The President's 'missing ears'
By Reuben Abati

MEN Without Ears is the title of a 1984 novel by Nigerian writer, Ifeoma Okoye. With due respect, President Umaru Yar'Adua is beginning to behave like a man without ears. Being without ears refers to a certain obduracy, a peculiar inability to appreciate the truth. I see the same problem in the Yar'Adua presidency, seven months down the line. The President either needs the services of an ear doctor (I am sorry sir) or he needs to listen a bit more attentively. There are issues in this country which need to be addressed urgently, which the government is treating with kid gloves. I offer to draw the attention of the President, to a few of these without seeking to run the country for him. I confess that I know my place.

But if the President had been listening hard enough, he would have realized that there is a certain disquiet in this country today. The people are happy, very happy indeed, and they are willing to shout it from the rooftops if they are so allowed, that former President Obasanjo is already out of the way. That fellow made life so difficult for Nigerians in spite of the protestations of his promoters to the contrary. Yar'Adua's coming gave the ordinary Nigerian some hope. Our people thought that with a mild mannered man in power, the country would be able to make some progress.

Unfortunately, seven months after President Umar Adua took over government, there is some nostalgia in some places for the Obasanjo presidency. Obasanjo may have been a problematic President, brusque and rude, but he at least gave Nigerians some drama. He was a colourful man who had tasted power and who had a little idea about what to do with it. In comparison, President Yar'Adua is like a bucket of cold, iced water. Behind his back, he is known as President do-nothing. Baba Go slow. The emerging folklore is that he closes from work every day at 4 pm, and that on weekends, the Presidential Villa is ghost town because the President does not work on weekends. The difference between Obasanjo and Yar'Adua is like the difference between fire and water.

Nigeria is a 24-hour assignment all through the year. Nigerians want a President who can make things happen. They want a leader who knows what he is doing. For more than eight years, Nigerians have been looking for the so-called democracy dividends. They are nowhere nearer it today than they were eight years ago. Power supply is a major problem that needs to be solved without further ado. More than half of Nigerians live in houses that are perpetually in darkness. Even in the two cities: Lagos and Abuja, that have been declared liveable by international standards, life is "short, nasty and brutish."

The President of Nigeria cannot run a 9 am to 4 pm schedule like a civil servant waiting for a salary at the end of the month. It is bad that there are some Nigerians who are now saying that whatever may have been Obasanjo's shortcomings, he at least gave the impression of hardwork. This may be a Nigerian pattern: every new government always appears better than the preceding one, but in this case, the challenge is that of the need for the new government to begin to perform and to be seen to be making an effort to make a contribution. To be compared to the Obasanjo government and to be rated lower, this early, is a sign of misfortune.

I have mentioned power, but let us put the matter more directly. Nigeria suffers from a crisis of infrastructure. Nothing seems to be working here. The roads are bad. The country is full of unfinished projects. The hospitals are no longer mere consulting clinics as they were once described; they are no more than cemeteries. With a new President in office, Nigerians want to see a difference in their lives in these areas. Excuses have been given about why the Federal Government cannot tackle the problem of power supply, for example, but why do Nigerian leaders always give excuses? They have been put in office or they have smuggled themselves into power long enough for them to be able to govern the people and develop their lives. Excuses such as we have been having, lately, point not to a democratic instinct, but a failure of ability. When the Yar"adua government first came to power, there was some activity in the Ministry of Transportation with Diezani Madueke making some noise and shedding tears. I think Adenike Grange, the Minister of Health also made some useful statements. Then there was some activity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministry, but at this moment all promises have died down.

The spot price of crude oil is now $100 per barrel. Ordinarily this should be cause for joy, but we cannot jubilate because Nigeria's fortune is dependent on oil and the associated forces of demand and supply. With the international price of oil now $100 per barrel, Nigeria as an oil producing company will make more money. But because it is dependent on refined product from Europe, due to the collapse of local refineries, the country will be at the mercy of importers of refined products, who will seek a premium on their investments. It is already being said that the pump price of petroleum products will be increased. This now looks like a question of time. But it will also be an invitation to chaos. How does President Yar'Adua hope to handle the challenge? If anything, Nigerians speaking through the Nigeria Labour Congress, do not want any further disruption to their lives.

President Yar'Adua runs one of the most colourless cabinets in recent Nigerian history. Give it to Obasanjo, whatever may have been his shortcomings, he had a Federal cabinet of names and personalities. Even during his first term. But President Yar'Adua is running a cabinet of sleep-walking giants. With the exception of about six of the Ministers, the rest are comfortably bearing the title without making any impact in the public arena. When is the President going to disband the present team and offer Nigerians a team of performers? He should do so now. He even behaves and sounds as if he does not know his own lieutenants. Few of them can speak confidently for government because they do not exactly know what their mandate is. They are in office because they have been put there by some of the powerful people who made Yar'Adua President.

Who are the President's handlers? He has been behaving as if he has no handlers. Every President needs to be managed. A country leader is as good as his managers. The job of the President's handlers is simple. They tell him what to do and what not to do. They are men of experience who have been in and out of the system and who have an idea of what it means to run a country. They bring the President into the mainstream of existing tradition while allowing him enough room to assert himself. This ensures creativity and continuity at the same time. But our new President has been behaving as a novice in the Presidency without any guides. The Presidency is too important an office to be handed over to learners. The effect is the kind of bungling and reversals that we have been witnessing. The impression we get at this end is that the President is being managed by the wrong set of people who are taking advantage of his seeming lack of experience and who seem to be pushing his Presidency in the wrong direction. Can President Yar'Adua please wake up? I think if anybody needs to go for a one year study leave at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, it should be President Yar'Adua.

How bad the situation is can be measured in terms of the clumsiness of some of the recent events in the country. We have had a lot of motion being generated around what the previous administration did. But there is very little to hold on to coming from the present government. President Yar'Adua must begin to create his own history. His salary has just been increased. Good for him. But let him begin to earn that salary. If he does not know what to do at all, may be he should marry a new wife and have a loud wedding at Aso Villa. He has removed the EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu and we are all talking and writing, but after Ribadu, what next on the anti-corruption campaign?

Let him give Nigerians something meaningful to talk about while he is trying to figure out how to solve national problems. He promised a seven-point agenda. Where are we seven months later? Nigerians like him. No doubt about that. He comes across as a gentleman in comparison to the Owu man. But let him not make the Owu man look like a genius with his refusal to run a government that walks and talks like a government. And he must resist the temptation to turn the Presidency into an all-knowing temple and oracle.

If the President does not yet have a new year resolution, it should be this: this year. I shall run a government that functions, a government that is pro-active and not reactive, a government that can be judged by its results and not its complaints. The primary duty of a government is to ensure the welfare and happiness of a people.

Comments Page: 1 2 posted on 01-05-2008, 03:19:40 AM NWANZA Re: The President`s `missing ears` Thank you for telling us what kind of President you like for Nigeria, but I beg to differ from your assertions. Prodding a Nigerian President with enormous responsibility is not what I recommend at this point. The wait and see attitude may be connected with the fact that his legitimacy has not been approved at the election tribunals. As soon as we know who won the 2007 presidential elections, then we can prod him wantonly for moving slow. Nigeria desperately needs electricity, water, security, and infrastructure to grow our economy. Which will translate to more job creation for our teeming college graduates, and young professional men and women. We need to build and grow our economy now before the oil wells dry up. They will not last forever at $100 a barrel. The cost of building our road, railway, and airport infrastructures will only escalate if they are put off again. First thing first, and then the loud noise you requested will be given to you. posted on 01-05-2008, 04:46:50 AM Frisky Larr Re: The President`s `missing ears` Interesting indeed that I am these days, clearly singing from the same hymnbook with Reuben Abati. The similarity in our vocabularies strikes me with awe. Many thanks indeed for buttressing this general picture of inertia inherent in the current status quo. Yar'Adua reminds me today of a misguided Mikhail Gorbachov, who thought the solution to the problem of the USSR was simple: "Glasnost and Perestroika and the USSR would be revamped" But he was in for a dreadful surprise. UMYA seems to think that handling Nigeria is simple: "Only be the opposite of OBJ and you are through". But he is seeing now that he needs far more imagination and charisma and not meaningless policy reversals. @ Nwanza Precisely the uncertainty over presidential legitimacy should have been the ultimate catalyst to spur any reasonable leader to action for as long as it lasts! posted on 01-05-2008, 06:08:24 AM I-go-better Re: The President`s `missing ears` Please Dr Abati allow the still mesmerised, dazed and hungry Nigerian citizens a little more time for some semblance of recovery from Obj's 8yrs of mayhem before you start this insidious attempt at rehabilitating his "draculaic" nightmarish image that still hunts them. Those you claim are nostalgic of Obj's presidency shouldn't have affected your hard earned journalistic integrity because they leave obvious trail of dubious antecedence despite hiding behind pseudonym of several Damilolas. And, curiously you seem to have failed to undersatnd the inextricable link between Obj and any Yaradua's inadquacy! Let me explain; 1. if Yaradua performs averagely well, then the failure of Obj would become DOUBLELY obvious even to his diehard supporters; 2. if Yaradua performs badly, then the failure of Obj would become QUADRUPLELY obvious even to his diehard supporters for 8yrs of waste and corruption and installing an unwilling president whose consequent failure was foretold. I always cringe at the realisation that I used to be one of his diehard supporters until 2003 elections! Dr Abati, you are much better than this, however, my admiration for you is not affected by this mis-step. Happy New Year. posted on 01-05-2008, 07:00:37 AM Dapxin Re: The President`s `missing ears` QUOTE: Please Dr Abati allow the still mesmerised, dazed and hungry Nigerian citizens a little more time for some semblance of recovery from Obj's 8yrs of mayhem before you start this insidious attempt at rehabilitating his \"draculaic\" nightmarish image that still hunts them. Those you claim are nostalgic of Obj's presidency shouldn't have affected your hard earned journalistic integrity because they leave obvious trail of dubious antecedence despite hiding behind pseudonym of several Damilolas. And, curiously you seem to have failed to undersatnd the inextricable link between Obj and any Yaradua's inadquacy! Let me explain; 1. if Yaradua performs averagely well, then the failure of Obj would become DOUBLELY obvious even to his diehard supporters; 2. if Yaradua performs badly, then the failure of Obj would become QUADRUPLELY obvious even to his diehard supporters for 8yrs of waste and corruption and installing an unwilling president whose consequent failure was foretold. I always cringe at the realisation that I used to be one of his diehard supporters until 2003 elections! Dr Abati, you are much better than this, however, my admiration for you is not affected by this mis-step. Happy New Year. Your excellency, When I read this, I certainly had the same feelings as you wrote above. Whatever oga Yaradua turns out to be - rubbish as it stands - OBJ will never be any good for it, and thus does it not become futile, if not premature, to attempt a comparative analysis ? I think I can excuse, forgive me, Abati's seeming u-turn on gen. Obj here as resulting from the attempts of a frustrated writer to make sense of the travesty, or shall we say farce, of a president, government and countryman in that order that oga Yaradua typifies. I mean, for a moment, I am prepared to envisage myself having to critique this administration, and I cannot but agree to the salient issues Abati highlighted here, the worst being the suggestion that the president of a country, so energyless, so roadless, so healthless, so policingless, so classless, goes to work 9-4pm minus weekends! It is grotesque, its unbelievable, I mean its shocking not just to the bone marrows, but right to the red blood cells! And we have 4 more years of this abi ? (apologies to that villager, you know yourself) posted on 01-05-2008, 07:03:56 AM Akuluouno Re: The President`s `missing ears` I totally support UMYA for restoring decorum at Aso Rock. The place has had some quiet and dignity in recent times and I believe that this is good for the country. What remains is for UMYA to translate that peace and decorum to the entire country just as he did in Katsina State. For power we need less megawatts in the pages of newspapers and more light in peoples homes. I believe that we will get there once the legal obstacles I believe earlier mentioned by Nwanza are overcome. Give it to the Fulani man to be cool, calm and calculating. Behind that veneer of Umar go slow is a powerful man who understands the calculus of power. It is not by being theatrical, flamboyant, garroulous and generating heat in the polity that good govenance is done. Yes I agree he needs to build his own team of eminient Nigerians to tackle the challenges which have been identified. But Nigeria is a complex state and it is better to waltz through the minefields of governance than to do hip pop dance around them like the former regime to the detriment of the whole polity. Some go slow are surely needed at these times. UMYA should continue to make haste but less speed. posted on 01-05-2008, 07:57:42 AM Giafaleye Re: The President`s `missing ears` Honestly I’m really, really disappointed in Mr. Abati’s write up. Singing OBJ praises so soon and comparing him to Yardua is like comparing Night and Day. Abati is one of those I respect and enjoy reading but this particular write up made me sad. I believe Mr. Abati is not in touch with the masses any longer. This is the only Christmas without price increase in fuel and other commodities. Here in Port Harcourt and Rivers State in general people I have had the privilege of interacting with many people who are really happy with this government and are constantly praying for the leadership. However my prayer is that the Tribunal nullifies Yardua’s election and hopefully he’ll keep to his promise not to recontest so that we can have someone that would throw party in Aso Rock and go against all known rules and probably uses another Ribadu to intimidate and close down government of states to the joy of the likes of Abati. We still have a long way to go in this country what a pity! posted on 01-05-2008, 08:29:28 AM Ajimoh Re: The President`s `missing ears` No amount of huffing and puffing by the image launderers for this government will save it from the inevitable. How could a government composed largely of people not chosen on merit be expected to perform? When this government starts performing, or ever performs, let its apologists direct as much vituperations as possible my path. This government is founded on dishonesty and fraud, it is beholden to too many disreputable people in the ‘House of Thieves’ and that is why many clueless people have been put forward for ministerial appointments. Amongst thieves, there are NO honours; so palpably it is with the thieves ruling Nigeria and stripping it to the bones and fighting amongst themselves in the process, with token scape goats here and there! A house not built with a solid foundation never last long and it is a matter of time for this government to pack it in via the Tribunal or the people. How difficult can it be to provide the basic necessities of life to ones people? I take it the increment in the President’s salary had been premised on performance; is it? That is Nigeria for you! The other day, it was reported that new cars were approved for ministers and that the Secretary to the Federal Government (WHO ELSE?) had defended the decision before the legislators! Yes, new cars for ministers, salary increases for the Executives and what else? All these no doubt predicated on the sterling jobs they have been doing! There is now abundance of food, habitable shelter, quality education, quality and affordable health services, motorable roads, confidence in the security of life and property. The masses are all smiling and thanking their good fortunes. Nigeria has suddenly been blessed with leaders who place the electorates before their own pockets, who meet to address matters of concern to their constituents! Outside, the international community have no qualms doing business with us at all and foreign investors, at least the honest ones, are queuing up to come and do business in Nigeria because of our enabling environment: we do not ask for kickbacks here; children of government functionaries (who may even have their hands in the commonwealth pie themselves) do not go around the globe signing documents using pseudonyms; we award contract here based purely on competitive tendering. We do not apply sanctions selectively and have recently reawakened our consciousness to root out corruption: most of the erstwhile corrupt public officials have been tried, convicted and jailed: we refused to succumb to the temptation of doing deals with criminals in return for lesser sentences because to do so would have sent the wrong signal to the coming generation that there are two sets of laws in Nigeria – the one for the high & mighty and the other for lesser mortals! What has been most astonishing about us, to the chagrin of our detractors, is that we were meticulous about choosing a man of unquestionable poise, intellect and integrity, not smeared by the tar of ‘conflict of interest’ as our chief law officer: we chose a man who had never been compromised by his antecedents, utterances and actions as our Attorney General, a man who is honest and down-to-earth, who is not beholden to any corrupt ex-government official. Our choice has been the envy of the British legal system in particular, who remain befuddled by how intelligible our Attorney General is about their system: it was a surprise to them that our AG knew, and understood, that it was sufficient for an official of the Home Official to sign request on behalf of the British Home Secretary. Above all, the pro-activeness of our AG in assisting the international community in rooting out corruption is still being marvelled at. In one case involving an ex-con, who later metamorphosed into a State Chief Executive, all the available evidence have been placed at the disposal of the British authorities with such alarming alacrity that they, the British, are now contemplating naming our AG the man of the decade for his stance against corruption. There is such a buzz about governance in Nigeria, that some British parliamentarians are coming to learn from our legislators the art of purchasing properties all over the globe, junketing around the world, renovation of official quarters at an ‘undervalue’, allocation of houses to elected officials (in a country that cannot feed its citizens, educate children, quench the thirst of its people for water and decent living). Whilst in the country, they are scheduled to visit Chief Lamidi ‘Amala’ Adedibu to learn about political tolerance; visit ‘Dr’ Andy Uba to learn about how to assist in laundering and pilferage of state resources; the triumvirate of General Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Iyiola Omisore & Atiku Abubakar will grant them audience on the subtleties of handling how one former Attorney General got murdered and his wife indirectly murdered by the intrigues surrounding the trial. They are bound to be astounded by the abundance in our society, so much that our leaders are so popular with the masses that they go around mixing among the teeming masses, using the same excellent public transportation systems, sending their children to the same public schools that they have adequately provisioned and equipped to the same, if not better, standards as obtain abroad. There is so much to learn here; the Kenyans have just left to put into practice what they came to learn. Postscript Nigeria will continue to go down the drain for the obvious reason that we have a nation largely founded on dishonesty and led by hugely corrupt, selfish and greedy people. It does not take a year to start making an immediate impact, when you have no skeletons in your cupboard, e.g. the ghost of a singing Ibori! A situation where the first act done was to appoint the same old guard, a man of questionable integrity, as Secretary, gave me the first inkling that it is going to be business as usual. I invite Mr Olusegun Adeniyi to tell us what exactly has been the achievement of this government so far. After all, he went to the US the other day to learn about information management. I envy him and wish him good luck in his endeavours with this government. The day for Nigeria has not come. The present president is a hostage, just like Shehu Shagari was a hostage, and we all know what happen to hostages in the end: they are either killed, die, escape or freed from bondage. I hope that the present president is freed from bondage by the Election Tribunal. posted on 01-05-2008, 08:35:15 AM Giafaleye Re: The President`s `missing ears` Honestly I’m really, really disappointed in Mr. Abati’s write up. Singing OBJ praises so soon and comparing him to Yardua is like comparing Night and Day. Abati is one of those I respect and enjoy reading but this particular write up made me sad. I believe Mr. Abati is not in touch with the masses any longer. This is the only Christmas without price increase in fuel and other commodities. Here in Port Harcourt and Rivers State in general people I have had the privilege of interacting with are really happy with this government and are constantly praying for the leadership. However my prayer is that the Tribunal nullifies Yardua’s election and hopefully he’ll keep to his promise not to recontest so that we can have someone that would throw party in Aso Rock and go against all known rules and probably uses another Ribadu to intimidate and close down government of states to the joy of the likes of Abati. We still have a long way to go in this country what a pity! posted on 01-05-2008, 10:10:50 AM Bob Re: The President`s `missing ears` the change of baton has really made some people unhappy. they cannot even wait for morning before they start grumbling. perhaps, the writer wants an ignorant and overzealous security man to pay him a visit so we can start another witch hunting round. i had a boss who said 'if u work hard from 7 to 4, then u can put your feet up the table'. posted on 01-05-2008, 10:37:33 AM Ifeolooni Re: The President`s `missing ears` d simple msg frm this write-up is dt yara donothing should wake up ,waiting for the tribunal is nt excuse for lethargy.igbochukwu onyejekwe was a meniac we all know, we need to know this man we call prsident who has refused to go home or perform. koda!!!!! those in katsina tried sha in any case igbochukwu will still carry the blame posted on 01-05-2008, 11:00:40 AM Ebe Re: The President`s `missing ears` Let's stop the pretense. I can forgive some people who expected competence from Yar'Adua for their ignorance of his lame duck tenure as Katsina governor. But other people know very well that the man's tenure in Katsina is a mirror image of his visionless and drab presidency and are still pretending that they are surprised that he has turned out this way. Obasanjo knew the man's record--or lack thereof--in Katsina and yet wickedly foisted him on a country already brutalized by his incompetent, corrupt, and tyrannical presidency. Obasanjo is deeply implicated in the Yar'Adua presidential disaster. To write him out of it or to pretend that we're no longer suffering from that deliberate and wicked imposition is to be escapist in one's analysis. posted on 01-05-2008, 11:08:08 AM Sammyrob Re: The President`s `missing ears` Dr Reuben Abati, Once again you have not failed to deliver. This apt description of the inate administration of Yar'Adua makes an exciting reading indeed. My take though is that we excuse UMYA his ineptitude, may be he is awaiting the judgement of the election tribunal before taking decisive actions. He needs all the friends (he cant afford to acquire enemies at this stage of the administrations' life) and resources he can muster in the event of a re-run of the elections which, under the circumstance one can only pray for. @Nwanza You are in order! posted on 01-05-2008, 11:21:36 AM Bjdon Re: The President`s `missing ears` Thank you Ruben Abati for reflecting what many of us are now thinking. It's a shame that many people seem to be misreading Dr Abati's article. From my understanding he is not trying to rehabilitate Obasanjo in any way. He's meraly pointing out how bad Yar'dua is doing that we are now in a situation where people are being forced to make comparsions with OBJ. How can any fair person not conclude that after 7 months in office Yar'dua has completly and totally failed to inspire any sense of urgency or direction in tacking the many problmes facing our Nation? I do agree that some the issues we are facing will take time and detailed planning to resolve, but surly after 7 months we should have some kind of feeling about where our president is taking us. The issues in our country are CRTICAL. People are dying everyday on bad roads, in ill-equiped hospitals. Factories are clossing everday due to the epiliptic power situation. Say what you will about the Obasanjo govt (And there's quite a lot of Negative stuff that can be rightly be said about it) at least he was able to leave some kind of base for Yar'dua to build on. By getting the bulk of external debt wiped off, there is now more money available for social infrastructure, yet what does Yar'dua do in his budget? He gives the largest allocation to the Security/Defense establishment. Where is the state of emergency promised in the power sector? What of the promise to reform the land use decree? Yar'dua may well be a decent and humble gentleman, who would never steal a dime of Nigeria's money, but I am starting to belive he's is also a man who is simply not up to the job of being President of Nigeria. The President is the living embodiment of his nation. Being a competent administrator is simply not enough. He needs to reflect a presence of strenght, competence and courage, and deliver a vision his people can belive in as well as a sense that he understands their pains and is working Night and day to resolve them. On all these Umaru Yar'dua fails misreabliy. posted on 01-05-2008, 11:42:59 AM Salford Re: The President`s `missing ears` A man with a vision needs no excuse. Tribunal or not, UMYA should get on with the people's business like a man with a purpose. Time and tide waits for no man. posted on 01-05-2008, 11:49:01 AM NWANZA Re: The President`s `missing ears` QUOTE: the change of baton has really made some people unhappy. they cannot even wait for morning before they start grumbling. perhaps, the writer wants an ignorant and overzealous security man to pay him a visit so we can start another witch hunting round. i had a boss who said 'if u work hard from 7 to 4, then u can put your feet up the table'. Well put analysis! Obasanjo needed to work round the clock due to lack of education, and the need to find loop hole to hide stolen goods like silver, gold, iron & steel, and a lot of crude oil. Yar'Adua a college graduate knows that after 8 hours on the Job, any additional time spent there is useless. Why kill yourself when you have ministers delegated to take care of govt. It is ignorant to compare a farmer with machinery with a farmer with hand tools. Productivity is a factor of one's use of technology plus a little wisdom. Furthermore, Nigerians are easy to please if these Oga's can build a few good roads traversing the country from Lagos to east, to north east, to northwest, and back to Ibadan. Simply things in life can really boost the economy because Nigerians are hard working people, and they will complete the development. They only need good leaders period. posted on 01-05-2008, 12:05:03 PM Dapxin Re: The President`s `missing ears` QUOTE: Well put analysis! Obasanjo needed to work round the clock due to lack of education, and the need to find loop hole to hide stolen goods like silver, gold, iron & steel, and a lot of crude oil. Yar'Adua a college graduate knows that after 8 hours on the Job, any additional time spent there is useless. Why kill yourself when you have ministers delegated to take care of govt. It is ignorant to compare a farmer with machinery with a farmer with hand tools. Productivity is a factor of one's use of technology plus a little wisdom. Furthermore, Nigerians are easy to please if these Oga's can build a few good roads traversing the country from Lagos to east, to north east, to northwest, and back to Ibadan. Simply things in life can really boost the economy because Nigerians are hard working people, and they will complete the development. They only need good leaders period. Interesting. This would have been a thumbs up response but hold on, how about coming in , on saturday to find out what's the latest from XYZ minister? I mean, read a report on this and that - so you can fire him the next target ? While, we can bask in the obvious differences in personality and credential a la Obj, let's not start rolling out our gangans and shekeres. Part of being a president is being in charge, and responsibly so 24/7 and tell me one pilot who 'll go to sleep when his plane is nosediving fast ontop of River Zambesi ? And to think the excuse will be 'cos he's been on a 8hr flight from Pakistan to Zamfara ? I opine, maybe wrongly, that Mr. President needs to show more haste. posted on 01-05-2008, 12:08:37 PM NWANZA Re: The President`s `missing ears` QUOTE: Thank you Ruben Abati for reflecting what many of us are now thinking. It's a shame that many people seem to be misreading Dr Abati's article. From my understanding he is not trying to rehabilitate Obasanjo in any way. He's meraly pointing out how bad Yar'dua is doing that we are now in a situation where people are being forced to make comparsions with OBJ. How can any fair person not conclude that after 7 months in office Yar'dua has completly and totally failed to inspire any sense of urgency or direction in tacking the many problmes facing our Nation? I do agree that some the issues we are facing will take time and detailed planning to resolve, but surly after 7 months we should have some kind of feeling about where our president is taking us. The issues in our country are CRTICAL. People are dying everyday on bad roads, in ill-equiped hospitals. Factories are clossing everday due to the epiliptic power situation. Say what you will about the Obasanjo govt (And there's quite a lot of Negative stuff that can be rightly be said about it) at least he was able to leave some kind of base for Yar'dua to build on. By getting the bulk of external debt wiped off, there is now more money available for social infrastructure, yet what does Yar'dua do in his budget? He gives the largest allocation to the Security/Defense establishment. Where is the state of emergency promised in the power sector? What of the promise to reform the land use decree? Yar'dua may well be a decent and humble gentleman, who would never steal a dime of Nigeria's money, but I am starting to belive he's is also a man who is simply not up to the job of being President of Nigeria. The President is the living embodiment of his nation. Being a competent administrator is simply not enough. He needs to reflect a presence of strenght, competence and courage, and deliver a vision his people can belive in as well as a sense that he understands their pains and is working Night and day to resolve them. On all these Umaru Yar'dua fails misreabliy. I can see the point Ruben Abati is trying to make as a journalist who need to sell newspaper, and magazine articles. Yar'Adua do not generate income for the media rats in this rat race, and have to move to south Africa just to find materials. That is how they feed their families. Ministers in the Yar'Adua government should go on Television and sell their program to the masses. Miracles will not happen overnight, and no sane person will drive on a stretch of road build in three months. Nigeria do not need quick fixes, let's wait for something that will last a long time. Just for the records, Yar'Adua is not my ideal president for a country of this magnitude. posted on 01-05-2008, 12:54:39 PM Aguabata Re: The President`s `missing ears` Dr Abati is miffed over Ribadu's removal that's why the scathing attack on Yaradua. seven months is too short to compare Yaradua's government to Obasanjo based on infrastructural improvement, but for anything else Yaradua exceeds Obasanjo's class. posted on 01-05-2008, 13:05:20 PM Onari Re: The President`s `missing ears` QUOTE: Well put analysis! Obasanjo needed to work round the clock due to lack of education, and the need to find loop hole to hide stolen goods like silver, gold, iron & steel, and a lot of crude oil. Nwanza and Bob, Thank you for pointing that working round the clock do not bring productivity. Come to look at OBJ working around the clock was not to bring lasting solution to problem of Energy, power, health, education, security and other social issues but nocturnal meetings dwelling on how to deal with enemies and steal the country dry. Honestly, it is not how long you put in a job, but how well and productive those hours are to the job that matters. posted on 01-05-2008, 13:53:56 PM Aguabata Re: The President`s `missing ears` Dr Abati is miffed over Ribadu's removal that's why the scathing attack on Yaradua. seven months is too short to compare Yaradua's government to Obasanjo based on infrastructural improvement, but for anything else Yaradua exceeds Obasanjo's class. posted on 01-05-2008, 17:50:09 PM Tonsoyo Re: The President`s `missing ears` QUOTE: Dr Reuben Abati, Once again you have not failed to deliver. This apt description of the inate administration of Yar'Adua makes an exciting reading indeed. My take though is that we excuse UMYA his ineptitude, may be he is awaiting the judgement of the election tribunal before taking decisive actions. He needs all the friends (he cant afford to acquire enemies at this stage of the administrations' life) and resources he can muster in the event of a re-run of the elections which, under the circumstance one can only pray for. @Nwanza You are in order! So, if it takes the Tribunal three years to conclude its sittings, we should just remain stagnant for that three years? I do not get it. His faulty election is exactly the reason he should be desperate to perform. Knowing Nigerians very well, if Yar'Adua can give us light today, we will sing his praises and say to hell with the Tribunal. Incompetence is incompetence, no excuse. posted on 01-05-2008, 18:19:09 PM Son of the Delta Re: The President`s `missing ears` QUOTE: d simple msg frm this write-up is dt yara donothing should wake up ,waiting for the tribunal is nt excuse for lethargy.igbochukwu onyejekwe was a meniac we all know, we need to know this man we call prsident who has refused to go home or perform. koda!!!!! those in katsina tried sha in any case igbochukwu will still carry the blame @ Ifeolooni "Monkey no fine im mama laik am" This monkey has been with mama all these years no one complained, he even became president now people are talking about his acts of gross corruption and genocide you want to push him across the Niger bridge. They say the leopard cannot change his spots. "Igbochukwu Onyejekwe" have always been known as General Olusegun Matthew Aremu Okikolakun Obasanjo. posted on 01-05-2008, 19:41:36 PM Mekus Re: The President`s `missing ears` All these people taking a bit at Abati and proposing a wait and see theory are either blinded by the humble posture of UMYA or simply lack the understanding of the society we live in. 7 months and apart from Reversing this or that and some disgraceful theatrical show from AGF, and now IG, I personally cannot point out to one thing to at least show that this admin is headed to something good. You see, CNN ran a special documentary where they did nothing but try to tarnish Putin’s image, they called him Czar, dictator, etc but believe it or not, Russians care less of what CNN thinks, they know that they have a PATRIOTIC, VISIONARY, and VERY ENERGETIC president that certainly works more than 9-4pm daily including weekends and holidays. The West for instance can afford Mr go slow because things are more or less settled, in fact many Western States can function for some time without a government – Nigeria certainly needs Mr. Sharp Sharp. posted on 01-05-2008, 19:42:15 PM Son of the Delta Re: The President`s `missing ears` QUOTE: Originally Posted by Reuben AbatiUnfortunately, seven months after President Umaru YarAdua took over government, there is some nostalgia in some places for the Obasanjo presidency. Obasanjo may have been a problematic President, brusque and rude, but he at least gave Nigerians some drama. He was a colourful man who had tasted power and who had a little idea about what to do with it. In comparison, President Yar'Adua is like a bucket of cold, iced water. Behind his back, he is known as President do-nothing. Baba Go slow. The emerging folklore is that he closes from work every day at 4 pm, and that on weekends, the Presidential Villa is ghost town because the President does not work on weekends. The difference between Obasanjo and Yar'Adua is like the difference between fire and water. Is it drama Nigerians will eat!!! It is right to compare the two to fire and water so because Yar' Adua did not repeat his own Odi and Zaki-Ibiam he is not working. It is people like Abati that are troubling Nigeria where do you expect him to get money to work or you did not hear the state coffers were empty and instead loans were left for this government. QUOTE: Originally Posted by Reuben AbatiNigeria is a 24-hour assignment all through the year. Nigerians want a President who can make things happen. They want a leader who knows what he is doing. For more than eight years, Nigerians have been looking for the so-called democracy dividends. They are nowhere nearer it today than they were eight years ago. Power supply is a major problem that needs to be solved without further ado. More than half of Nigerians live in houses that are perpetually in darkness. Even in the two cities: Lagos and Abuja, that have been declared liveable by international standards, life is \\"short, nasty and brutish.\\" The dividends of democracy you could not get under Obasanjo's 8years you want to come and take from Yar'Adua in 7 months. Are you not the same Reuben Abati that wrote an article asking for "Soft- landing for Obasanjo" after genocides causing over 100,000 people's lives, and his involvement in different financial crimes and corruption now you are saying people are yet to receive dividends of democracy just 7 months into this government. You should be ashamed of your article against Yar`Adua if your 24hours a day working General Olusegun Obasanjo cannot be able to fix the electrical lines in a total of 13 years as a dictator and you are blaming Yar`Adua's government of 7months. When Obasanjo was there why didn't you write such an article. When people were accusing Rueben Abati of tribalism I thought they were joking. Now I can see people like you are Nigeria's problem. QUOTE: Originally Posted by Reuben AbatiThe President of Nigeria cannot run a 9 am to 4 pm schedule like a civil servant waiting for a salary at the end of the month. It is bad that there are some Nigerians who are now saying that whatever may have been Obasanjo's shortcomings, he at least gave the impression of hardwork. This may be a Nigerian pattern: every new government always appears better than the preceding one, but in this case, the challenge is that of the need for the new government to begin to perform and to be seen to be making an effort to make a contribution. To be compared to the Obasanjo government and to be rated lower, this early, is a sign of misfortune. This is the biggest problem of Nigeria hypocrisy. The poor man is working like every other government employee and you are annoyed he is acting like a civil servant. May be because the cultist government of Obasanjo would only impeache people at 4 in the midnight, and pass her laws at night when the cover of the night can provide oppourtunities to share GMG's you think Nigerians have forgotten what to expect in a democracy. When Obasanjo was presciding over an Ogboni government why wont they meet only at night. It is only in the eyes of noise makers, tribalists and corrupt personalities like Reuben Abati that this government would be rated lower than the government of Obasanjo because it is 7 months and there is no Odi which makes Obasanjo worse-off and shows the dictator he is despite the tactit support from his image makers like Gani, Soyinka and Mr Abati, They are the only ones that would see Yar'Adua's government as performing lower than Obasanjo's government. Performance is not based on the number of civillians you kill. I hope the Yar'Adua government would not disappoint the Nigerians for putting their confidence in him. We also hope that his ears would continually be blocked to critics, ego-massagers, and intimidators that are bent on using him as a pun to correct the battered image of their brother Obasanjo. The greatest step in the right direction would be to get Ribadu out and replace him with someone that is credible enough to prosecute the corruption cases like that Ms Iyabo Obasanjo-bello. posted on 01-05-2008, 20:51:18 PM Truthsayer33 Re: The President`s `missing ears` Just before OBJ left office he gave the presidency a 'hardship allowance' on the basis that the post was a 24/7 job.I wonder if UMYA will pay back the allowance? On the other hand UMYA is not wasting his time chasing skirt,counting his loot,monitoring aircraft movements, or plotting with Andy Uba. posted on 01-06-2008, 02:59:56 AM Sammyrob Re: The President`s `missing ears` tonsoyo, Your comment is ok. What I meant is that Yar'Adua is just being overcautious for the obvious reason of awaiting the outcome of the election tribunal which, they have promised will come within the next 3 months. We sincerely hope so. It might be a lame excuse for his non-performance but a bad excuse is better than none...what else can we say? For now he is desperate to please his sponsors (the Iboris et al) and the West in a bid to secure their support in case the pendillum swings against him. However, if he does survive, we might yet see a Yar'Adua that will spring not a few surprises for good or for bad maybe even worse, at least going by his latest garb of pretencious "good guy" policies and reversals. posted on 01-06-2008, 03:14:44 AM Fxo Re: The President`s `missing ears` I am wondering seriously if some of the comments I am reading here were written by Nigerians. So trusting So comfortable with the status quo So there are no emergencies in Nigeria? This trust of Yar Adua is based on what actually? What is so comforting about the man? All this optimism is based on what premise? I visited Katsina a couple of times, I was also there in his 7th year as governor, I shudder to think that is what we have waiting for us. Can somebody please leave Obasanjo out of this and put some spotlight on this fellow Yar Adua before we waste a couple of more generations needlessly. posted on 01-06-2008, 06:09:16 AM Mekus Re: The President`s `missing ears` [QUOTE=fxo;4294977750]I am wondering seriously if some of the comments I am reading here were written by Nigerians. So trusting So comfortable with the status quo So there are no emergencies in Nigeria? This trust of Yar Adua is based on what actually? What is so comforting about the man? All this optimism is based on what premise? ______________________________________________________________________ Fox my brother ask them!!! Let us wait and see the answers to be provided by the Yar Guards in this forum. OBJ was and is a bad news for Nigeria - UMYA was and is not a GOOD NEWS for Nigeria! Period!! posted on 01-06-2008, 06:51:31 AM Akuluouno Re: The President`s `missing ears` Hon Villagers, Esp SOD et al, This Igbochukwu Onyejekwe, is he not the one also referred to as Obasi Njoku. I know that I have been away from the village for some time but this fad really missed me or vice versa. posted on 01-06-2008, 14:52:35 PM MrOneNaija Re: The President`s `missing ears` THE PRO-OBASANJO LYNCH MOB AT THE GUARDIAN Recently, Abati of The Guardian has been sounding like a broken record. His gripes: That some mythical forces around the Yar'adua presidency are dismantling the evil empire erected by that universally despised punchinello of Nigerian politics, the sinister ex-tyrant from Otta. In my pondered reaction earlier in the week to Abati's/The Guardian's whining at the reported sacking of the pro-Obasanjo thug known as Ribadu, I cautioned Abati and his kindred spirits by letting them know that no amount of blackmail or propaganda on their part would make their idol, Ribadu, and his master, Obasanjo, palatable propositions for the average Nigerian. I also sought to make it clear for those who might have mistaken Abati's anti-Yar'Adua propaganda for anything other than what it really was (and is), namely, an egregious partisan campaign of calumny by Ibru's The Guardian on behalf of those very dark and obscurantist forces that are represented by the ancien régime. In a sense, Ribadu is a convenient excuse, an alibi of sorts, for Abati and his employers at The Guardian in their immoral crusade. It is the height of outrage for Abati to shamelessly claim a higher performance rating for the violent and lawless kleptocracy of the ex-dictator from Otta than the Yar'Adua administration. That in itself speaks volumes. In his haste to pass judgement on the Yar'Adua government, Abati has conveniently ignored to tell citizens the extent of the rot left by the profligate sinecure of Ali Baba. He has elected not to tell us that the scope and ramifications of the mess within the Augean Stables left behind by Kabiyesi are such that warrant a meticulous and systematic approach around the booby traps and mines deliberately set by a departing potentate of tremendous ill-will. The lawlessness at the EFCC, the rigged and contrived elections of last April, the criminal expropriation of the nation's collective patrimony, the generalised insecurity in the land with a compromised police force doing little or nothing to stem the havoc, a politicised and graft-ridden civil service, these are some of the landmines the ex-dictator left. Under the circumstances, it is wise for Yar'adua and his administration to pay attention to the Latin adage, " festine lente", meaning, "hurry slowly". If they were imbued with the best of intentions, Abati and The Guardian would also listen to that wise saying. The rearguard propaganda campaign the Abatis of Nigeria are futilely trying to orchestrate on behalf of certain vested interests should be seen as a sterile exercise of revanchist proportions. It is indeed pathetic that the columnist of The Guardian should be seen as lending his support to some of the more reactionary and anti-people influences within the Nigerian polity. As for Yar'Adua and his administration, they deserve commendation for their apparent determination to dismantle the callous and anti-people policies of the previous regime led by the Nigerian Caligula. Ribadu, for instance, is a needless distraction that should have been disposed of a long time ago. The ghastly Obasanjo "theocracy" did inflict so much destruction on the Nigerian polity that it will take decades to undo a quarter of the damage. Yar'Adua's seeming methodical and calculated posture is a step in the right direction. Those questioning this kind of decent and civil approach to leadership and governance are perhaps suffering from a hangover from a militaristic mindset. In a short time of about seven months, its illegitimacy notwithstanding, the Yar'adua government has succeeded in creating a much more condusive environment for a decent societal living, thanks in part to its its rule of law and due process mantra. This is a far cry from the general lawlessness, impunity and orchestrated rascality that characterized the Obasanjo interregnum. A final word of caution for Abati and Ibru's media outfit: The shrill and misguided attempt to use the paper to fight what is essentially a reactionary turf war is bound to spell doom for the reputations of those involved in the dishonourable enterprise. Go to the Full Discussion Thread Comments Page: 1 2