I don’t know whether unpredictability is a virtue of a leader or not, but this particular character has been displayed several times by Mr. President. Perhaps it is basic strategy in the military training to keep your opponents guessing all the time. As a soldier you need to deceive your enemy as when you must put on green camouflage uniform that corresponds with the colour of your surrounding. A combatant soldier must be a “compound fool” to worry about being honest with his enemy or gives clues or any footprints on how to be captured.

Shall we then deduce that survival is the first rule, since the basic duty of a soldier is to aggressively protect own interest from being tampered with by external forces? But then Nigerians are not Mr. President’s enemy, or are we? And, since they say once a soldier is always a soldier, could this be the main reason why we don’t understand him or his intentions?

For instance, although he has repeatedly stated he would not run for a third time, many Nigerians still believe he has a hidden agenda over this issue of self-succession. What is it about Mr. President that is so confusing? Why don’t we understand him or could it be that we have refused to understand him as a result of our preconceived notion? I am asking these questions because this man has even told the international community “it is unconstitutional” to contest 2007 election, yet eminent Nigerians like Chief Gani Fawehinmi still doubt his leaving Aso Rock comes 2007. Another example is the renewed anti-Obasanjo campaigns by northern senators and members of the House of Representatives against third term bid, according to Akpo Esajere, Nigerian Guardian group political editor.

Even if Obasanjo is performing excellently, it won’t augur well for him to run for a third time, and even if we want him to run because of his “crusade” against our culture known as corruption, he should not be tempted, because such temptation would clearly violates the constitution. And I guess Obasanjo had sworn to uphold the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. No, he won’t do it no matter how unpredictable he might be.

I consider it a tragedy in any society where the citizens have every reason not to trust those they entrust their welfare. Although I have since said that the attribute of stainless truth is gone from Mr. President’s idea, I want to give him the benefit of doubt over two things: that he will not contest in 2007; that he will continue to fight corruption – despite its imperfection – to the very end. As I mention earlier, this man was/is a soldier and so he is unpredictable. Perhaps he could later turn on his “friends” after dealing with his “enemies”. He still has about two years to do it.

Nigerians, I think, must be very careful the way we handle Obasanjo’s remaining days on the “throne” especially this fight against corruption, which seems to be the issue of all times. It is the issue, instead of uniting us, is on daily basis dividing us. We might be digging our own grave – and it appears we have done this several times – should we dismiss it as total charade or witch-hunting even though it looks as such. This is because the one coming after him (see, I am beginning to be sure he’d leave in 2007) may eventually use our negative reactions over Obasanjo’s crusade against us.

I contend here that if we failed to rally round him now on the pretext that he is nursing personal grudge by prosecuting only those who disagree with him, the next ruler might see us as ungrateful citizens who will never see any good in any government. This is dangerous because such successor might want to appease us by doing something difference. He or she might want to adopt “chop make I chop” system of government, which would be worse than now. I mean Obasnjo’s successor might not want to pursue this crusade against corruption further for fear that he too might be unfairly judged.

It is unfortunate that we as people don’t seem to learn from past lessons. It could be recalled that we dismissed Shagari’s administration as being corrupt paving way for Buhari-Idiagbon, the regime we termed “a deaf government”. Then we invariably got what appeared a monkey government that behaved like a monkey in order to catch a monkey. Babangida played upon our intelligence by appeasing us all that we detested in Buhari-Idiagbon’s regime. Looking in retrospect, will you rate Babangida’s regime over Buhari-Idiagbon’s? We should therefore guide against this. Nigerians need to think beyond ethnicity, religion, class, political conflict and other dichotomies that likely to blind us from seeing the glint of greed in their eyes.

Also, we should not allow history to repeat itself. We should ask ourselves – constantly perhaps – whether there are powerful behind-the-scene elements that do not want to see the success of crusade against corruption. Nigerians should avoid playing into their hands. As I said somewhere else, Obasanjo appears to be taking the bull by the horns, and I think it is our duty as citizens to back him. Please let us forget his other shortcomings for a while until the battle is won. Can it be won? Nigeria has moved from its third position as the most corrupt nation in the world last year to the sixth, according to the annual report of Berlin-based Transparency International. Another news that has since straightened my curved spine is the statement credited to Joze-Manuel Barozo, President of European Union Commission in Brussels, that Obasanjo has no foreign accounts.

It always beats my mind whenever Nigerians allow ethnicity or religion or politics to overwhelm them over an important issue like fighting corruption. Instead of dealing with the matter arising, some sections of the country have started playing ethnic cards. Ijaw Youths for example, are saying that their governor whom London police say they found a custom made wristwatch estimated at $3. 2 million dollars, is only being victimized because of his stand on resources control or that, because he is Vice president’s Atikus’s associate. No, we should resist any attempt to divert our attention from the real issue by some faceless cowards who seem to benefit from corruption.

Ijaw youths should listen to Sabella Abidde, also an Ijaw man, who passionately appealed to them to desist from being used over Governor Alamieyeseigha and Dokubo’s demise in his article. According to him, Ijaw youths should blame Ijaw elites instead of fighting the federal government. “However, it is also true,” he says, “that the Ijaw elites have, in the last three decades or so, done more harm to the Ijaw cause than either the federal government or the oil companies”.

It appears we are at a crossroads. Yes, we should rally round Obasanjo, although not necessarily because he is an ideal leader, but simply because we are tired of a governor being so vague as to be using a $3 million dollars watch, while majority of his people are said to be agonizing over what to eat next! Or anyone of them with similar taste like having 77 jeep cars! Isn’t it ridiculous? For our own sake, we should adopt the notion that my enemy’s enemy is my friend – if at all Obasanjo is our enemy. Our support for Obasanjo over his “crusade” against corruption seems to be advantageous than dismissing it outright as vendetta.

Another dangerous and funny aspect of corruption is our approach and thinking. A Nigerian that is not corrupt is often referred to as stupid or is treated as outcast. He/she becomes the joke of the family as well as colleagues. Nigerians who have determined to curb corruption would be surprised their spouses and children are not with them in such a “bold act”. We also have a way of contradicting ourselves because those of us who seem to openly and genuinely abhor corruption would eventually adore it in other circumstances.

For example, is there anyone who can beat her chest saying, “if my relatives assumed public office, I would not directly or indirectly put pressure on them regarding financial expectation? As for me, I really don’t know what my parents or siblings’ reactions would be should I assume an elected office. Are they going to jubilate, thinking it is now their turn to share the national cake, which is far disappearing anyway?

If they came for contract and I refused them, would I still be their true son? Or would they hurriedly call a family meeting and admonish me for being foolish? Would they say, “Oh, by tomorrow you shall be in tears over lost opportunities?” What of those who call themselves my friends? Would they laugh at me thinking I have lost touch with reality? And would I be able to withstand such pressure? If I stood my ground, would I still have such friends? And who is right? In short, what would become of me if I refused to sully my hands by accepting bribe?

So is this the agony our public officials always undergo during the course of their terms? If yes, who is to blame? If yes, how can we help them overcome this dilemma? Hum…family pressure…nation’s malady. This aspect of us frightens me as much as a politician’s pilfering fingers. The dilemma here is the preconceived notion that he/she is a politician and so must be corrupt, couple with the pressure to satisfy family and friends alike. We must find a way to encourage those who are honest and ready to shun corruption, for innocent public officials must not be allowed to suffer the crime of collective representation.

Robot  Villager

# 1 Link to the article is here Posted by Robot| 19.10.2005 22:17

GADA	# 2 we love you Hakeem Posted by GADA| 20.10.2005 15:39