One year after Yar’Adua stole into power, through a monumentally flawed election; it is becoming increasingly obvious that the nation is once again saddled with another failed tribal leader in the making. His regime has been notoriously marked by indecision, policy somersaults and a subtle return to Northern domination. For a nation that has never had the blessing of having a truly patriotic national leader who considers the whole nation as his constituency, Yar’Adua’s regime and the stealth Northernisation of cabinet positions is a throwback to the dark days of destructive military rule by the Northern oligarchy and a grim reminder that the nation might yet be stuck with another deeply sectional tribal president.

Having emerged through a “kangaroo” do or die democracy that foisted an unwilling president and equally unwilling vice president on an unsuspecting public, there is no surprise that Nigeria has regressed further into the dark ages. At a time whole new cities are being built, unbelievable industrial and architectural initiatives and projects are being undertaken in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the United States of America, and Latin America, the grounds of Aso rock are paraded by visionless leaders and their sycophantic hangers on whose only interest is how to line their pockets with lucre. 

As the most populous black nation in the world, Nigeria carries an enormous responsibility of leadership and hope for the much traumatised black race, yet in spite of massive human and material resources, her inexplicable failings in all spheres have shamed and blighted the hopes of generations of Africans. There are many reasons why Nigeria has failed, but perhaps the three most important are firstly the secret unknown to many that Nigeria is yet to produce a leader who believes in her, secondly a money culture of crass corruption and thirdly the contradictions of a multi-ethnic environment. A combination of these factors has ensured that every successive leader seeks to cart away as much of the proverbial national cake as possible in preparation for the much postponed evil day.

Thus rather than build a functional and progressive nation with good roads, hospitals, schools etc they raid the coffers, stash their loot and buy houses in faraway foreign climes. The resultant effect is that there is no electricity, no roads, no food, no portable drinking water, no security, no hospitals, no schools, no public transport, and no clean environment. Around the world it is hard to find any nation quite as bad. Not even in desperately poor nations such as Niger, or Chad would you find a near total absence of basic infrastructure as it obtains in Nigeria. 

However, the historical lien of Nigeria ’s dilemma of misrule must not be lost in the euphoria of the moment. Nigeria’s first prime minister Tafawa Balewa was an unwilling leader whose patriotism and nationalist credentials remained in doubt, as he was an offspring of the political North which never historically believed in the concept of “one Nigeria” and who had vehemently opposed decolonisation and self rule. Tafawa Balewa thus had limitations in his vision and level of commitment to the Nigerian project. The regions however made remarkable progress as a result of a functional federal system that shielded them from the visionless leadership of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. 

With his demise, General Aguiyi Ironsi’s short lived military regime never had the opportunity to leave any imprints on policy direction. His demise ushered in General Yakubu Gowon whose regime was singularly dominated and defined by incompetence in his inability to stop the pogrom which eventually led to a civil-war. With his overthrow, General Murtala Muhammed took the centre stage announcing series of broad but yet again short-lived initiatives.

The General Obasanjo interregnum was uneventful, but it most importantly fired the first major salvo in the primitive acquisition of lucre. His regime was severally accused of looting large sums of the commonwealth. By the time the unwilling president Shehu Shagari took the centre stage, the cancer of corruption and misrule had gradually eaten deep into the bone marrow of the nation. General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime, largely premised on anti-corruption was once again too short lived to make any lasting impact. General Babangida’s era finally institutionalised corruption consolidated misrule and set the stage for the total collapse of social values and basic infrastructure. Since then, every succeeding regime has ended up being more corrupt than the other.

Yar’Adua’s presidency fits the long established profile of unwilling sectional leaders with doubtful patriotism. It should therefore spring no surprises that his regime, packed with a ministerial cabinet of misfits and rogue politicians has predictably fallen victim to the same vultures and machinations that have ensured Nigeria’s progressive decline. Held hostage by powerful forces beyond his comprehension, Yar’Adua neither has the will, vision nor ability to lead such a fractious entity. He has inherited a pathetic and maybe cursed nation doomed to failure.

Comrade Lawrence Chinedu Nwobu

Email:lawrencenwobu@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 05.07.2008 11:40

Oguguo Yakere  Villager

# 2 A combination of these factors has ensured that every successive leader seeks to cart away as much of the proverbial national cake as possible in preparation for the much postponed evil day. Could'nt be better said. Posted by Oguguo Yakere| 05.07.2008 22:52

Caeser  Villager

# 3 :mad::mad:The Yorubas- in their relatively short time @ the helm of affairs have failed Nigeria woefully and the cattle rearing gworo chewing Hausas, consistent with their genetic makeup, are making every effort to outsteal outkill and 'outmisgovern' them. It is now time for some other tribe to take the stage and try their hands @ the Presidency of Nigeria-or what is left of it-as the current tenents in Aso rock are as clueless about leading and nation building as a new born baby!:mad::mad::mad::mad: Posted by Caeser| 05.07.2008 23:39

Dewdrops  Villager

# 4 Like it matters which tribe the president comes from? I wonder if developed countries use "tribal quotas" to effect good governance in their countries. What primitive thought processes! Posted by Dewdrops| 05.07.2008 23:52

NWANZA  Villager

# 5 =Dewdrops;4295066063>Like it matters which tribe the president comes from? I wonder if developed countries use "tribal quotas" to effect good governance in their countries. What primitive thought processes! It has been proven time and time again that Northerners as President or General in charge go ape in the affairs of Nigeria. Their corrupt practices lead to the first civil war, and their actions in the last 40 years is leading to yet another war. There is yet one that is borne from that region that can be held up as eligible for the positions they hold in this modern times. Posted by NWANZA| 06.07.2008 00:40

Afeni  Villager

# 6 Yar'Adua comes across as very cautious. At this point, one can only hope that he is merely afraid that should he make enemies, they would use the electoral tribunal to void his election. Hopefully once the courts pass their ruling, we will start to see action on his part. Personally, I couldn't care less what region the Presidency comes from, as long as he is fair in distributing the scarce resources of the nations to the benefit of all regions of the country. For starters, build a freaking modern rail-road system in Nigeria. My god, a country of over 150 million that cannot boost of a single railroad is a total shame. People have to get around. People have to get around safely. Having them risk their lives and that of the families traveling from point A to point B on tiny, heavily congested roads is not how it should be. People should also be allowed to take the government to court when it fails to live-up to basic infrastructure requirements. i.e. All Nigerians MUST HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH WATER. I don't care if a local government has to spend 100% of their capital budget (the part of the budget that goes towards developing the community) on providing water for the people. It just has to be done. No one should have to worry that the water they give their kids might kill them. The gutters should also be kept clean. And eventually, they should be closed so people (mainly young children) do not fall into them. Those of you have been to Nigeria in the rainy season know how those gutters turn into mini-raging rivers when it rains. Only god knows how many children have been swept to their death during those times. When you think about Nigeria, one can't help but be sad. It is one thing if all NEEDS have been met and then the leaders decide to be lazy. But when you have a situation where the most basic necessities are are lacking, it is totally unacceptable. Posted by Afeni| 06.07.2008 00:41

Dewdrops  Villager

# 7 =NWANZA;4295066084>It has been proven time and time again that Northerners as President or General in charge go ape in the affairs of Nigeria. Their corrupt practices lead to the first civil war, and their actions in the last 40 years is leading to yet another war. There is yet one that is borne from that region that can be held up as eligible for the positions they hold in this modern times. It is a shame that you keep blaming the North. Did you refer to "ape" in your write up there? Well OBJ, the closest thing to an ape I have ever seen had 8 years to make a difference and I doubt very much from his tribal marks that he is from the North. I bet all Western, Eastern and Southern governors owe allegiance to the North too? It is about time we realize that Nigeria is in ruins because Nigerians wish it that way, not a tribal matter at all. Put any Nigerian from the street in Yaradua's shoes, he or she will do the same thing. . .out of moral ineptitude. Posted by Dewdrops| 06.07.2008 01:15

Agidimolaja  Villager

# 8 Caeser, Your crowing was so irritating as such that I was forced to abandon what I was doing so that I may throw something at you and cuffed your basket mouth. It is very disgusting to hear it from your loosed mouth, that, Yorubas bla! bla! bla! have failed Nigeria woefully. It is a pity though that I have to call you a blatant liar and one whose words lacked substance. Let it be known to you and your likes that Yorubas have not failed this country at any particular time. Do you have it in your record so?Then bring it out that all eyes may see it together. If you have any knowledge of Nigeria's political history,you shall see it yourself that Yorubas have paid greater prices to the cause of Nigeria more than many other tribes.I need not teach you history here,but do yourself a favour;go and check historical records {and be very honest},then you would see to your utter amazement the great prices that Yorubas have paid. Maybe you had Obj in mind when you strayed away to say "Yorubas". But let it be known to you this day that Obj is a Yoruba but Obj is not Yorubas because he does not uphold mainstream Yoruba ideology and he is not representing Yorubas at any level,therefore he is not a political product of Yorubas neither has he ever defended the cause of Yorubas. Yorubas have nothing to do with the installation of Obj in 1999. Bear it in mind that Yorubas did not vote for him then. Obj even lost in his own ward. Did that look like a President supported by his own people? No! What then has Yoruba mainsteam got to do with Obj's Presidency?Nothing! If you would like to see another tribe{probably yours}, be sworn in as President besides Yoruba and Hausa,I have no problem about it and Yorubas as a people have no problem about it too. Therefore go for the gold. In democratic setting,anyone has the chance of becoming the President as long as the person won the Presidential election. Hopefully you may help Nigeria to locate someone from your own tribe as soon as possible who can win a Presidential election and then relocate to Aso Rock apartments. Is that not all that you are whinning about? Posted by Agidimolaja| 06.07.2008 01:46

Dewdrops  Villager

# 9 he:biggrin:he:biggrin:he:biggrin: Next please! Posted by Dewdrops| 06.07.2008 01:53

Caeser  Villager

# 10 =Dewdrops;4295066097>It is a shame that you keep blaming the North. Put any Nigerian from the street in Yaradua's shoes, he or she will do the same thing. . .out of moral ineptitude. Na lie. The Igbo leaders have been consistently proven to be transparent and have persistently risen above petty thievery and lethargy when in office. In case you have been MIA, ask about the Soludos, the Ezekwesilis, the Okonjo Iwealas, the Okereke Onyiukes, the Akunyilis, the Utomis and compare them to the Borishades, the 'Fanny' Kayodes, the Ettehs, Bode George, the Obasanjo trio, the Kenny Martins, the Abiolas, the Babangidas, the ABACHAS , the Abubakars, the Dikkos, the Ahmadu Alis, the El Rufais and others TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. While Nigerians, generally speaking, could be said to have been driven deep into the murky waters of 'moral ineptitude' by years of floundering and decadent leadership, Is it not obvious where the preponderance of criminality lies? Is it by chance that when credibility and transformation is needed in a particular sector, members of a particular tribe are sought? Next thing dem go ask what of efulefu andy uba? Posted by Caeser| 06.07.2008 02:22

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