AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT YARADUA
Ozodi Thomas Osuji

     So, we now have a new government in Nigeria , eh?  Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo has successfully transited the government to Mr. Umaru Musa Yaradua, eh? Good.

     Some say that Yaradua came to power through rigged elections? However, one may ask: is that not how his predecessors came to power? Has anything new happened in Nigeria ?

       Can some good come from a government that came to existence through corruption?  Can a person steal and use the money he stole to do some good? That is the question that exercises my mind and that I want to ponder in this essay. 

       The question asked determines the answer proffered. The question asked is philosophical and we shall have a philosophical discourse.

       Let us see: white Americans came all the way from Europe to America , killed many Indians and chased the rest of them off their lands and appropriated their lands! White Americans imported African slaves and used them to cut down the virgin forest of America and turn the land into agricultural land and generally used Africans labor (unpaid for) to develop America.

       Most people would say that what whites did in America was evil?  This perspective presupposes that there is morality in the universe.  One may then ask: do we live in a moral universe or do we live in a universe where every behavior is permitted?

       At any rate, Couldn’t it be said that some good came from white folk’s putative evil; has America not made some useful contributions to the world?

        If the answer is yes could we not extrapolate and say that, perhaps, some good can come from the, democratically speaking, illegitimate government of Yaradua?  I do not know the answer to that rhetorical question, I am just thinking out loud.

       Is there justice in this world? Of course, we all wish for justice but our wishes do not make real what we wish for. Do we live in a moral universe?

       Some observers say that for there to be morality in the universe there must be God.  Does God exist?  Where is the evidence for his existence? Don’t we see tsunamis sweep thousands of people to death, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and diseases from virus, bacteria, and fungi sweep people to death, as they sweep animals and trees to death? Didn’t we see men like Adolf Hitler who decided that they enjoyed killing people and killed people and no god stopped them?

       Adolf Hitler killed over 50 million persons; Joseph Stalin killed over 35 million persons and no god stopped them. They were only stopped by other men, the Allies. This would seem to suggest that human beings are alone in the world and that no god protects them and that if they need protection that they had better do so by themselves?

       In Brothers Karamazov, Dostoyevsky observed that if there is no God in the world that there can be no moral absolutes and that all behaviors are justified.

        (Come to think about it, the world is already approving behaviors that in a religious world seemed horrible; today, homosexuality is approved by the West and, no doubt, give or take, a few decades pedophilia would be approved by the West, why not? If there are no moral absolutes in the world who said that those men who prefer to have sex with five year old children are sick? If homosexuals are not sick what rational grounds do we have to consider other forms of “sexual deviancy” sick? How about protecting children? That is a moral perspective, is it not? I thought that we had already agreed that there is no god and morality in the universe? At any rate, some white Americans are already engaging in pedophilia; indeed, there is already an association called North American-Man-Boy Association propagating the legalization of pedophilia. Regarding criminality, it could be argued that since criminality is largely determined by the criminals’ genes that it is an appropriate behavior for criminals. Of course, society may punish criminals, not because what they do is naturally wrong…animals do take from whatever is out there that they need to eat and survive without regard to morality… but to protect property owners; punishment is pragmatic, not based on right or wrong; punishment is an artificial social construct designed by some persons to control other persons.)

     If there is no such thing as natural morality (natural law as opposed to positive law) it follows that it does not matter how a government comes to power, fair or crook? In this sense the rigged to power government of Yaradua is to be accepted? Might make right? 

      If we accept that Yaradua came to power through corruption and that it is okay in nature for corrupt persons to come to power, could Yaradua and his minions please spear us any reference to God? Could they end the shenanigans of Nigerian crookish politicians always saying that they are guided by god, unless, of course, their god is a god that approves thieving? Come to think of it, the god of the bible, especially the Old Testament part of the Bible, appears a crookish god; didn’t he tell Jews to kill the Canaanites and take their lands? Yaradua and his gang can employ the term god in their public utterances provided that by god they mean a thievish god.

      Philosophically speaking no one has established that God exists or does not exist. The idea of God is always accepted on faith. Science, of course, has no use for the god hypothesis in explaining anything. Science explains phenomena from the perspective of pure reason and empirical observation. In nature we easily observe that stronger animals dominate weaker ones and that big fish eats small fish. As Charles Darwin observed and Herbert Spencer propagated, we seem to live in a world of struggle for the survival of the fittest. The fittest human being survives at the expense of weak human beings (and dies and becomes food for lowly worms; so much for the fittest animal).

      If pure reason is our guide there is nothing wrong with Yaradua and his gang rigging the election. If you consider them criminals may I remind you that crime is a social construct and that in nature there is no such thing as crime? A hungry tiger kills and eats the nearest sheep; a lion uses lionesses to kill other animals for him and eats. Cattle eat grass wherever it finds it regardless of who claims to own it.

       Private property is a social construct, not a natural state. In nature there is no such thing as criminal behavior.

       In this light the folks who just used massive rigging to place themselves at the helms of Nigeria ’s government are not criminals. Of course, if we had a constitution that says that people should not come to power through rigging they would be considered criminals.

        We do seem to have a constitution, did I hear you say? When did Nigerians write a constitution for themselves?  The 1999 constitution was written by an unelected military junta and imposed on Nigerians. Democratically speaking the 1999 so-called constitution is not a legitimate constitution of Nigeria .

        It is only if Nigerians or their representatives were to meet and write a constitution, put it to a referendum and pass it that we can accurately say that there is such a thing as constitution in Nigeria, a law that makes coming to power through rigging illegitimate.

       Given the manner the so-called extant Nigerian constitution came into being, it is illegitimate and, as such, cannot be employed to judge Yaradua illegitimate.

       What we have in Nigeria is the rule of the powerful, the clever and the thief.  We do not need to deceive ourselves or moralize about a situation where there is no basis for moralization.

        Given the absence of morality in nature, the Yaradua government can be accepted as an appropriate government. The only question left is whether that government can deliver some useful goods to Nigerians.

       White Americans stole America and nevertheless seem to have done some good for their fellow white folk. Can the Yaradua government that came to power through thievish means do some good things for Nigerians?  I think so.  Some good can come out of bad situations. 

       Technically, since there appears no justice in the universe it, therefore, does not matter whether the Yaradua crowd does good or bad for Nigeria . However, should they decide to do some good, here are some of the things that they could do for Nigeria . One makes this recommendation not out of misguided sentimentalism or even cynical realism but from a sense of concern for suffering Nigerians. One simply cannot stomach the level of suffering one sees in Nigerians and out of concern for Nigerians welfare ask the fellows in power at Abuja , regardless of how they came to power, to please do something about their fellow human beings plight. While these people continue their specialization, stealing from the national treasury until the oil revenue runs out and they have nothing more to steal and Nigeria becomes another failed African state, one hope that they find in their hearts some compassion for their fellow Nigerians. (Some thieves have compassion, you know.)

      We have all talked about how Europe lumped different African tribes into the same country and how that created political problems for Africans. We have all wished that there were a better political structure in Africa .  It is now time to stop whining about what Europe did wrong for us and correct whatever mistake they made.

      The issue of tribe is real. Even if you suppress it, sooner or later, it resurfaces. See, in Britain where the English used brutal force to suppress the Scots, Welsh and the Irish those folks are now clamoring for local autonomy hence Tony Blair’s attempted devolution of the British government. Therefore, we must address this tribal thing correctly.

       I have addressed this issue elsewhere. Briefly, I think that the best way to address it is to divide Nigeria along tribal lines. There are about ten major tribes in Nigeria (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani , Bornu , Ijaw, Edo , Efik, Tivi, and Uhrobo/Itshikiri) and many small ones. Each of the ten major tribes should be made a state. The smaller tribes should be grouped into additional four states; Nigeria should not have more than fourteen states. For one thing, this would reduce the cost of running governments.

        Each state should control its resources and pay 25% of revenue from its natural resources to the federal government. Citizens should pay individual income taxes to the central government not to exceed 25% of their annual income. The same goes for corporate and other forms of federal taxes. Sales and property taxes should be a state and local affair.

      Each state should have its own legislature (unicameral, not to exceed fifty members), its governor and judiciary.

       Each state should be divided into local government areas (districts) with district councils, district administrators and district courts.

       Districts should be divided into towns/cities with city councils, mayors and magistrate courts. 

       At the national level there should be a unicameral house of representative (not to exceed 350 members, serving five year terms, six terms limit), a prime minister (who serves two terms limit) and a president (who serves two five year term limit); and a judicial system with a Supreme Court (of no more than thirteen members, one of whom is the chief justice; twenty years term limit).

       (The number of years and term limits at the center is replicated at the state, and local government levels.)

       What we are talking about is true federalism, along the lines enumerated by Pronoco. The first order of business for the incoming National Assembly ought to be to write a new constitution and putting it to a referendum; this ought to be done within six months and the Yaradua government (and state governments) dissolved and a new election held to elect legitimate governments for Nigeria .

       Nigeria , Africa , we all know, is the most impoverished place on earth. We are the least educated continent on earth. It is not overstating it to say that our people are primitive in comparison to people in other continents. One way to help us out is to institute universal and free education at all levels of the educational process (by free one means paid for by the public, for nothing in nature is free).

       The government should pay for all citizens to have access to education: free six years of elementary education, free six years of secondary education, free four years of either university or technical education, free two years of master’s level education and free three years of post masters/doctoral education for the best and brightest students.

       Never mind if folks would not obtain jobs after education, educate them anyway. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. At any rate, if most people are educated some of them would become entrepreneurs and start businesses that would generate jobs for the rest of the people.

       Our people receive the worst medical attention in the world. What is our life span, forty three years?  We need free medical help.  The government should provide all citizens with health insurance. Never mind the quality of such health care, just provide it. I believe that health care is a human right.

       Nigeria and Africa is the least industrialized place on earth. Clearly, a reasonable government would embark on a crash program to industrialize Nigeria . I suggest that this government embark on industrializing the country.

       The least that the Yaradua government could do is lay down the infrastructure for economic development; and firmly establish a mixed and regulated economy.

        Assuming that Africans are intelligent and do see what is going on in other parts of the world and have pride and shame I actually believe that it is possible for the leaders of Nigeria to industrialize the country within twenty years.

       Asians are industrializing their continent and one sees no reason why Nigerians cannot do the same.

       I understand that Nigerians seem to have a special proclivity to criminal behavior, and as some say, criminality may be in their genes. That notwithstanding, Nigerians can still do something to develop their country.

       Nigerians come to the West and enjoy the amenities provided to their people by Western governments; one would imagine that Nigeria governments have the desire to provide similar amenities for their own people?

      Alternatively, are Nigerians, as racist whites say, born criminals? Are they bereft of any wish to do the right thing for their people; is it true that all they know is stealing and squandering their national wealth but not proper utilization of it?

       I can further enumerate some other things that Yaradua and his crew can do for Nigeria but the above would do for a start. 

       Could you, Yaradua, despite the manner that you came to power, do something for Nigeria ?  For the first time in black folk’s history could you give the world the impression that black men can actually govern themselves?

       Could you folks quit giving us excuses why Africans do not do the right thing? The world is sick and tired of hearing why Africans are always poor, starving and unable to do the right thing.

      Can you, Yaradua, change the pattern of Africans always blaming White men for whatever is wrong with Africa ?

       Only failure needs explanation. Success speaks for itself. One hopes that you can be different from your predecessors or is one mistaken in expecting good to come from Africa ? 

       As you can see, Mr. President, I have tortured my mind to rationalize your government despite the fact that you came to power in a manner that I consider despicable and contemptible. I hope that you can redeem your self in my eyes. I would hate to believe that Nigerians are incapable of governing themselves, which is the inevitable conclusion a rational person would draw if Nigerians continue to mess up. Excuses why Nigerians, Africans, so far have not been able to govern themselves appropriately no longer persuade any one or get Africans sympathy.

       Adults govern themselves properly; children mess up and provide excuses why they messed up. Are you an adult or a child? We shall soon find out, not from what you say but from what you did.

Good luck,

Ozodi Thomas Osuji, PhD

May 30, 2007

ozodiosuji@gmail.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 Can good come from bad? Can an unelected government do some social good? I do not ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 30.05.2007 13:06

ebasain  Villager

# 2 In my few years on this earth, I have read so many western philosophies and I cannot tell if I am any smarter today than I was yesterday. But, I must admit that you raised some good points. However, I wonder how any good can come out of a wrong that has yet to be remedied. Part of what is good about being a Nigerian is that we are an incurable set of optimists. Even when we're okoboko-whipped by the devil, we think we can win on the l long run. That, I think is what has negated the total fragmentation of Nigeria. Posted by ebasain| 30.05.2007 15:07