Nigeria: Blessed Country, Cursed Leaders?

Ordinarily, Nigeria is supposed to be to the black race what Egypt is to the Muslim and Arab world as well as what India is to the Indian sub-continent.

As per the words of Umoru Musa Yar’adua, it has the population 140 millions? Disputed nationwide. It has the human resources greater numbers are overseas for obvious reasons. It has the natural resources, untapped and wasted. What then does Nigeria lack?

Nigeria unfortunately has had the misfortune of being presided over by cursed persons who claim to be leaders in greater part of its independence from Britain. They range from kleptomaniac military Heads of state to incompetent first graduate President who was never prepared and is reluctant and was forced on the state by his estranged and now filled with regret godfather.

For a very long time the stock in trade of those who presided over the state of affairs of Nigeria is nepotism and corruption. Even when their tribesmen and women are not qualified and are actually mediocre or even less than that, they still appoint them to positions of authority all the same.

The Nigerian state that was once egalitarian and full of opportunities and the citizens are hopeful is now in a sorry state. Most of the citizens are now hopeless and despaired. Unfortunately for the citizens, they have been brainwashed to always leave everything to God. Corrupt politicians and their military collaborators will tell them it is Allah or God’s will for them to be poor while the corrupt politicians steal from or the entire commonwealth.

The story was being told in Abuja recently of one of the members in the House of Representatives, who was living in one room and a parlour in Kaduna and still stay in the thatched house of the parents in the village before being catapulted by the godfather to the House. Suddenly that person is a multiple millionaire and buys up any and every land buyable in that village.

That is the Nigerian type of democracy. Charlatans who have no blue print or no idea about governance are brought from nowhere to steal and loot the nation.

It is only in Nigeria that one region’s development is grounded to a halt for another region that is educationally, economically, morally, socially and even mentally retarded to catch up. Their elite steal their own federal allocation and still tell them is Allah’s will.

I wanted to title this article how Obasanjo cheated Nigeria. Going through the exposition by El-Rufai on the imposition of Umaru Yar’adua on the Nation, It is the highest point of betrayals of the Nigeria people. Not only is Yar’adua not prepared for this job, but his nepotism is unparalleled in the history of Nigeria. All the important and ‘juicy’ offices and ministries in the land have gone to his Hausa Muslims brothers. Name them, Central Bank Governor, NNPC Group Managing Director, MD NPA, MD PHCN, Chief of Army Staff, Finance Minister. Agriculture Minister, Director General NTA, Secretary to Government of Federation, National Planning Minister. FCT Minister, Account General of the Federation, Minister of Petroleum Resources and there is a long list. So what is happening to federal character or quota system this time?

Now to add insult to injury he has appointed more Hausa Judges to the Court of Appeal more than from the whole Southern Nigeria. Despite the fact that Lamido Sanusi was never qualified for the CBN job, David Mark an apologist of the Hausa Muslims connived with Yar’adua to bully Senators to confirm him.

Let us have the sovereign national conference that is the only answer to this flagrant nepotism. This type of nepotism was only witnessed during IBB’s misdemeanor as Head of state.

The federal character is now dead and buried by gospel according to Umoru Yar’adua. Welcome nepotism extraordinary.

Thank God that rotational Presidency is enshrined in the country now. 2011 will be the Igbo’s turn, 2018, is for Northern Christians, while 2026 will be for the South-South. Then the Yorubas will have another short in 2034 insha Allah.

Despite the facts that the Hausas have always cries foul of the federal character, their brother has now abused the letter and the spirit of the federal character now in this his horrendous and shapeless government.

Obasanjo should take the blame for all these mess. Notwithstanding that he is said to be full of regret and sorrowful for this bad deed.

I even don’t know the Senator representing my village in the National Assembly I think he is overdue for re-call for colluding in Yar’adua nepotism. All those docile Senators who are accessory to Yar’adua’s nepotism must be re-called now.

Corruption in Nigeria it seems has reached a point of no return. In the UK, corrupt politicians are named and shamed and in fact at the last count 13 ministers have resigned from government. In Nigeria, it is a different kettle of fish. Those who stole the commonwealth still splash it and display our stolen wealth to our face. They unbelievably live big and ostentatiously. Everybody knows them in the land and yet there are pretense because they wield so much power and influence.

Ibrahim Babangida’s hilltop palace in Minna was reported in the press to have 50 official bedrooms in addition to other rooms and attachments. It was still said that it conservative cost is fifty eight (58) billion Naira. This is just one of the many he has nationwide. In fact it was reported in the press yet again that the twin sister of that palatial house is located at Maitama Abuja. All the pictures of those houses were on the internet thanks to the investigative journalism of Saharareporters.com.

Abdulsalami Abubukar the other big though smaller thief compared to IBB the self acclaimed and self confessed evil man has his own mansion in Minna yet again estimated at Thirty Two (32) billion Naira. This flagrant display of stolen wealth is not acceptable in a sane society. All former leaders must be made to account for their misdeeds especially those who snatched power to line their pockets with the national wealth. General Sani Abacha cannot be singled out simply because he is dead and is said to be corrupt. Those who were more corrupt then him are still here lording it over us and enjoying their loot. Nuhu Ribadu must be commended whatever people will say at least he made effort to go to root of the IBB loot before he was booted out by the serpent leader.

If the EFCC and ICPC cannot and will not have the courage to ask these former leaders to explain to Nigerians how they came about the money they used in building the above mentioned houses and many others they have nationwide and worldwide, then let them forget it. Their fighting corruption is simply a child’s play. While everyone is seeing those who bizarrely looted Nigeria at the highest office in the land still work free and dictate the pace of governance with their loot still intact, then forget EFCC and ICPC. You aren’t seen nothing yet as far corruption is concerned in Nigeria. I mean how can people who were earning barely 150,000 Naira as salary build houses worth billions, in fact 58 billion to be precise yet it looks normal? Sani Ahmed Yarima is said to have built a house worth 800 million Naira and the EFCC and the ICPC are looking the other way. Is it not worth asking these former leaders at least for record purposes where they got all these money from? This is what is done in societies where corruption fighting is taken serious.

The first step in corruption fighting for it to be meaningful and have any impact on the Nigeria society Mr Yar’adua and Mr Aandookaa is to ask all former leaders to come and give account of how they came about these wealth they splashing and weirdly displaying before our face. It is true most of them were more corrupt then Sani Abacha, in fact Sani had his apprenticeship under one of them for Eight years. Like Jesus said a servant can never be greater than his master. Sani Abacha was a small thief, but we have bigger thieves prowling and marauding all over Nigeria in fact plotting and strategizing on how to return to power in 2011. Unfortunately Nigerians are docile and gullible. They have lost the unison they had in 1993 to chase away a sit-tight dictator.

>Well it is up to all of us. It is either we take our destiny and the destiny of our children in our hands now or the corruption rot will continue forever.

Ndiameeh Babrik

ndiame_2005@yahoo.co.uk

Robot  # 1 | 18.06.2009 08:14

Nigeria: Blessed Country, Cursed Leaders? Ordinarily,Nigeriais supposed to be to the black race whatEgyptis to the Muslim and Arab world as well as whatIndiais to the Indian sub-continent. As per the words of Umoru Musa Yar’adua, it has the population 140 millions? Disputed nationwide.It has the human resources greater numbers are overseas for obvious reasons. It has the natural resources, untapped and wasted. What then doesNigerialack? Nigeriaunfortunately has had the misfortune of being presided over by cursed persons who claim to be leaders in greater part of its independence fromBritain. They range from kleptomaniac military Heads of state to incompetent first graduate President who was never prepared and is reluctant and was forced on the state by his estranged and now filled with regret godfather. For a very long time the stock in trade of those who presided over the state of affa...Read the full article.