By Chukwudi Ede

A critical review of the system of government in Nigeria since 1960 shows a pattern of governance that is anything but democratic. Nigerians have unfortunately, endured mostly, government of the crooks, for the crooks, and by the crooks.

The event that led to the January 15, 1966 coup was a clear testimony of the depth of corruption in Tafawa Balewa’s administration. Some Nigerians were frustrated and had no choice but to take the law into their hands.

In one of Max Siollun’s articles entitled, The inside story of Nigeria’s first military coup part one, he posed this question to his readers; “So what possessed a puritanical, bible - bashing, innocent young man like Nzeogwu to murder Nigeria’s most powerful northern politician in the middle of the night?” Nzeogwu’s answer to the above question definitely represented the sentiment and frustration shared by most Nigerians at the time. He said:

“We wanted to get rid of rotten corrupt ministers, political parties, trade union and the whole clumsy apparatus of the federal system. We wanted to gun down all the bigwigs on our way. This was the only way. We could not afford to let them live if this was to work. We got some but not all. General Ironsi was to have been shot, but we were not ruthless enough. As a result he and the other compromisers were able to supplant us.”

Many Nigerians still recall how it all started. How Sir Ahmadu Bello, could have become the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, but rather passed the position to his deputy Tafawa Balewa. Bello tried to rule Nigeria by proxy. How after independence, the northern region had more seats in the parliament than two southern regions put together, to enable them perpetuate domination of vital decisions in the parliament. How “Wild West” went into tumult when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was incarcerated after convicted of treason.

Chief Samuel Akintola, a saboteur, was elected the premier of western region. The massive crackdown and the reshuffling of the upper echelons of the security establishment that followed. The inability of Lt. Col. Abogo Largema of the fourth battalion and the ruling party NPC to curb the lawlessness in the Wild West. The massive rigging, thuggery, intimidation and murder that followed the 1964 federal election. The political deadlock, scandalous election, coupled with instability in the country at that period, justified the Military Coup of January 15, 1966.

The military coup of 1966 resulted in coups and counter coups, led by several military leaders. The country was plunged into four years of civil war from July 6, 1967 to January 15, 1970. The Nigerian/Biafran war. The military ruled Nigeria from 1966 to 1979 when Obasanjo transferred power to the civilian regime of Shehu Shagari. In my own opinion, Military rules did little to advance the country into a progressive and civilized world

In Watts Michael’s article, state, oil and Agriculture in Nigeria, Berkeley 1987, he stated the following:

“During the oil boom of 1970s, Nigeria joined OPEC and billions of dollars generated by production in the oil rich Niger Delta flowed into the coffers of the Nigerian State. However, increasing corruption and graft at all levels of government squandered most of these earnings. As oil revenue fueled the rise of federal subventions to states and precariously to individuals, the Federal Government soon became the center of political struggle and center became the threshold of power in the country. As oil revenue rose, the Nigerian government created a dangerous situation as it became increasingly dependent on oil revenues and the international commodity markets for budgetary and economic concern eschewing economic stability.”

Again, corruption in the system coupled with fraudulent re-election in 1984 led to the overthrow of Shehu Shagari’s regime by Mhammadu Buhari. Buhari’s regime did not last long as it was overthrown by another Military coup led by Ibrahim Babangida in 1985.

Babangida’s reign is still vivid on our minds. This man single handedly declared null and void a free and fair election held on June 12, 1993. The result showed Moshood Kashimoawo Alawole Abiola victorious. His decision sparked some violence in the country. Abiola proclaimed himself the president in1994. He was arrested and incarcerated. Abiola later died in the prison in 1998. The violence in the country resulted in a caretaker regime headed by Ernest Shonekan until late 1993 when another heartless, brutal, and corrupt military leader, Sani Abacha staged another coup to overthrow Shonekan regime. Both Babangida and Sani Abacha regime were corrupt.

“While Babangida encouraged his friends, fans, and himself to steal money, Abacha made corruption family affairs. Money had been found in various western European countries banks traced to him. Abacha avoided coup plots by bribing army generals. Several hundred million dollars in account traced to him were unearthed in 1999.” Nigeria Lawyer: Abacha accounts apparently in Switzerland, Luxembourg, France, and Germany, AP press, January 10, 2000.

Here we go again, corruption by crooks who were supposed to be the custodians of our wealth. This is another typical example of government by crooks.

Abacha died a mysterious death in 1998. Major-General Abdulsalami Abubakar succeeded him. It was Abubakar, who opened another opportunity for a civilian government when Olusegun Obasanjo came to rule Nigeria the second time in 1999. The election that brought Obasanjo to power was deemed not free or fair by many Nigerians.

Obasanjo secured second term in office in 2003 and unwillingly relinquished office to Yar‘Adua on April 2007, after unsuccessful maneuver to win third term election. Many Nigerians and foreign observers believed Yar’Adua to be the handpicked successor of Obasanjo. Many observers described the April 2007 Presidential Election as the most corrupt, unfair, and ill conducted election in the history of Nigeria.

Obasanjo’s legacy remains a sour taste in the mouth of many Nigerians. Until this day, many Nigerians believe that Obasanjo had more opportunities, than any of his predecessors, to make indelible footprints in Nigerian history. He squandered a total of thirteen years of leadership that was devoid of military coup, and was blessed with an abundance of natural and human resources. His record remains dismal when it comes to rebuilding Nigeria infrastructure, roads, electricity, education, maintaining law and order, especially the fight against corruption. When he became President, he had only N200, 000, and after he left office, he is now worth about a trillion of naira.

EFCC, the Nigerian watchdog, is having a field day chasing and prosecuting corrupt members of Obasanjo, s cabinet, his ex-governors and politicians. If Obasanjo’s administration had instituted good policy to fight corruption in the country, those governors and politicians could have not succeeded in looting the wealth of their states, the people, and the nation with impunity. It is too late to cry when the head is off.

Obasanjo perpetrated the worst corruption of his regime by robbing the whole nation the opportunity to elect a president of their choice in the April 2007 election. He handpicked his successor, and forced Yar’Adua on the nation. That is an abomination! It was under his watch that Nigeria ranked the most corrupt country in the world by Berlin-Base Graft Watchdog Transparency International.

Yar’Adua should stay clear of corruption and appearance of any impropriety in office, after declaring his asset. Let him be conscious of the fact that not all Nigerians would like for him to succeed in his leadership because of how he came to power. Many Nigerians would like their suspicion to come true, namely, that he, Yar’Adua is not different from his predecessors. I share the same suspicion with many Nigerians who believe that the motive behind his selection is to cover illicit dealings by Obasanjo and company while he was the president.

Because Nzeogwu’s cleanup was not thorough, our subsequent leaders and politicians never learned their lessons, and we are back to square one. The crooks have mutated and evolved to be even more greedy, wicked, atrocious, and dangerous. The lesson our crime watchdogs like EFCC and ICPC should learn from Nzeogwu’s mistake cannot be over-emphasized. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu will never have a second chance to prosecute these crooks if he missed the opportunity now.

From the analysis of different administrations since 1960 after Nigerian independence, one can conclude that Nigerians have endured Government OF injustice, corruption, neglect, indecision, malarkey, mediocrity and greed. Government FOR criminals, looters, murderers, pimps, heartless, and wicked leaders. Government BY leaders like Tafawa Balawa, Gowon, Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Olusegun Obasanjo. Yar’Adua…?

There has never been true democracy for the people of Nigeria. However, it has been government of the crooks, for the crooks, and by the crooks. The big question is, how much longer will Nigerians tolerate these crooks who call themselves our leaders? What choices do we have as a people? These crooks have been emboldened by the fact that Nigerians are toothless bulldogs. We have barked, huffed, and puffed, but could not generate much steam. These crooks know our weakness, and they thrive on it.

GOD SAVE NIGERIA FOR WE ARE ALREADY BLESSED.

Robot  Villager

# 1 A critical review of the system of government in Nigeria since 1960 shows a patter...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 02.10.2007 04:58

Oghre  Villager

# 2 Brother, What you have written here can be found on the internet and on the many articles, journals and novels written daily by all and sundry. Can you propose to government and mere mortals like me ways that these issues can be redressed? If you don’t have a clue how it can be fixed why waste your time writing about it over and over again? Vicious circle, Government doesn’t have a clue how it can be fixed or they just can’t be bothered and just steal enough to feed themselves and their future generations. The average Nigerian does not have a clue how it can be fixed or are simply to scared to revolt for change. Article writers continue to highlight the problem long after books and articles on the same subject have flooded the market and cyberspace. To what end do these repetitions help moves Nigeria forward, are there any solutions we can incorporate from these write-ups to help start something of a solution? Posted by Oghre| 02.10.2007 05:48

ozoodoo  Villager

# 3 Oghre, We need people to continue to highlight the problems with a view to retaining them in our subconciousness. With time the good people among us will feel outraged enough to do something. Posted by ozoodoo| 02.10.2007 06:53

surulere007  Villager

# 4 =ozoodoo;20915839>Oghre, We need people to continue to highlight the problems with a view to retaining them in our subconciousness. With time the good people among us will feel outraged enough to do something. Solutions need to be highlighted after identifying issues of concerns. What value will it be if I retain problems on my subconscious mind if there is no solution in sight? Anybody can identify problem(s) ..only few can proffer solution(s) and that's what we need in Nigeria today. Posted by surulere007| 02.10.2007 09:04

gwappa  Villager

# 5 The solution is very simple. KILL ALL OF THEM!!! Posted by gwappa| 02.10.2007 09:11

tonsoyo  Villager

# 6 =gwappa;20915878>The solution is very simple. KILL ALL OF THEM!!! Who will bell the cat? Posted by tonsoyo| 02.10.2007 09:44

surulere007  Villager

# 7 =gwappa;20915878>The solution is very simple. KILL ALL OF THEM!!! If we throw stone in a market place, hhuuummmm, I'm afraid oku asun o ... (dem go plenti ooo) Posted by surulere007| 02.10.2007 09:47

Chief Kalu  Villager

# 8 =Oghre;20915819>Brother, What you have written here can be found on the internet and on the many articles, journals and novels written daily by all and sundry. Can you propose to government and mere mortals like me ways that these issues can be redressed? If you don’t have a clue how it can be fixed why waste your time writing about it over and over again? I am really worried about the way we write. We spend so much man hours researching on the ills of Nigerian society. Become human encyclopadea of events, past and present, without much on solutions. Tell us as well, of countries that had same problems as we have, and how they solved them. We already know our problems- brain drain, cultism, millitancy, greed, corruption etc. For God's sake can't someone do some work or think or do both, this one seems to be a more difficult task.Pleaseeee:frown: Posted by Chief Kalu| 02.10.2007 10:58

RAYNOSA  Villager

# 9 @ GWAPPA"KILL ALL OF THEM" hope you you won't start singing MARGINALIZATION when it starts from you tribe. The thing is the civillian government(POLITICIANS) have been the real enemy of NIGERIA since they have the finance and control the media,they were able to organize mass protest against the MILITARY government accusing them of the same crime they are more guilty of.Take the issue of corruption and killing of political opponent into contest,who commited more crime MILITARY or CIVILLIAN. Why are there no mass protest against these MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN AGBADA. Perhaps corruption is allowed as long as its done through a democractic process. I here by use this medium to challenge all journalists in NIGERIA in aidding these theifing civillian.Take the case of the Speakers contract scam,No NIGERIAN Newspapers have been able to establish the following 1.The names and addresses of the firms involved 2.Names of directors 3.Relationship of the directors to any member of the house(if any) 4.Date registered Reason:We all no the active role journalists and the media houses played in putting an end to MILITARY rule in NIGERIA.If NIGERIA must move foward why the sudden change of tactics by journalists afterall we all know what lead to DELE GIWA'S DEATH. Also were are all those civil right groups why the sudden death of action,If you all love NIGERIA so much why not organise the same mass protest afterall the same offence you accuse the MILITARY government of then,is still been commited by these CIVILLIAN GOVERNMENT. There is someone in the SQUARE that played an active role in the SAP riot i praise his efforts and courage. I am of the opinion that these civillian thief financed the media and civil right group to have a fair share of the LOOTING SPREE. Yes the action can start from the NVS. To start with lets identify one main project that would be of benefit to the masses say ROAD PROJECTS. Write a petition to the PRESIDENCY AND SENATE to be signed by all NIGERIANS AND LOVERS OF NIGERIA WORLD-WIDE (photographs showing the state of the road in question) Brothers and Sisters let me state that i became involved with the NVS because of the step taken in the death of the LATE OSAMUYI AIPETANYI in SPAIN.Without that action taken the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT would not have known about the death of a NIGERIAN let alone sending delegates to SPAIN.(only GOD knows how much was spent on that trip). These people in GOVERNMENT are NIGERIANS and HUMAN it is time for action if we all love our country. Enough of all these ARM CHAIR WRITTING AND CRITICS. No man is has the fountain of knowledge who ever have a solution lets have it,we have suffered for tooo long at 47 with so much wealth nothing to show for it. Thanks Posted by RAYNOSA| 02.10.2007 11:01

Chief Kalu  Villager

# 10 =RAYNOSA;20915922> @ Why are there no mass protest against these MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN AGBADA. Perhaps corruption is allowed as long as its done through a democractic process. The fear of hired assassin is the beginning of wisdom!:D:D Posted by Chief Kalu| 02.10.2007 12:33

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