When less than halfway through his calamitous regime IBB found himself in the “Hopelessly Lost” aisle of the “No Further Ideas” supermarket as regards the Nigerian economy, he manfully owned-up and declared that he was surprised the whole thing hasn’t collapsed.  Thereafter, he handed the economy in particular, and the welfare of Nigerians in general, over to “Inshallah”.  Then, it was fashionable to pre-phrase or end every government/official comment with “inshallah”.  I understand this means “God willing”.  To my mind, it also connotes uncertainty.  For the remainder of that administration, Babaginda made no further concerted effort, or taxed his brain with the rigmarole of effective governance. It was simply whatever would be would be - God willing.  “The standard at tertiary institutions has hit an all time low”.  “Ah, God willing, it would improve”.

I was reminded of that wasted era when I saw on NTA NEWS (15.08.2007) the brand new Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister who ought to be brimming with energy and ideas promising “…. a great Hajj this year, inshallah”.  I am hoping that whilst he is acknowledging the indispensability of God in everything, he (the Minister) would also do all the necessary hard work (planning, logistics and organisation) to ensure that dependence on divine intervention is minimised.  This similarly applies to the larger Yar’Adua’s administration which continues to send out some mixed and worrying signals.

Necessarily, Yar’Adua has to look good coming on the heels of Obasanjo.  After a protracted rainfall, any bit of sunshine is greatly appreciated.  However, this does not detract from the fact that, so far, Yar’Adua has done fairly well in style if not substance.  One of his best moments was his prompt and unequivocal response to the Supreme Court’s sacking of Andy Uba.  There was no need “to study” the Court’s ruling before the right thing was done in Anambra State.  It was an act of a very responsible government.  The overt acknowledgement of the significance of Lagos in the scheme of things in Nigeria and the return of its illegally held local government funds was another good deed. 

The way governments function in Nigeria, you could see the wisdom in selling off the refineries at this point.  However, the way OBJ went about it was too abrupt, abbreviated and shady. Consequently, it was proper for Yar’Adua to want to cancel the sales and review the terms.  If the refineries are then sold off following a more rigorous and transparent process, fair enough.  I actually think the nation would be better for it.  Quite rightly, he also revoked another funny last minute contract awarded by Obasanjo.  OBJ awarded a very surreptitious multi million Dollar contract to one of his former aides to build “health centres” across the nation.  I don’t know how you can build the same type mono-clinics in all sections of the country with its varying health needs! The whole thing was just too arbitrary and the arrangement too suspect.  The money was supposed to come from local government funds without prior debate or agreement.

Yar’Adua’s banishment of Ojo Maduekwe to the Foreign Desk (after OBJ forced Maduekwe on him) was another clever move.  In addition, he even managed to stave-off other OBJ’s men that were haggling to stay around.  Fani-kayode was one, for example.  The determination to re-look at the sale of government properties to past government officials and Federal Legislators with a view to reversing that exercise would also prove a good and timely intervention.  Furthermore, in the end, the handling and resolution of the labour strike over fuel prices and VAT was effective – though there appeared to have been some initial attempt at underhand dealing.  This could be as a result of some OBJ establishment people still clustering the system or, more likely, Kingibe’s style.  Which brings me to some of the worrying signals.

At his inauguration, Yar’Adua talked quite eloquently about a generational shift of power and responsibility to the younger and more dynamic age and educational bracket.  However, his very first significant appointment (Secretary to Federal Government, SFG) effectively negated his speech and his subsequent appointments have followed in that pattern. Kingibe is strictly “old school”, and the same Kingibe it was who sold MKO Abiola down the river in helping Abacha consolidate his fledging government by accepting a ministerial post rather than stand with Abiola and insist on the validation of their mandate.  That hardly speaks well as to character content or principle.   His National Security Advisor (NSA) is the hold-over from Obasanjo’s administration. I suppose the thinking there was continuity as regards national security, though it still doesn’t speak to generational shift.

Apart from the generation issue, even more disturbing is the fact that his immediate appointments (the framework of his kitchen cabinet) are exclusively men from the northern part of the country.   The SFG, NSA, Chief of Staff and his Deputy, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (and now the new FCT Minister, etc) are all from the north.  Even the new boss of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is from the north.  This was further compounded by the recent discombobulated ministerial appointments.  (For a detailed analysis of the disparate nature of this Cabinet please refer to this brilliant piece “A Quick Look at Yar'Adua's Ministers - And A Few Troubling Issues to Ponder” by Prof M Aluko).  The Attorney-General in particular, really scares me.  He reminds me decidedly of the military era. Nearly all the “senior ministries” are again tucked in northern hands.  Without a doubt, his Ambassadorial postings will follow this trend. It is most unfortunate.  Yar’Adua must be careful as in all things – particularly management and politics – perception matters.  A new administration ought to be sensitive enough not to announce a first tranche  of appointments that is very heavily tilted to the President’s regional constituency.  Given the political history of Nigeria, this is very off putting to other sections of the country.  OBJ was a lot of bad things but no one ever accused him of sectionalism.  Perhaps, Yar’Adua ought to have staggered his “core” appointments to avoid what now looks like the “re-northernisation” of the country. 

Another worrying aspect of the new administration is what appear to be initial efforts at rolling back the policy on importation.  OBJ got that policy just about right, as we have to grow our own industries – especially cement –, foreign exchange concerns, etc, etc. The refineries I think should be properly sold off as the NNPC has certainly proven that it cannot successfully manage them.  Scrapping the NNPC in fact is not the worst idea in the world.  Look where telecommunication is today in the hands of private entrepreneurs compared to some ten years ago.  I now call my dad in our hometown every other day.  Functional private refineries would certainly translate to less dependence on fuel importation and all its attendant negatives. 

The clumsy but somewhat determined attempt to muzzle the EFCC continues to baffle.  Yar’Adua’s first real pronouncement as regards that body was that it should be “civil”.  A sure euphemism for “lay-off”.  It may be too much coincidence but it took the return of OBJ from holidays (even the Vikings rested after their pillaging forays) and a visit by Ribadu to Ota before the arrest and arraignment of the allege thieving governors began.  Perhaps this is why OBJ boys like Odili and Ibori have not been picked-up.  I also understand that the government not only gave instructions for the discontinuation of the demolition of Ahmadu Ali’s houses that were reported by El Rufai to have contravened Abuja city’s planning regulations, but in fact gave Ali some money to restore the portions of those houses that have been knocked down.  Boy!  Furthermore, the rehabilitation of Alamieyeseigha surprisingly began with Yar’Adua.  I wonder what that early meeting with Alamieyeseigha a few days after his release from prison was all about?  What it did though was send the wrong message to the whole country.  On top of that, Yar’Adua also promptly met with Kalu on his release from detention on bail.  It would seem the President in unable to separate himself from his thieving ex-colleagues.  Symbolism appears to be an art the President is yet to master or even understand.  Appearance does matter.

I’m not exactly sure what the government intervention and/or strategy in the Niger Delta, and the energy (electricity) sector looks like or even if there are any. If there are, they certainly have not been effective.  Perhaps it’s early days yet. In Ibadan, Yar’Adua also ordered the restoration of police escort/security for Mr Adedibu after the Oyo State Police Commissioner rightfully had them withdrawn.  Somehow, I feel perhaps Obasanjo had some role to play in that poor decision.  Conceivably, he may have obligated Yar’Adua to order the restoration. 

Actually, OBJ’s continued larger than life presence and influence is making me nervous.  Yar’Adua’s performance at OBJ’s illegally convened PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT; what does this really mean in a political party?) meeting was very disheartening.  Obasanjo, without prior notice literarily dragged Yar’Adua from whatever he was doing and compelled him to attend some coronation ritual to enable Obasanjo to continue dictating matters in the PDP and by extension, the current government.  Yar’Adua and Jonathan looked completely transfixed before Obasanjo; and this was in full glare of the Press.  I can only imagine what obtained in camera.  OBJ then proceeded to read a statement that sounded like a dirge for the new administration.  He said that in his new capacity as the BoT chairman, he will be “advising the President on policies of government!”  That is scary.  Really, Yar’Adua should – sooner rather than later – give OBJ the Ngige/Chris Uba treatment and advise him to concentrate on his studies at the Open University.  Obviously, Obasanjo is a bully; and as with most bullies, he has got to be confronted head-on without giving any ground.  A bully might beat you once but if you refuse to hand over your “lunch money” you are left alone.  Besides, Yar’Adua is the President and all the levers of State power are under his command.  In fact, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to move against OBJ by investigating his eight years stewardship. 

On the whole, and allowing for normal teething problems of any new administration or enterprise, Yar’Adua appears to mean well and is doing some things right. Critically, he needs to begin to correct some of the more worrying stuff and cut out those inelegant flip flops – as in the Naira redenomination debacle.  Furthermore, and more importantly, is Yar’Adua capable of holding off the conservative north and its usual ham-fisted interference?  After understandable initial baby steps, we expect determined and purposeful strides.  We’ve been there too many times before and have no desire now to be handed back to “inshallah” and incompetence.  No one is perfect; but we are not looking for perfection.  Just some clear and logical handling of State and human matters. Nigerians are not lazy people. We are not asking for much; just the basics from which we can individually build-on and improve ourselves and communities.  Also, being well educated certainly appears, so far, to be an asset.  And speaking of assets; I note that Yar’Adua’s assets declaration included campaign monies and vehicles.  Don’t those belong to the PDP? 

Lastly, I feel compelled to say a thing or two about the Vice President. Jonathan clearly had a PR disaster with his assets declaration imbroglio.  He gave a master class on how not to handle things.  Poorly advised; poorly executed.  He managed to make an empty gesture exercise really, into a major issue. Makes you glad it wasn’t a really meaty matter – something of national importance - he was dealing with.  Moreover, N250 million is a lot of assets for a teacher who was governor for about a minute, no?

 <!--[endif]-->

Michael Egbejumi-David

London, UK

demdem@hotmail.co.uk

Robot  Villager

# 1 On the whole, and allowing for no...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 03.09.2007 16:15

Fjord  Villager

# 2 You're being too generous: when used by politicians, Inshallah denotes more than uncertainty; it denotes an admission of a non-understanding of the issues, and failure, and lack of the vision and will to do anything at all; of course, the variation "God willing" means precisely the same. It's an attempt to premptively credit God with the failure, with the hidden thought that who dares to confront the Almighty, even in a failed situation. God, of course, is too kind to summarily deal with those messing with his name. As for Jonathan and Mr. Yar'Adua, they of the declared assets, we'll continue to wonder what's on their tax returns. A perpetually unlucky bunch, we're yet to find a faithful tax-paying, law abiding citizen in the doors of givernment. It's a very long way to Uhuru, and true accountability. . Posted by Fjord| 04.09.2007 00:30

chibuzor  Villager

# 3 Na so my brother. We are back to inshalla. In addition to all the things you noted Ya'Adua should pay attention to ETTEHnisation in the legislature and the on-going cover-up. His silence is highly indicative of his powerlessness. He is the Commander In Chief and must act like he knows. He should also pay closer attention to what's going on in the states. Omehia's first action on assumption of office was to award a N7billion for the re-construction of Mile one market. His counterpart in Imo is serious about a N60billion resort in a remote part of the state that will attract the likes of Tiger Woods. Sometimes it seems membership of the Nigerian political class is determined by how well you can place your ZYXes before your ABCs. An art perfected by OBJ; from Presidential jet to COJA and debt repayment. Posted by chibuzor| 04.09.2007 16:42