06 Jan 2007 |
|
| International Media (IM) -- What is your assessment of Nigeria at this moment in history? Nigerian-at- large (NAL) -- Most Nigerians would tell you that they are worst off now than they were in 1999. This is because Obasanjo’s presidency is the most inept, visionless and brazenly corrupt government of all time. As a result, the country is a total disaster. IM---You mean it is more corrupt than the late Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida’s regimes? NAL---Well, you have not seen anything yet. Wait until a truly democratically elected government comes into power and proper investigations of Obasanjo is conducted will you see the real picture of this government’s corruption and the size of its malfeasance. IM---So all this talk about the so called gains of democracy is simply a PR ploy by the government? NAL---It is cheap talk by the government. First, we do not have a democracy yet. What we’ve had is more than 30 years of military dictatorship and another seven plus years of a civilian dictatorship under a tyrant called Obasanjo. Under this tyrant who calls himself a president, Nigeria is currently awash with abject poverty and hopelessness. And if you call the lack of good roads, electricity, employment and other forms of socio-economic infrastructure as the gains of democracy, you must equally wonder at Obasanjo’s warped sense of reality. NAL---The Administration list the 2003 elections and the country’s external debt repayment or popularly coined exit from the Paris Club among others as democracy gains. Don’t they qualify? NAL---In 2003, the PDP massively rigged the elections to impose Obasanjo and so many governors on Nigerians. In a sense then, one can argue that the country never elected Obasanjo has their president. Would you call that a true democracy? Now, with regard the so-called debt repayment, wait until the complete story is told. For now it is premature to claim it as an achievement. Does it not surprise you that despite this debt repayment and that we now have so many billions of dollars in our foreign reserves the country is still listed as one of the poorest countries on that side of the world? For Obasanjo to shamelessly beat his chest and claim it as one of the shinning points of his administration reminds one about the proverbial rich man who would keep reminding his friends about his wealth but fail to see that all his children are tattered and are out begging on the streets! IM---Sir, can you shed more light on your claim that Nigeria is under a civilian dictatorship? NAL---In a true democracy, the country is governed by the rule of Law and the spirit of its constitution. Today, Obasanjo is the Alpha and Omega and acts as if he and the government are above the Law. The government thinks it can not obey the decisions of the courts, nor does it see it fit to consult with the legislature on important matters . Consequently, Obasanjo has come to see himself as the biblical King Solomon who is law personified. He sees the whole country as part of his Otta farm where any voice of dissent is met with cataclysmic vendetta. It is either you listen to Obasanjo or take the choice of leaving the country or risk being assassinated by hired thugs of the Peoples Destruction Party. If this is not dictatorship, tell me what else is? IM---Recently, Mr. Frank Nweke, the Minister of Information kicked up a storm by being quoted as saying that Nigerians in the Diaspora are unpatriotic and irrelevant as far as the development of the country is concerned. What do you think? NAL---Mr. Frank Nweke did not become a minister because he is so smart or so patriotic. He is a minister because of political patronage. And Frank Nweke like most politicians in the ruling party is completely thoughtless, classless, visionless and acutely pitiful in how he has processed the unfolding Nigerian reality. If the clever minister wants us to believe in his patriotism and relevance, let him make public his declaration of assets so we too can judge if unlike Obasanjo he is not part of the heart and soul of corruption and political intrigues in the country. IM ---Part of Mr. Frank Nweke’s thinking one will assume stems from the thinking that most Nigerians who vehemently criticize the government do so in the comfort of living in advanced countries. NAL--If that is the minister’s mind set, too bad. When does objective criticism of any leadership or government behavior from anywhere becomes invaluable? The minister’s thinking mirrors his boss, Obasanjo’s mindset and goes to show how unintelligent and unreal our so-called ministers and political leaders are. A simple analysis will suffice. Those in the Diaspora live in societies where things work.! Nigerians in the Diaspora form a huge constituency that cuts across ethnic, tribal, religious and ideological divides. Our monetary remittances alone runs into billions of dollars. And that is a huge economic impact where the leadership has enslaved the people and according to one Mr.Agbakoba, where “Poverty is the hallmark of existence”. Secondly, as a constituency, the Diaspora must be seen as a powerful advocacy/activist group of rich minds and ideas. It is the only group that the federal government can not intimidate in its clamor for democratic principles and accountability in the massively corrupt and dangerous leadership of the Obasanjo government. Nigerians in the Diaspora are more relevant and more patriotic than most in the Peoples Destruction Party IM---Niger-delta. Besides the coming general elections in 2007, Niger-delta seems to be the most talked about topic in the country today. Do you see any change? NAL---Talking about elections. This is what is anticipated that is both sad and equally disheartening: that the PDP will rig its candidates into power again, that Obasanjo can never be made to fully account for his stewardship of 8 disastrous years, that all those who want Obasanjo and his band of thieving governors, party men, front men, lawless thugs and area boys (hired idiots for mischief!) to rot in a maximum security jail for life will be disappointed. As for the Niger-delta, it will be more of the same. There is nothing on the ground right now to suggest that either the federal government or oil companies will meaningfully develop and transform the region. We must therefore brace ourselves for an exponential rise in revolutionary activities and militancy in the region come 2007. The recent introduction of car bombs in Port-Harcourt and elsewhere has come a new dimension to the struggle for justice, freedom and progress in the Niger-delta. From what has transpired so far, the militants do not think the federal government can solve the problem militarily and that they the militants can not be intimidated to submission now or ever. IM---Another issue making waves is the EEFC. What is your take as the EEFC as an organization? NAL---For all intent and purposes, the EEFC is a welcomed organization to put some fear in our thieving and corrupt leaders. But right now the organization is essentially viewed as the military wing of the PDP. It gravitates only to the whims and caprices of his Highness, the only King Solomon Obasanjo of Nigeria. However, the real relevance of the EEFC will emerge when a man like retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is voted into power and Obasanjo can no longer hide under the cloak of immunity. IM---Let me take you to a more sensitive topic. It is believed that a growing number of Nigerians want the military to come back. What do you make of this? NAL---What I sense is that a growing number of Nigerians are increasingly frustrated by the failed leadership of Obasanjo. This frustration lead many to believe that the military will at least temporarily stop the massive bleeding of the country. Many Nigerians have still not forgotten the likes of Gen. Murtala Mohamed, Tunde Idiagbon and Muhammadu Buhari. They remember them as those in their time who truly worked hard to transform their country. Besides, there is the emergence of a new crop of generals, better educated, better informed and understanding of not only the unfolding geo-political and socio-economic realities of their country but the world in general in the 21st century. That these new officers do not yearn to change the bad image of the military on account of the likes of Ibrahim Babangida (Maradona the evil genius) and the late Sani Abacha, (the devil incarnate) is to delude ourselves. Political pundits think that a military coup is not possible in Nigeria at this time. None can say for sure what the military is thinking at any one given time. But for now they seem to be content to just keep us guessing. What I sense is that a growing number of Nigerians are increasingly frustrated by the failed leadership of Obasanjo. This frustration lead many to believe that the military will at least temporarily stop the massive bleeding of the country. Many Nigerians have still not forgotten the likes of Gen. Murtala Mohamed, Tunde Idiagbon and Muhammadu Buhari. They remember them as those in their time who truly worked hard to transform their country. Besides, there is the emergence of a new crop of generals, better educated, better informed and understanding of not only the unfolding geo-political and socio-economic realities of their country but the world in general in the 21 century. That these new officers do not yearn to change the bad image of the military on account of the likes of Ibrahim Babangida (Maradona the evil genius) and the late Sani Abacha, (the devil incarnate) is to delude ourselves. Political pundits think that a military coup is not possible in Nigeria at this time. None can say for sure what the military is thinking at any one given time. But for now they seem to be content to just keep us guessing. IM---Given the largely chequered history of the military as you yourself had indicated, what do you think a military regime can do differently this time around? NAL---In a real democracy, Nigerians everywhere would have been outraged by the revelations of unimaginable corruption and impropriety leveled against Obasanjo by Vice President Atiku. In a real democracy the legislature will waste no time to investigate these allegations and where necessary start the process to impeach Obasanjo and punish all his accomplices. But it seems that members of the legislature have been intimidated by the presidency or just content to simply be his comrades in malfeasance and executive crimes. Now, a military regime in the style of Buhari and Idiagbon will not take any of this legislature’s non performance and nonsense. So, one would imagine that it will first take Obasanjo on all Atiku’s allegations, purge the EEFC of its selective approach to bursting corruption. It is now the view of a growing number that only the military can bring Ibrahim Babangida and Obasanjo to full accountability and thereby lay the foundation of the potency of deterrence to all our leaders whose DNAs are inexplicably tainted by greed and corruption. If our legislature can not impeach a president or at least exercise the moral decency to investigate these allegations and “mountains” of literally screaming evidence, how can we talk of the gains of democracy and progress all in the same breathe? IM---In what areas specifically would you say that the country is most disappointed in Obasanjo? NAL---In every area of governance. Remember when Nigeria was once called the giant of Africa? Well, almost eight years of misrule, Obasanjo has the dishonor of turning the giant into a shadow of its former self. Obasanjo, more than anyone else has turned Aso-Rock, the seat of power into a cesspool of corruption and turned the PDP into a gang of sophisticated illiterates, political thugs, area boys(hired idiots for mischief!) and what have you. While Obasanjo is approving the sum of N250 million to his personal Lawyer for just registering a company we understand, most Nigerians can hardly make ends meet and eat three square meals in a day. While Obasanjo is using the PTDF to set-up his cronies, mistresses and a stable of front men, the country reels in unacceptable squalor, hopelessness, poverty and desperation that is manifestly real in the Niger-delta and all over the country. In his state of delusion, Obasanjo may think posterity will accord him a special place in the annals of our history. But evidence of his governance suggest that he is a total disgrace to Nigerians anywhere and Africa on all counts of honesty, integrity, accountability and leadership. IM---What hope do you have for Nigeria beyond 2007? NAL---I hope that one day Nigerians will wake up from their deep slumber and realize that we need a revolution to safeguard our collective destiny. A revolution that will finally instill accountability, integrity, transparency and honesty and discourage the resurgence of a thieving, corrupt, ruthless and a diabolic cabal of mentally ill men. That one day Nigerians can wake up and collectively say, “Free at last, free at last, Obasanjo is gone, thank God we are free at last”. IM---The PDP,s ticket of Yar’Adua and Jonathan Goodluck in the coming presidential elections. How do you see it? NAL---The PDP does not care so much as to who they fill as their presidential flag bearers as they once again count on rigging the elections to perpetuate themselves and thereby maintain the status-quo. Otherwise there is no way that a Yar’Adua and Jonathan ticket can beat any credible challengers from the other parties. The question is, will Nigerians allow the PDP to rig the elections again this time around and juxtapose their collective will and destiny? IM---Considering all the presidential aspirants that have emerged so far, who do you pick to likely come on top? NAL---The emergence of Buhari as a presidential candidate from the ANPP is a good sign. To cement this hope for Nigeria, Buhari must pick a good vice president from the South-South to complement him. The dream team of BuhariProf. Utomi, BuhariEbitu Ukiwe or BuhariDonald Duke will be very interesting to watch. IM---You come across obviously as one very proud and passionate Nigerian. In this journey as a Nigerian- at-Large, what has been most frustrating for you? NAL---What has been most frustrating is to see an enormously endowed country, rich in culture, tradition, human and mineral resources driven to the ground and slavery by a cabal of sick bastards, who hiding under the umbrella of high ethical and moral principles ridicule and abuse our democratic institutions and practices for their own selfish interests and twisted egos. The underdevelopment of Nigeria and the insanity of her political leaders must rate as the eight wonder and disappointment of the 21st century. Frustrated, numbed and mortified. I feel all of these emotions as I cry for my beloved country. What has been most frustrating is to see an enormously endowed country, rich in culture, tradition, human and mineral resources driven to the ground and slavery by a cabal of sick bastards, who hiding under the umbrella of high ethical and moral principles ridicule and abuse our democratic institutions and practices for their own selfish interests and twisted egos. The underdevelopment of Nigeria and the insanity of her political leaders must rate as the eight wonder and disappointment of the 21 century. Frustrated, numbed and mortified. I feel all of these emotions as I cry for my beloved country. IM---Sir, can you sum up for us your final thoughts? NAL---As chequered as our history has been in the past 40 years and as pervasive as our political leadership’s moral decadence has been in recent times, I still hold on to the promising fibre of hope that sooner or later, the collective will and destiny of the Nigerian people will prevail. That the ‘sleeping’ giant will rise again and march forth to the promise land. It is the same will of the indomitable Lion to feed her young pride. We must all believe that God put Nigeria on this planet for a darn good reason! “True peace is not merely a product of the absence of instability, but the presence of justice and fair play.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ebi Bless Asain Ebasain@yahoo.com Minnesota, USA
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
# 
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.