2007 17:41

	Tony or whatever you called yourself, how many of you fools am I going to end up counting on this site? I just added your name to the list even though I've got a lot already! It's *****s like you who assume that Nigeria is owned by only the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. So, all you do every waking hour on the NVS is to place every article or commentary into a box...fitting Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo. What happens to the rest of us Nigerians? For your info, I'm NOT a Yoruba even though I speak the language fluently. It's always a big fun to see you and your ilk make a career out of the NVS and even keep prowling the entire internet with your paranoid minds looking for every article/commentary that doesn't favor your ethnic group. That is your wahala! If you like, go ahead and have an heart attack...better still, knock your haed on the nearest stone...for all I care, I will continue to make my commentary each time I feel like!

Metternich Metternich is offline

# 10 | 02.04.2007 00:00

	This is a fair article. The only snag is that Obasanjo is a hero. I doubt if any "real" heroes emerged from the leadership of either side. The real heroes of the war were the ordinary nameless soldiers who died fighting for something they believed in, it is the BIAFRAN women and children that starved to death under international blockade. The war is a sad reality of our history and it will help if we (especially Igbos) talk about it with deep reflection.

The conversation continues in our forum. Click here to read all comments