David Eboh

Like a dream, we finally have a president that became a first deservedly qualified academic graduate to lead the country. That made us proud and could visualise a Nigerian leader on the world stage radiating intellectual diplomacy while at home he will mean what he says about dignity and empowerment of his citizens. We had full hope that the ill cultures, attitudes and beliefs dominating and shaping our mistrust, superstition and unpatriotism would be addressed, so that every citizen will have real ownership of the country. We thought of a nation where everyone will have unrestricted access to quality public education, public healthcare, pipe borne water supply, good road and managed public transportation network. We did not doubt that the artificially erected bar which divides the’ haves’ from ‘never to have’ the goods of the country will be removed so that every home will have institutionalized electricity supply against the disparate noise and air polluting generating plants of all shapes and sizes scattered across each house and each rooms in multi-tenant occupant houses. We anticipated that the man will be successful in creating genuine commercial environment and business entrepreneurship that would bring about new opportunity for Nigerians to own their houses through housing market and mortgaging.

 Many Nigerians are still looking forward to when our full fledge civilian leader will rise to the challenges in the country and start translating the 7 points rhetoric into practical realities as early days and years are gradually progressing into early calls for second term.

After, much criticism, arguments, debates and law suits, it looks like the president is settling down to the business of the country. The beginning was no doubt difficult considering the huge variations of conflicting advice, opinions and information flowing from across the sea of idiots and bigots, religious and regional fundamentalists, thieves and chiefs, traditional rulers and spiritual healers, obas, alhajis, alhajas and alamajiris, human right defenders and human being mass executioners, the educated fools and illiterate wise.

Furthermore, as it was not out of a personal ambition, accepting and rejecting any advice or opinion was difficult as there was no prior developed agenda on which priorities was set from the outset and for career strategists to have been conceived for taking on the roles of civil governance. This is part of the reasons wrong people could be pushed into wrong positions by the old blocks of influencers who retain responsibilities for keeping the entire nation in chronic state of chaos. They call themselves the ‘power brokers’

It is therefore not difficult to identify why the initial descriptions like, ‘Mr Go Slow’ and later ‘Mr Hold-up’. This is against the speed and flow of traffic envisaged by many proactive Nigerians who anticipated that President Yar’adua would steady and run on the track well carved out by his predecessor, having taken the bull by the horn in treading the places that the devil dared. The entire population came to become more aware of the issues of corruption, due process, accountability and siphoning public money to overseas. At that time, there were two angles of debate; one for ‘selective prosecution’ and not complying with the rule of law and another in favour of government actions arguing that next government (Yaradua) should apply the rule of law and bring everyone to justice. Sadly, that was not to be. Everything got slowed down and eventually halted as the master craftsmen stayed by the drawing board planning how to revert the polity to pre-Obasanjo Nigerians approach to jungle life.  

It is obvious that those that pays the piper detects the tune and those for whom the chaos favours prefer that nothing changes and the country remain frozen in the pre-colonial primitive state of inferiority and subjective slave attitude so as to enhance the current class divide and human-gods that are worshipped by zombies; all for crumbs that fall off the devils’ dirty bins.

The starting point for viewing the commitment of President Yar’adua to any national development legacies that would correspond with his seven point agenda is sustaining chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for the cancer of corruption. That line of treatment may have been relegated for a different option following demolition of the straw house of the EFCC against the will of the majority who expected reinforcement with brick wall. Now the case files of those that were awaiting the pronouncement of the courts, either of guilty or innocent verdicts as justice may demand may have been discarded in secret holes where recovery will be impossible. So instead of the brick reinforcement of EFCC straw house, Nigerians had a detached roof and opened doors.

Surprisingly, the champions of national hope and integrity were sacrificed at the pleasure of the arrogant, inconsiderable and greedy lions and tigers. The press (not necessarily editorial comments) had meals day writing about the failures of the EFCC under Ribadu, making it easier to throw away the baby and the bath water. Even the well respected Mike Ozekhome failed to distinguish between intention, action and outcome when he commented on the exit of Ribadu from office. EFCC is now in a struggle to conserve its reputation against a popular belief that it is an institution with the characteristic of anaconda that only has the strength to swallow minute rodents. The taking on of Halliburton is a play to the gallery, as the Nigerian agents that propelled the way for the American company to succeed in its corrupt activities in the country are very much around in full force of power and influence to ensure that nothing happens.  Corruption has been refrozen to its original status quo where governance is primarily designed to serve the interest of club members, cliques and cult/society members. As usual, decisions are made not by those with the public responsibility to make them, but by people from their bedrooms and by telephone calls. Nigeria has a ministry of justice with ministers of injustice; commissioners without clear idea and discretion of what to commission. We continue to abandon old projects in favour of starting new ones, ignore a woman in labour to assist the ‘man suffering from constipation, prosecute and execute the innocent and worship/praise the criminals; we ignore wise ideas of our citizens and welcome the destructive advice of those that has no interest of our country at heart.

Mr President’s 7 points agenda has been on air for almost two years. He has shown character as football managers would always say after managing to win or draw in badly played games. His vision and commitment to free and fair election was welcomed both at home and abroad. His reiteration of rebranding the nation’s image to one of electoral excellence was one of evidences that silenced the critiques who were reassured by the fact that a man so displeased about his discredited rise to power will clean up the process to ensure that victory will only be achieved with pride and dignity and no longer by intimidation, assassination/murder, flow of money from the rivers of blood, evil 419 and other criminality. Nigerians were hopeful when men/women of honour were appointed into the ‘electoral reform committee to review and recommend options for achieving the electoral excellence, a vision of the president and a fundamental part of the 7 points agenda.

The recommendation of Chief Justice Uweis Committee, was described by the media and people across boundaries as well researched, well structured and appropriately drafted with a long term vision set to accommodate electoral challenges in hundreds of years to come. The electoral reform recommendations have turned on its meaning and against the citizens’ perception of what President Yar’adua’s point stood for. This follows the information that the recommendation by the electoral reform committee has been redrafted and the national assembly will have to endorse or take a completely different view that might reassure the public of what they stand for as their representative in their citizens’ contract with the nation state.  There is a growing concern that those supporting the redrafted version only thinks of party victory against national interest. The question is; shall we deliberately head on to a one party state that might one day result in the installation of a civilian dictator in power? What if the table turns against those currently championing that course, will they bury their heads like the ‘proverbial ostrich’? If the political platform and electoral process in USA were designed to satisfy those that drafted or developed the system, Obama would not have risen to the position of President and Hilary Clinton would not have run for that office. We must be careful of the judgement we give today for it could be the precedent that determines our fate tomorrow

Nigerians are watching to see whether party politics will prevail against national interest and common sense. This is the time to isolate the men and women of honour from others already dishonoured from the start but yet cheated their way to occupy highly sensitive seat in the national houses of honour. Everything will be critically analysed; from intellectual reasoning, engagement and selfless commitment. Equity and fairness demands that Electoral commission should be independent of any external influences, and funding for the commission should be statutory and recurrent at the level of inflation. A party to a case cannot sit in judgement of that case; otherwise injustice will certainly smell irrespective of whether justice was done. Electoral Commission cannot and must not be subjective to the authority of the Executive arm of government under the President who at party level is loyal to his political party.

Another point in the 7 points agenda is power sector. The initial probe headed by Ndudi Elumelu was greeted with mix feelings.  One was whether it was necessary and would produce any outcome. The other was whether any outcome and recommendations would be followed up to a logical conclusion. In general, many believed that it was one of the usual political dramas played out on TV screens, with much emphasis but little commitment from those that set up the committees. People are still waiting for the full publication of ‘Justice Oputa Panel Report’. While there is nothing wrong with probes or inquiries that is primarily aimed to provide learning from past experiences, there is very serious concern about the reasons why this type of national important projects are set up. For the ‘power probe’, there are segment of the society whose sole motive was more about embarrassing ex-president Obasanjo against the need for developing the electricity project to serve the entire people of Nigeria. It is relevant to highlight here that many of those interested in the probe have the major right of importation and supply of electricity generating plants across the country.

 It is also important to consider the probe of the power sector in line with the persecution of the former chairman of the EFCC and draw your conclusion on what different people stand for on the most important things that millions of Nigerians like every ordinary normal human beings across the world most desires. The probe arising from power sector sold papers and attracted more television viewers. After completion, the report is yet to be published and for majority of the population interested in how public resources are used, it is displeasing to observe the repeat of activities like this again and again, making the citizens look all the time like fools.

Ex-president Obasanjo is on regular international mission representing Nigeria and Africa. Despite his limitations, instead of supporting him as a Nigerian representing our national and regional interest, few with loud voice despises him and so invites ridicule to our dear nation. The power probe looks more like a farce as those that accused him of different things are more reluctant to consider the options for moving the country above self-ego, selfishness and personal greed.  It is obvious that after all the talk of ‘smoking gun’ there is no delivery of electricity generation in respect of the seven points agenda.

Safety and security did reflect in the president’s priority list. The greatest health and safety risk in Nigeria is the road and transportation system, which inevitably creates opportunities for robbers, muggers and kidnappers. For the poor that has no alternative choice e.g., of travelling from Lagos to Benin City, 8 – 10 hours will be reserved for the journey with prayers that they will get through all the police checkpoints at each 2 kilometres at any point where the road makes vehicles difficult to drive safely and smoothly. Bad roads are source of blessing for the thieves, the Nigerian Police and beggars. Yet Nigerians are aware of the report that well over N300 billion was budgeted during Obasnajo’s time for the repair and maintenance of federal roads. There is a current Minister of Road and Transportation and nobody is asking questions about what happened to that budget and why Nigeria roads remain abandoned with arrogant neglect. Why should they be allowed to travel by flight over the states while the millions with stake on the public fund paying for those jets are left to perpetual suffering in the heat and extremely death-trapped roads?

Health and education also featured on the 7 points agenda. The primary questions to ask are, do Nigeria identify itself as (1) capitalist economy? (2) social-welfare state? (3) democratic dictatorship? (4) none of the above? (5) all of the above? 

If the country operates capitalist economy, there is no reputable service or manufacturing industries to support that argument. The political climate does not promote genuine capitalism. If one thinks it is social-welfarism, why are children dropping out of schools because public education system is almost completely destroyed in favour of privately owned ones; and why is the healthcare system out of the reach of the ordinary people? Political rhetoric takes centre stage with realities in shadow form. What is 7 points political promise when Nigerians are dying at an average age of 48 years and children before their 5^th birth days? Why are hospitals and healthcare institutions still being managed the same way it was 50 years ago? The rest of the world search for people with leadership kills and do not plant talents in wrong jobs which they have no appropriate skills and training for maximising potentials. Seven points agenda can be realistic on the ground as it is on propaganda, if talents are recognised and utilised in the right places for the right responsibilities. In view of the above, Mr President should bear in mind when pushing the agenda for health, to consider all the talents in the sector, and not build health services management on the skills and talents of medical doctors. If that was the consideration for appointing Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin  as Minister of Health, then healthcare industry in Nigeria cannot make progress with such narrow ideas. There are people educated principally as health service managers, healthcare managers and hospital managers at degree and post graduate levels with international experience. Nurses, pharmacists, healthcare economists, accountants, lawyers etc might be more capable in heading and managing the corporate strategy of Nigeria’s healthcare institutions than several others trained and extremely competent in medical practice. This approach would help with the 7 points agenda in the health sector. 

With the success recorded as state governor in respect of championing the cause for public goods and economic development, as well as on the facts that Mr President was an academic and from personal experience understands the importance of effective and efficient healthcare management and quality delivery of the services, it is disappointing that the opportunity to unfreeze the barrier for developing the sectors is not being vigorously pursued.

An article published by Prince Charles Dickson enumerated the number of the children of prominent Nigerians studying abroad or families travelling for minor and major treatment. As part of the 7 points agenda, the President would have proposed a bill to redress this social inequality by making laws that would compel any political office holder to have their children educated in Nigeria and Nigeria public schools, as well as receive treatment from public hospitals which is under their responsibility to improve and maintain. Without this approach, political promises will be nothing but bundle of propaganda lies.  

I am not an authority in economics and will reserve this aspect of the president’s 7 points agenda for those that might want to give an opinion. However, the current economic climate is enough reason to address the issues of spending what you earn and not a time for endorsing the thieves and chiefs among us to sustain a lavish life style that is clearly unreal, while people in the rest of the world with genuine spending powers are cutting down on their expenses. This relates to abuse of the naira which has returned in the public arena by exhibition of a culture of shame in spraying of money at parties. The fact cannot not be argued against that money hardly earned do not get sprayed with such ease as we do in Nigerian parties. The government t has a duty to act where bad cultures need to be changed. This is just a part of the general corruption and mismanagement of several institutions where free cash-flow for personal gains supersedes the cash the organisations need to expand and grow. 

Mr President has made his intention known in his 7 points agenda, but no point can realistically be achieved unless there is clear commitment with evidence that the leadership can start a genuine change process by unfreezing the status quo, dismantling all the barriers known to be limiting our national, regional and local developments in education, healthcare, power generation, clean drinking water supply, public transportation, industrialization, increase employment, entrepreneurship, reduction in crime, health and safety, honesty and integrity.

There is no doubt that the 7 points agenda is laudable, but the population is definitely frustrated by the delay in having any point comprehensively delivered. It is hoped that those clamouring for second term do not distract the focus on the priorities of today which is the basis for judging the campaign for second term. Whatever that may happen tomorrow will depend on the legacies of yesterday and the deliveries at the present. It is important that no one takes for granted the complacency of the people, as sudden realisation of power of one’s vote might cause unprecedented political revolution.

Robot  # 1 | 05.04.2009 20:38

David Eboh Like a dream, we finally have a president that became a first deservedly qualified academic graduate to lead the country. That made us proud and could visualise a Nigerian leader on the world stage radiating intellectual diplomacy while at home he will mean what he says about dignity and empowerment of his citizens. We had full hope that the ill cultures, attitudes and beliefs dominating and shaping our mistrust, superstition and unpatriotism would be addressed, so that every citizen will have real ownership of the country. We thought of a nation where everyone will have unrestricted access to quality public education, public healthcare, pipe borne water supply, good road and managed public transportation network. We did not doubt that the artificially erected bar which divides the’ haves’ from ‘never to have’ the goods of the country will be removed so that every home will have institutionalized electricity supply against the disparate noise and air pollu...Read the full article.