25 Apr 2006 |
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| THIRD-TERM BID AND POLITICS OF DEBT REPAYMENT NIGERIA occupies about 925,000 hectares of land in West Africa. With about 140 million people, the country represents the largest Black Country in the world, and one out of every four Africans is a Nigerian. Nigeria has the largest concentration of man-power resources in Africa and remains richly endowed with natural resources such as gold, diamond, bitumen, iron, etc. There are over 240 ethnic groups in Nigeria with large number of different languages, traditions, and religions. According to late Chief Bola Ige, “the differences in the ways of life, outlook and attitude of the various nationalities are such that sometimes one could easily say that they are indeed different peoples. For example, the Hausa/Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba (the three largest nationalities) are different in language, culture and way of life as the Spaniards are different from the Germans or Greeks”. See Bola Ige’s Constitution and the problem of Nigeria. Perhaps, this explains why late Sir Ahmadu Bello (a visionary leader), said long time ago that Nigeria is too big and too important, and too many people are involved to be used as a stage for amateur administrators, or in this case, for testing the attainability of a leader’s inordinate ambition. Unfortunately for the country however, since the incursion of the military into governance in Nigeria, we have had more than a fair share of both amateur and selfish administrators and presidents who have used, or currently using the country as a stage for their ignorance, mediocrity, illegality and arrogance. Some have even used the country to settle trivial personal scores. This naturally leads us to the ongoing rumor in Nigeria about President Obasanjo’s determination to rule Nigeria for a third term (or forever if allowed). It is interesting that the president has neither publicly confirmed nor denied his intention to seek re-election despite overwhelming opposition to the idea from Nigerians, both abroad and at home. It is without doubt that the presidency initiated, and continues to fuel the speculation in the first place otherwise; the rumor would have died a natural death long time ago. Also, the use of public fund to bribe, lobby, or bulldoze the corrupt Nigerian lawmakers into amending the Constitution ( so as to pave the way for Obasanjo’s rumored ambition), certainly proves beyond doubt that Obasanjo is determined to disregard the voice of wisdom by the late Sir Ahmadu Bello. Without any doubt, Obasanjo deserves some credit for bringing little resemblance of sanity into our body polity as well as selectively persecuting corrupt political opponents for their excesses. Most important achievement of his regime could be the recent repayment of Nigeria’s burdensome debts to the Paris Club. Compared to other leaders of Nigeria in the recent past therefore, Obasanjo clearly stands out and should be praised for his efforts. Every rational thinking Nigerian should be happy about the president’s effort to at least reduce, very substantially, if not totally eliminating this great burden on the country. Because excessive debt burden is a major cog in the wheel of economic development for any nation, the debt repayment effort of the President deserves standing ovation and accolades from Lagos to Sokoto and from the Niger Delta to Maiduguri. Babangida and past Nigerian leaders (who failed to act) should hide their faces and bury their heads in shame for squandering the resources and opportunity when they were in power. Based on this singular act as well as selective persecution of the manifestly corrupt political opponents by the president, many in the Obasanjo’s rented crowd and sycophants would like to argue that the President is the only qualified living Nigerian best suited as president of the country and must be supported by everyone in his suicidal mission. Some others have even argued that the Otta farmer has neither openly confirmed the intention nor expressed the desire to further elongate his tenure in office. To these people therefore, every voice of reason and wisdom from well meaning Nigerians against OBJ’s third-term are misplaced. Yet, a few of my tribesmen have argued passionately of the need for all Yorubas to support the near criminal ambition of the President. Their reason is that we have been marginalized for too long in the past by our brothers from the North. Alternative reason is that nobody knows when next, if ever, the Yorubas will have the golden opportunity to produce another president for the country. Therefore we need to support him in his quest for an illegal third term. Apparently these people have forgotten that Nigeria is bigger than anyone individual, and that average an Nigerian, given the opportunity, is prepared to make country work. They will also elect whoever they consider the best candidate for the highest office at anytime irrespective of tribal or religious background. Nigerians voted massively for Late MKO Abiola, knowing fully well that he was a Yoruba man. Late Musa Y’adua defeated Lateef Jakande twice in Lagos State election and won convincingly in all major Yoruba towns before IBB, in his usual disruptive manner, cancelled everything and brought MKO into the race. I also remember that there were notable and credible NADECO members from the East and the North who risked their lives seeking redress and justice from the unjust annulment of June 12 election. The search for justice and clamor for MKO Abiola’s recognition as the elected representative of Nigerians did not start and end in Ogun State but supported by every Nigerian in our demonstration of Nigerian unity. Having praised the president so much for getting some burden off our back, Obasanjo’s timing and motive for repaying Nigeria’s debt remain suspect and questionable. Is it part of the grand design to further harass, intimidate or discredit other potential political opponents of the president (of which IBB is one)? Or one that is simply calculated to curry favorable rating of Obasanjo in the eyes of western powers that have voiced, or in the process of voicing their opposition to the president’s third-term bid? A typical move of every sit-tight ruler is to appease the international community when faced with mounting opposition at home. Obasanjo appears to have perfected the arts of intimidation and harassment of political opponents while rewarding his praise singers. Sensing little or no credible opposition to his third-term bid within the corrupt Nigerian political class, Obasanjo has now shifted his attention to the international community. Apparently, the president’s strategy is, if you cannot intimidate or harass the international community, you can at least make them look the other way while you continue your destructive, sit- tight agenda at home. Something spectacular must therefore be done to impress the international community. OBJ ensured that Nigeria’s debts, to the Paris Club were fully paid as agreed. The repayment yielded instant dividend for the President as probably expected. The members of the Paris Club are very pleased with the President for now. Some other countries already see Obasanjo as an economic pragmatist who is truly interested in attracting foreign investments into the largest black African Country. Every creditor nation or institute loves to see a responsible president in office to at least guarantee the repayment of their borrowed funds. Many of these countries and powers would ordinarily therefore close their eyes to Obasanjo’s egregious behaviors, brute manipulation of our Constitution, or at least, look the other way if and when Nigerians become victims of Obasanjo’s ambition. Whatever the case, although we respect the president’s effort on this vital economic issue, it is submitted that this does not, and cannot confer any inch of legitimacy or acceptance on the president’s desire to perpetuate himself in office forever. Nigerians must therefore be prepared to reject this singular act as unacceptable reason to tolerate or even consider his third-term bid. President Clinton’s record of lowest unemployment and greatest surplus in the history of USA was not enough for him or anyone to suggest amending the United State Constitution to allow the Arkansas orator to continue perpetually in office as President. Under president Obasanjo, Nigeria is a paradox of abundance. Up till today, the country remains world’s 5th largest producer of petroleum and vital member of OPEC. But despite all the God-given human and natural resources, the country is one of the poorest in the world. The per capita income, under president Obasanjo disgracefully stands under One dollar ($1.00). Corruption continues unabated, except for a few outspoken opponents of the president who are randomly selected and persecuted; the safety of lives and property cannot be guaranteed, good roads and drinkable water remain unavailable to large sections of Nigerian community, the daily cry of the oil-rich minorities for a fairer share of national resources and development remain ignored, while the judiciary is largely corrupt, inefficient and under political influence of the executive. Despite these terrifying statistics and realities, our president maintains criminal silence over his true intentions, continues to fuel speculations, and moves the country dangerously closer, on a daily basis, towards avoidable calamities. What could be the inspiration for yet another Nigerian leader to embark on the same destructive road earlier followed by past leaders without success? General Yakubu Gowon tried and failed. IBB tried it and failed. Sanni Abacha, the most brutal of them, tried but lost his life. President Obasanjo occupies a truly unique position in Nigerian history and survival. He has fought, and risked his life for the country in the past. He could rightly be called “Mr. Lucky”, in every sense of the word. But in the words of Late Nmamdi Azikwe (true patriot and elder Statesman), we should never consider a man “lucky” until we see the end. How Nigerians will finally refer to Obasanjo depends essentially on the way he chose to end his reign over Nigeria. A man of honor, or a person that puts self-interest before the whole Country ? Only time will tell. But for crying out loud, this writer believes that Obasanjo must not be allowed a third-term. By: Akinwole Ogunlola Esq. Chicago, USA April 25, 2006
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