Obasanjo, Babangida on state of our union
GIVEN the terrible scenario playing out in the country, manifested in poverty of the masses, high corruption in government, gross official recklessness and near zero governance, it is no surprise that two foremost leaders of Nigeria, not known for their friendship, have found it necessary to join forces to speak out loud about the parlous condition of the country. As former heads of state who between them ruled for about 21 years, the problems highlighted by the duo took roots during their administrations. They are therefore not completely blameless. Also having regard to their status, the two Generals ought to have direct access to President Jonathan. The fact that they chose a different approach to reach him somehow reduces the propriety of their methods. More significantly, the former leaders could have strengthened their objective by co-opting other former rulers to endorse their concern.
It is common knowledge that the Nigerian ship of state is casting about in heavy seas. There is hardly any aspect of governance that cannot be faulted for malfeasance, corruption and incompetence. The overall situation was already quite appalling before terrorism and widespread insecurity of lives and property were added to the arsenal of the country’s woes. Because of poor governance and disdain for the wishes of the people, many angry groups – all spoiling for a fight – have sprung up all over the country. This is a country where a few citizens live in untold opulence while the vast majority wallow in poverty. In Nigeria, the nearer you are to an oil well, the poorer you become. All those nebulous structures that have been created to alleviate poverty do not alleviate anything, such that from Bayelsa to Sokoto, the poor are becoming poorer. Hungry and unemployed, many Nigerian youths lend themselves to criminality and violence. Those who should restrain them are not doing so for they too have not seen the dividends of democracy.
In a rare joint statement, General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, decried the unabated spate of violence, insecurity and ethnic clashes, which they said were already threatening the century-old aspirations of the founding fathers.
To quote their exact words: “Unfolding events in our dear motherland, Nigeria, over the last few years are threatening to unravel the nearly century-old labour of our founding fathers and subsequent generations in building a strong, united, peaceful nation that can accommodate and cater for the needs and aspirations of our diverse communities. Internecine crises are raging across the land unabated with damaging consequences on the social, political and economic lives of the nation. And in the process, untold hardships are being visited on all citizens in one form or another on a daily basis. The loss of innocent lives being experienced by the day across the nation is simply unbearable. Currently, the nation is gripped by a regime of fear and uncertainty that virtually all citizens have difficulties going about their normal day-to- day lives without great anxiety and trepidation. This cannot be allowed to continue.”
The two leaders noted with concern that some Nigerians are already getting frustrated with the system and are losing faith in the continued unity of the country. There is pervasive cynicism even among patriotic Nigerians about the destiny of this country, but breaking up, they said, was not an option.
While acknowledging the efforts made at various levels of government to address the ugly situation, both men called for an intensive and an all-inclusive approach to taming the situation. When two former heads of state come out in this manner, the nation must listen. Any initiative that can rid this country of terrorism and insecurity deserves to be supported. However, the current deterioration of Nigeria did not happen overnight. They are the result of a succession of errors of commission and omission by past leaders of this country. For instance, in 1993, General Babangida annulled a presidential election, which was judged by local and international observers as the freest and fairest Nigeria had ever known. That annulment became an invitation to antidemocratic forces, including political parties, to come to the table determined to thwart free and fair elections by any means possible. Again, under Babangida, no attempt was made to fight corruption, which is now a monster. The edification of ‘first lady’ to unacceptable and unreasonable level was raised to a high pedestal by General Babangida. That office, although unknown to the constitution, has expanded to such an extent that it has become an embarrassing issue on governance.
As for President Obasanjo, he must accept that he set the compass that Nigerians are following, first with the presidency of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and lately with the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan. His eight years of democratic rule featured too many malfeasances ranging from anti-people policies to adopting ‘do-or-die’ approaches to winning elections, all of which rendered majority of Nigerians helpless and hopeless.
The lesson to be learned from all this is that future leaders, including their wives, must be scrutinised in detail, as is the case in the United States of America, before being presented to the Nigerian voter. Civil society groups must begin to act as watchdog to ensure that only able and committed persons assume leadership roles in Nigeria.
The optimism of the two statesmen that the country should overcome her difficulties is worth sharing. But this can only happen if all governments embark on a total mobilisation of the people. The Federal Government must show the way forward by addressing unequivocally the issues of social injustice, corruption, insecurity and terrorism.
It is common knowledge that the Nigerian ship of state is casting about in heavy seas. There is hardly any aspect of governance that cannot be faulted for malfeasance, corruption and incompetence. The overall situation was already quite appalling before terrorism and widespread insecurity of lives and property were added to the arsenal of the country’s woes. Because of poor governance and disdain for the wishes of the people, many angry groups – all spoiling for a fight – have sprung up all over the country. This is a country where a few citizens live in untold opulence while the vast majority wallow in poverty. In Nigeria, the nearer you are to an oil well, the poorer you become. All those nebulous structures that have been created to alleviate poverty do not alleviate anything, such that from Bayelsa to Sokoto, the poor are becoming poorer. Hungry and unemployed, many Nigerian youths lend themselves to criminality and violence. Those who should restrain them are not doing so for they too have not seen the dividends of democracy.
In a rare joint statement, General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, decried the unabated spate of violence, insecurity and ethnic clashes, which they said were already threatening the century-old aspirations of the founding fathers.
To quote their exact words: “Unfolding events in our dear motherland, Nigeria, over the last few years are threatening to unravel the nearly century-old labour of our founding fathers and subsequent generations in building a strong, united, peaceful nation that can accommodate and cater for the needs and aspirations of our diverse communities. Internecine crises are raging across the land unabated with damaging consequences on the social, political and economic lives of the nation. And in the process, untold hardships are being visited on all citizens in one form or another on a daily basis. The loss of innocent lives being experienced by the day across the nation is simply unbearable. Currently, the nation is gripped by a regime of fear and uncertainty that virtually all citizens have difficulties going about their normal day-to- day lives without great anxiety and trepidation. This cannot be allowed to continue.”
The two leaders noted with concern that some Nigerians are already getting frustrated with the system and are losing faith in the continued unity of the country. There is pervasive cynicism even among patriotic Nigerians about the destiny of this country, but breaking up, they said, was not an option.
While acknowledging the efforts made at various levels of government to address the ugly situation, both men called for an intensive and an all-inclusive approach to taming the situation. When two former heads of state come out in this manner, the nation must listen. Any initiative that can rid this country of terrorism and insecurity deserves to be supported. However, the current deterioration of Nigeria did not happen overnight. They are the result of a succession of errors of commission and omission by past leaders of this country. For instance, in 1993, General Babangida annulled a presidential election, which was judged by local and international observers as the freest and fairest Nigeria had ever known. That annulment became an invitation to antidemocratic forces, including political parties, to come to the table determined to thwart free and fair elections by any means possible. Again, under Babangida, no attempt was made to fight corruption, which is now a monster. The edification of ‘first lady’ to unacceptable and unreasonable level was raised to a high pedestal by General Babangida. That office, although unknown to the constitution, has expanded to such an extent that it has become an embarrassing issue on governance.
As for President Obasanjo, he must accept that he set the compass that Nigerians are following, first with the presidency of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and lately with the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan. His eight years of democratic rule featured too many malfeasances ranging from anti-people policies to adopting ‘do-or-die’ approaches to winning elections, all of which rendered majority of Nigerians helpless and hopeless.
The lesson to be learned from all this is that future leaders, including their wives, must be scrutinised in detail, as is the case in the United States of America, before being presented to the Nigerian voter. Civil society groups must begin to act as watchdog to ensure that only able and committed persons assume leadership roles in Nigeria.
The optimism of the two statesmen that the country should overcome her difficulties is worth sharing. But this can only happen if all governments embark on a total mobilisation of the people. The Federal Government must show the way forward by addressing unequivocally the issues of social injustice, corruption, insecurity and terrorism.
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