FEATURE ARTICLE

Patrick OdionikhereWednesday, May 31, 2006
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WILL OBASANJO AND HIS TREASURY LOOTERS GO QUIETLY?


ur people and courageous parliamentarians have spoken and unequivocally in its strident form and at last, third term bid by president Obasanjo defeated. Nonetheless, it should not mean that we should sit back without being vigilant on the hawk, which wouldn't go peacefully. The game may not be over since face saving might call for new strategic front in view of what is at stake. However, what will Obasanjo and his looters lose if they go without a fight?


Agitation and balance within Nigeria power politics;

Even when third term has come to an abrupt end without our people having to engage the proponent in a street fight, nevertheless, the political ramification amongst others will be the subject for analysis in the light of the above issues on this essay.

Nigerians at home including the Diasporas would wonder why President Obasanjo would want term extension in violation of our constitution or put in another way, change the constitution even when legitimate through an illegitimate method to impose his will on the people? It is true that a good government must lead public opinion but what it cannot do is to disregard the people's opinion within the tenets of a corrective democratic norm. It is not unlikely that tenure extension was borne from a subjective and unreasonable assessment and modulated by selfishness, a factor that continues to plague Nigeria power politics. President Obasanjo's third term saga is only a beginning to an end to the manipulative power politics and a repercussion for those, who prefer the status quo of mediocrity at the expense of leadership with integrity and vision.

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It is doubtful whether any meaningful economic development has been recorded by Obasanjo's government to contemplate the unpopular power extension debacle despite his abysmal record of:

The unfolding power elongation saga has simply shown that President Obasanjo's foreign debt payment wasn't driven to free us of external debts but rather for personal motive. He thought that he could convince our creditor nations especially USA and UK to go on board without understanding how to beat the master. Maybe, if he wasn't too greedy in making the payment and had played the cat-mouse game, he could have succeeded in getting the green light from his western friends, who would have been too eager to endorse him if they could trust him that he wouldn't derogate from any secret agreement. Western nations have always pursued self interests which is quite legitimate in a competitive world. This payment must be a lesson to future leaders with regards to how they conduct and formulate foreign policies. The argument that our foreign debt payment wasn't for personal gain is unsustainable on account that Obasanjo's government is still taking more foreign loans which in my view are unnecessary.

Again, the sudden revocation of Charles Taylor's asylum and his extradition is going to hurt our country's foreign policy and interest in the future. This case clearly illustrates how myopic and dubious Obasanjo is. He thought that by turning in Mr Taylor despite not being charged with any formal crime, that US would go soft and allow his term extension. Taylor became a scapegoat of Obasanjo's selfishness in spite of the gentleman or peace deal agreement. Even though, Mr Taylor is now charged for war crimes, nevertheless, President Obasanjo breached his obligation to him and thereby undermined our country's credibility in future peace mission and as peace broker. I am not giving Charles Taylor right but I can understand his rage against our country, our leaders and its policies. One fact remains no matter the outcome of his trial he has contributed to the peace process in Liberia. Charles Taylor's episode makes me sick especially to think that one so-called external affairs minister cannot justify his Dollar paid salary. It is scandalous that he is still retained despite his foreign policy blunder. You shouldn't wonder why Obasanjo desperately needed term extension to cause more havoc.

Statistical data is good but Nigerians want real economic improvement, jobs, affordable basic necessities and health care services, freedom to enjoy their property rights, safety and security of their persons. So far, Obasanjo's government has made life more miserable for ordinary Nigerians, waste our hope for seven years and created more problems than we ever had.

Obasanjo has said that his economic successes including his supposedly foreign reserve record and a couple of reforms which needed to be completed are among the reasons why he wanted term extension. Assuming that he is correct, how could the President predict with certainty that any successor wouldn't continue his reform courses if we agree that he is doing the right thing? Logically, a successor would want to continue what is good and take the credit unless, his fear is peremptory on ground that he knows already who will be his successor and that any election a mere formality.

In my view, I think his government can only be credited for bringing GSM services to our people even though they continue to pay disproportionate and exploitative prices. Equally, Obasanjo should give credit to our Diasporas who have been helping through their foreign remittance back home and thereby mitigating the social tension which could have arisen by his economic hardship especially on those left out and without help from outside.

President Obasanjo has always said that it wasn't his will during his military rule! But can it be said that it was his will this time around or has his age impaired his good sense of judgement on his second coming? Who is really the man 'Obasanjo'; what are his legacies and what will become of his demise? Is he a traitor, looter and vindictive?

Obasanjo's second coming has created more problem than it has been able to solve. Sad that Abacha is not alive then we would have been able to know whether Obasanjo is really a vindictive person or not. However, what is certain is that Obasanjo remains Mr Privatisation, a government of chop-chop, killers, money bag legislators and looters, education for sale; Obasanjo, the three in one: the judge, prosecutor and the executor. The man, who extinguished all opposition forces, used his so-called anti-corruption agencies to persecute adversaries, a gimmick whose downfall was predicated by cowardice.

Question remains unanswered as to why President Obasanjo fell fowl to third term manipulation; whereas, he ought to be grateful to our people for his personal history. I cannot read his mind but I can forecast the desperation for the move to seek third term. The president made so many mistakes whether on his choice of advisers, cabinet, PDP and political decisions including his relationship to the state's executive governors. It is first time in our history that corruption has been so massive and thanks to the press for their good work and the notorious London arrest of two serving governors on charges of money laundering to climax the corruptness of Obasanjo's government.

Happily, President Obasanjo responded to the public uproar to hasten the removal of Alamieyesegha; unfortunately, Dariye has refused to be cornered while Ngige got impeached on electoral fraud and ran off to the U.S. There is no doubt that all three were not in good terms with Obasanjo which accounted for their disgrace no matter the consequences and knowing that Nigerians have no time for details and lacking in critical completeness. Our people prefer instead more time for pepper soup and beer parlour small talk at the expense of national contemporary issues and political activism. Anyway, Ngige is cooling off in USA despite the mess and lies about his financial stewardship in Anambra state yet, Obasanjo and his EFCC aren't doing anything to investigate him or make an application to the US government for his extradition in view of his indictable role in the annulled election that supposedly brought him to power. Dariye's continue stay in power is unacceptable; he must be removed like Alamieyesegha because the same factual scenario deserves the same political and legal recourses.

All governors are corrupt says President Obasanjo and hence none of them dear to travel abroad after the two UK arrest and disgrace. If this is true and yet no sanction has placed on the rest of them, then, the president must explain how much share he has taken from their loot and why vehemently supporting tenure extension for those once considered as enemies and perpetrator of hardship? They say if a man is foolish enough or grossly negligent on his duty to be unable to make the right decision, then he should be vicariously liable for any decision made in his name and should be punished as if he actually committed the said offences.

The so-called sale of government houses scandal is still fresh but President Obasanjo thinks he is not corrupt. How does he understand corruption? Nigerians are yet to know why the government continue to present its budget on $30 per barrel as revenue from oil as against over $65 per barrel; so where is the balance?

Obasanjo manipulated our supposedly national sovereign conference to a self selected national reform conference representing his friends and enemies of our progressive Nigeria. He deceived our people and thought he could trust his friends and if not, coerce them to give him president for life. Unfortunately, things fell apart due to northern arrogance on oil revenue derivation formula. Obasanjo spoon fed his friends lavishly with our oil money for a mission impossible. His friends were happy knowing that Mr chop-chop did not forget them completely having lost out on lucrative job portfolio. The quintessential ones rejected their nomination and prefer instead a parallel conference. Obasanjo's conference failed and no mention of the wasted resources and yet to be probed by both houses of parliament, which gives the impression that our parliamentarians do not even know their constitutional responsibilities despite the fat privileges given to them.

Obasanjo's police chief was dismissed for corruption, convicted to a compromised jail term that is difficult to comprehend and ought to cause riot in civilise societies. May be he knows what Obasanjo is hiding hence the political settlement rather than legal prosecution.

What about Obasanjo's multi-billion naira personal library to support his private university venture? Has he forgotten that the donations that were given conflicted with public/private interest divide?

Obasanjo earns less than �1000 monthly as president of Nigeria and cannot take our people for fools not to know the true state of affairs as to his sources of wealth. If he says he is not corrupt, how come he has so many corrupt people around him and yet remains uncorrupted? Obasanjo's power elongation bid is a logical consequence from the transcendent analysis so far. There is no doubt that the third term was needed in order to have enough time to cover up his economic mess and to tint the looting. We should be very careful to think that Obasanjo and his looters will go quietly without a fight despite conceding defeat. The fact that he has just bought himself a new jet costing $77 million will be contrary to any logic that the President will go voluntarily. Unless, I would believe that he is exiting but wants to keep the jet as his last bonus. Again, we must be apprehensive of Obasanjo's new economic pact with China now that it has invested in our oil, a likelihood that Obasanjo might want to keep the Chinese card for any eventualities should he choose to take the rough path.

Our people should be prepared to take on him and his looters. They must be forced to return their ill gotten wealth. Obasanjo has set a precedent by pursuing Abacha's hidden wealth. Our people will not wait until his death to demand the return of our stolen money. The time is up on him and cannot be allowed to keep the loot now that his covert agenda has been exposed. Even if he chooses to go without confrontation, any political settlement which excludes this demand is unacceptable. Since real political change means political consequences and accountability.

Obasanjo is a broken man. His power elongation bid has put him in the likes of Mobutu, Doe, Kabila and other rogue leaders. I hope his Media spokesman has briefed him of the damage to his international reputation if there was ever any? It is shameful that President Obasanjo does not even know the worth of his name and should be reminded that his cheap CNN advert to portray Nigeria as tourist destination is insulting to all Nigerians. It demises his personality, unpalatable and depicts the self centeredness of the man Obasanjo.

Obasanjo lacks any future morality to be part of a process that should decide who should take over from him. Otherwise, we would have another bunch of idiots and a recycled Obasanjo's style leadership. We have come far and it is time to correct Abdulsalam's mistake and the political compromises which continues to pull us down. We must now engage only real intellectuals and not the internet quick degree holders and the likes of governor Kalu trying to exploit Obasanjo's mess and thinks it is his turn to rule. If we do not exclude Obasanjo from the king making process, any choice will be controversial, difficult to market internationally amongst comity of civilise nations and our country may be heading for another serious crisis.

Whether PDP can still be trusted after its sterile third term disaster is a matter for those to mend the pieces. Unfortunately, our hugely uninformed public remains a problem since they are yet to evaluate what is at stake in any electoral process and hence they cheaply give out their vote for a token and wouldn't demand that their vote be counted or at the least challenge any electoral fraud. Every other thing being equal, PDP can still count on its existing name and its henchmen; even if its present leadership were to be given the boot. Hopefully, Nigerians will not forget the pain inflicted on them by PDP.

PDP is still very rich unless its present leadership decides to convert its fund into private fortunes and allow the party to gradually liquidate itself considering the internal power struggle and the eventual political settlement in the months ahead. Whether President Obasanjo quits his party, which is remotely foreseeable, however, which ever way PDP's future election victories depends on how well the old existing and new emerging parties become. However, the excesses of PDP power can only be checked the more other political parties form coalition rather than in small political groupings.

This north-south power dichotomy has eluded us the real chance to appreciate federalism in practice. Rather, we have placed too much emphasis on the Federal government because of its control of oil wealth and thereby making the issue of presidency contentious. Southerners have in the past ignored this very issue. However, the denial of Mr Abiola of the Presidency in 1993 awaken the consciousness of Yoruba to demand nothing less which culminated into Obasanjo's political compromise even though unacceptable to the core Yoruba academic elite including its radical critical class. Hausa power brokers don't really dread Yoruba, Ibos and the rest minorities but they fear Yoruba academic elites and its radical social groups; hence, northern politicians are forced into making difficult political concessions. Obasanjo's scenario has said all about the sorry, innocuous and the fragile power arrangement in Nigeria.

Nonetheless, Nigerians are yet to ask the north of what they have done with the power held for 35 years? It rather surprising that the north is yet to evaluate the economic harm their so-called political elite have caused to Nigeria. They ought to be challenging their southern counterpart with its more credible and forward thinking leaders and not their corrupt stinking military men who have been colluding with our enemies to cart away our oil revenue into personal fortunes abroad and thereby impeding the development of a modern and prosperous Nigeria. They have made our country likened to a 'Trust-fund state, and our supposedly oil wealth that ought to have been celebrated as a blessing turned into a curse. We want leaders who can tackle the far more difficult task of creating a framework of laws and institution that generate national wealth. We want people who know how to tax its citizens knowing that when a government taxes people it has to provide benefits in return, beginning with services, accountability, and good governance which end up with liberty and representation.

The majority of our people are not interested whether the President is from the north or south rather, they are more interested on real economic improvement, jobs and security to enjoy their property rights. They want a leader who will transform Nigeria into 'the Dubai' of Africa or a progressive new China. The north should abandon the idea of this vicious circle of recycling ex military men. They should challenge the south with its more intelligent elite class and in doing so, a new culture of political dynamism and vibrant Nigeria will emerge, which would become attractive to real investors and new partners.

The failed power elongation bid by Obasanjo has done no damage to south's argument for power to remain since the majority of those who canvassed for it were northern politicians; a reflection that the north has benefited more from Obasanjo's government. Again, the fact that the whistle blowing and strongest opposition came from south including their uncompromising stand to fight Obasanjo despite any political reprisal make them more credible and decisive in any political settlement. However, we must do away with this south-north power tussle, which has ensnared real political and economic development and continued to be exploited by our so-called political elite. They have no concern that oil as only source of revenue is limited and substitutable in the future.

North-south power polarization is a device to blur a healthy political debate. They resort to it in order to divert our attention about their evil mission and to exploit the weakness of our people. The failed power elongation must be embraced as new dawn for reconciliation and a rebirth of a new progressive movement in Nigeria where substance and not tribal politics should dominate the agenda. In this regards, the students, workers, trade unions, academics, social critics and all progressive should form a new social partnership in order to end the injustices against our defenceless people.

Obasanjo's scandal should not come to whether a southern should ever be trusted with power. I have never supported the idea of zoning power but I am equally not na�ve not to understand our complex power structure. Zoning would continue to undermine our nationalism and our desire in getting the best leader. The issue of zoning should be kept out of the Presidency whilst been retained at the ministerial level and other political offices. We should shift our attention on how to control power and not the current scenario where every body wants to be on the winning side and thereby making politics unattractive.

They say when two elephants fight it surely the grass that suffers! Now that Obasanjo's bid has failed. He has lost the battle which would have been more difficult had his rogue legislators succeeded in getting his endorsement through the backdoor constitutional amendment. We must continue to offer our support to those courageous parliamentarians who failed to give in and refused to be cowed. It is hoped that President Obasanjo will accept his shameless faith and go quietly without resorting to violence and military clamp down to stay beyond May 2007.

Our people should not seat back. The parliamentarians must probe the allegation of money for vote scandal and show the culprits the way out. The EFCC must do its work and return hope to our people. We agree that our people must be prepared for the long match. However, Obasanjo's defeat is a reaffirmation of the people's power and hope the President still want to claim the honour of his century; otherwise, our people will give him the Nepal show down.

However, the next government must revisit the failed constitutional amendment including our understanding of federalism guided by the fact that national unity cannot be forced but can be substantiated as a political reality, which must be negotiated no matter the pain and with clear political mandate.