If all goes well, April 2007 or May 29^th the day and date of the formal handing over ceremony, will see a complete civilian democratic transition in Nigeria ; Africa ’s most populous country and also the most populated Negro-African country on earth. Nigeria ’s experiences or experimentations with democracy have been epileptic, however, since 1999 and in spite all its problems, it seems Nigeria and Nigerians have decided to be democratic. Nevertheless, it will take more than civilians changing the baton of command, for democracy to take roots in Nigeria . As Victor E. Dike, author of the epic book: Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria points out: for democracy to be successful in Nigeria , the right institutions and infrastructures must be put in place. Will Nigerian political leaders listen to his supplication?

Nigerian elites would do well to read professor Dike’s book wherein are found his candid observations and solutions for Nigeria . As the race for Nigeria ’s top job heats up, the world and Africa are watching.  This is because; a successful Nigerian democracy is not only good for Nigerians, it is best for the entire continent. Already, the world and Africa are happy at the way the flag bearers of the two main Nigerian political parties were chosen.  Umar Musa Yar’adua, the governor of Katsina state was elected flag bearer of the ruling People’s Democratic Party or PDP, while General Muhamadu Buhari (retired) was designated flag bearer of the All Nigerian People’s Party or ANPP.

Nigerian elites would do well to read professor Dike’s book wherein are found his candid observations and solutions for Nigeria. As the race for Nigeria’s top job heats up, the world and Africa are watching.  This is because; a successful Nigerian democracy is not only good for Nigerians, it is best for the entire continent. Already, the world and Africa are happy at the way the flag bearers of the two main Nigerian political parties were chosen.  , the governor of Katsina state was elected flag bearer of the ruling People’s Democratic Party or PDP, while ) was designated flag bearer of the All Nigerian People’s Party or ANPP.

The greatest joy with the elections of both men is that, it was done without violence. But the strange thing is that, a minority party known as Action Party, has decided to select the embattled Vice President Atiku Abubakar as their flag-bearer. However weird was the decision of Action Party to choose the Vice President as their standard bearer, it can’t beat the drama that is unfolding between Mr Abubakar and his boss Mr Obasanjo. The second has accused the first of disloyalty and corruption and will like to see him in jail, while the first has retaliated using the same accusations. In the on going battle between the President of Nigeria and his deputy, which is mostly fought within the columns of the Nigerian Press, no one seems to know exactly what caused the feud.

At present, both men are shamelessly watching their dirty linen in public. To complicate matters more, all what the Press: electronic and print may be currently saying, are just products of speculations. For only both men know what has made them to fall apart. But in that battle, like in many others before, there is bound to be a winner and a loser. And in this case, it is the Vice president who has left many feathers. This is more real because, the sledge-hammer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is dangerously hovering above the head of the Vice president. Mr Ribadu’s led EFCC which has become the enemy of a section of the corrupt business and political elites in Nigeria , is already ferreting into Ababukar’s case.

The admirers of Nuhu Ribadu salutes his courage in the discharging of his huge thankless job of fighting corruption, whereas his opponents claim he is an errant boy of the president, with the sole aim of destroying anybody  challenging the ‘dictatorial rule’ of Obasanjo. Whatever admirers and detractors of Mr Ribadu may be claiming in Nigeria, what the world knows about him most, and appreciate is that, the head of the EFCC has fought a much more arduous battle against advance fee fraud or 419 to a point that, Nigerian internet scammers have relocated to neighbouring African countries, especially those of French and Portuguese expressions.

The admirers of salutes his courage in the discharging of his huge thankless job of fighting corruption, whereas his opponents claim he is an errant boy of the president, with the sole aim of destroying anybody  challenging the ‘dictatorial rule’ of Obasanjo. Whatever admirers and detractors of Mr Ribadu may be claiming in Nigeria, what the world knows about him most, and appreciate is that, the head of the EFCC has fought a much more arduous battle to a point that, Nigerian internet scammers have relocated to neighbouring African countries, especially those of French and Portuguese expressions.

But in the current politico-legal imbroglio in Abuja , it would be most excellent for Mr Abubakar, since he is the junior partner, to resign and go to court to clear his name. The fact that, he is still Vice president, his office, gives him some protection that prevents the EFCC officials to probe him accurately. Worrying is the claim made by the Vice president that, the hunter of corruption called Obasanjo, might be himself corrupt, therefore healthy enough to be hunted. Furthermore, as the rapport between both men at the apex of the Nigerian executive has strained, it is disturbing why Obasanjo has not relieved his cumbersome deputy of his official duty, for the continuous mêlée between both men via the Press, may be having adverse effects on the daily running of the state. Or may be both men are not really at each others throats as the Nigerian Press is portraying things or as the concerns would want the world to think. More, perhaps both men are just distracting Nigerians and may be scheming something else that only time will disclose to the public.

Hence, the Nigerian Press, civil society organisations, Africa and the world must be vigilant at what is going on in Abuja . Claims made by Atiku concerning his boss shows that, the fight against corruption, with the tag of No Sacred Cows might be blurred. In fact, there seem to be sacred cows in the on going fight against corruption in Nigeria , which is according to Mr Atiku’s declarations. Whether Atiku’s attitudes are the natural reactions of drowning men or women, it is not important, but the consequences are what everybody is cogitating on presently. Consequently, Atiku must resigned or be forced to do so. 

Robot  # 1 | 17.03.2007 05:30

If all goes well, April 2007 or May 29th...Read the full article.

Mikky jaga  # 2 | 17.03.2007 09:01

The whole world is actually watching Nigeria to see if we are a civilized country governed by the Rule of Law. The problem between Obasanjo and his Vice is gradually being narrowed down to the question of whether the rule of law operates in the country or not. When a certain Professor Iwu came out to give his own private interpretation of the Constitution and wants to ram the same interpretation down the throats of Nigerians, he is only succeeding in making Nigeria a laughing stock in the commity of civilized Nations. Consider this scenario: Governor Peter Obi of Anambra Stete wakes up one morning and directs his State INEC chairman to declare that according to the Constitution which guarantees him a four year tenure from the day he is sworn in as Governor, there will be no elections in Anambra State in April this year. He then sets machinery in motion to make sure the election does not hold. Will that not be an invitation to anarchy. But Governor Obi being an enlightened person and not a crooked umpire like Iwu decided to head to the courts to get a judicial pronouncement on the matter. That is what is done in civilized society and that is what the whole world is watching to see done in Nigeria. The system of creating confusion knowingly and asking those who are offended to head for the courts even when it is obvious that the time table for the elections may be adversely affected by such litigations only makes the civilized countries laugh us to scorn. The feud between Obasanjo and Atiku is not a personal battle. It is the battle for the survival of the rule of law as against the rule of force in the country. Atiku should fight the battle to the very end to set a precedent for coming governments in the country that Nigeria will no longer be ruled by impunity. A word here for Bayo Ojo (I understand his surname means coward) he will go down in history as the worst Legal Adviser that ever occupy the position of Attorney General of NIgeria. The series of legal defeats that has been suffered by the government in recent times is a clear testimony to how useless his legal advice is to the Nation. He still has some time tyo redeem his image. The world is watching Nigeria.

oluye  # 3 | 17.03.2007 14:52

"As Victor E. Dike, author of the epic book: Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria points out: for democracy to be successful in Nigeria , the right institutions and infrastructures must be put in place. Will Nigerian political leaders listen to his supplication?" Please add the right constitution to that recipe.

oluye  # 4 | 17.03.2007 15:08

Mikky Jaga wrote, "A word here for Bayo Ojo (I understand his surname means coward) he will go down in history as the worst Legal Adviser that ever occupy the position of Attorney General of NIgeria." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Even if you want to pass insults, get your facts right. Ojo, without the intonation, could mean rain, coward or a child born with the umbilical cord around his neck, it could even mean a town in Lagos. Bayo Ojo's surname is the third interpretation by intonation.

OdBr  # 5 | 19.03.2007 01:57

=oluye;162093>Mikky Jaga wrote, "A word here for Bayo Ojo (I understand his surname means coward) he will go down in history as the worst Legal Adviser that ever occupy the position of Attorney General of NIgeria." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Even if you want to pass insults, get your facts right. Ojo, without the intonation, could mean rain, coward or a child born with the umbilical cord around his neck, it could even mean a town in Lagos. Bayo Ojo's surname is the third interpretation by intonation. thanks for clearing that up o jare. Obviously his parents would not have named him coward.

Abraxas  # 6 | 19.03.2007 03:04

Hi, Mikky Jaga (JJC)! Thank you for having said nothing. Now proceed, kia-kia, with maximum alacrity, and immediate effect, to the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Adviser General on JJC Admission Matters at the 97th floor of the Village Twin Towers, by the Square, and regularize your temporary transit visa documentation, please. I am sure that you are fully aware that you have deliberately remembered to forget, or calculatingly forgotten to remember to introduce yourself, in line with due process, despite adequate encouragement and facilitative interventions designed to expedite subsequent benefits derivable by all JJCs in this our Village of origin. Feel free to contact me, in my humble capacity as the Welcomer-in-Chief, should you require any further clarifications, illumination, or elucidation on this subject matter. Muchas gracias. Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III)