Presidential Oath, Loyalty and Ambition

Anie Udoh

“As noble a standard as loyalty sets, there is simply too much fear, self-doubt, opportunism and ambition in our make up to expect our frail species to adhere to it.”

- Roger Rosenblatt

President Obasanjo’s self-claim of unequal integrity and loyalty to the Oath of Allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Oath of Office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is noble, and indeed a minimum obligation expected of the holder of that exalted office.

The same high standard of integrity and loyalty is also expected of his deputy, the vice president who is constitutionally required to occupy the higher office should the president be unable to perform that function within the stipulated tenure of his term of office. This is a non-negotiable constitutional provision. To that extent, if Obasanjo regards, and rightly so, other acts of allegiance and oath swearing as inferior to that sworn by him on inauguration as President, how then does he expect his deputy to succumb to the demeaning act of blackmail and intimidation of swearing on both the Holy Koran and the Holy Bible (why the two?)? And that just to demonstrate his loyalty to the person of Olusegun Obasanjo, one citizen who is certainly not at par with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, even as President.

By that act of induced idolatry, President Obasanjo shamed his Maker, demeaned his exalted office, abused the Constitution, and dishonoured the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To make this public on national television with some air of glee is distasteful and un-presidential.

What is the worth of an oath in Nigeria anywhere? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!! This is one place where oath taken in public or private is of no consequence apart from the ritual of reciting it. Most public officers conveniently forget their Oath of office the very moment they recite the last word. Their conduct in office is often inconsistent with the letter and intention of their Oath of Office. They start out with wild parties to celebrate their new position and office. The immoral practices they choose to indulge themselves has promoted a society with diminishing law habit and increasing criminal behaviours, resulting in a nation where thieves, traitors and traders thrive. The situation has so degenerated such that able-bodied youths go about without qualms in broad daylight robbing people of mobile handsets (some worth less than N3000) at gunpoint!

How loyal has the Obasanjo/Atiku administration been to the constitution and people of Nigeria? Lets have some take: Obasanjo’s penchant for anticipatory approvals and pathetic law habit? Atiku’s foreign homes? Anenih’s Ministry of (no) Works budgetary votes? INEC’s magicians? The gallivanting and overnight affluent governors? The mercenary lawmakers? The Tafa Baloguns of this world? They all swore in public to the Oath of Allegiance to Office and to respect and defend the Constitution of Nigeria. Their score on this count is well below the cut-off point for public decency and integrity. It’s a sordid record.

The orchestrated war between Obasanjo and Atiku has little to do with promoting the overall best interest of the Nigerian people and the nation. It is no more than an ego battle between two power mongers. They are jostling to promote their selfish-interest and personal ambition. Both men are gripped by the fear of the unknown. They have self-doubts about their presidential prospects come 2007 and are hell bent on exploiting the opportunity of their political office and power to try and emasculate one another by any foul means be it, “mispresentation, misinformation, and misrepresentation,”(apologies to OBJ) in order to promote their inordinate presidential ambition.

Both men should be ignored or rather in the spirit of democracy be endured until their constitutional tenure irrevocably ends on May 29, 2007. The office of the President of Nigeria in a democracy is nobody’s exclusive birthright and certainly not like a chieftaincy stool of a remote hamlet where an overbearing godfather or a cabal decides ascension.

The six years of the Obasanjo/Atiku administration sadly confirms that competent and enduring leadership remains elusive for our dear country Nigeria. Nigerians have seen enough of both men to conclude on the need for more competent men or women to lead Nigeria. Men, who will be truly committed to upholding the tenets of democracy, promote the well being of Nigerians as paramount, observe the rules of decency and statesmanship, and unshakably respect, defend, and protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Men, who are and will be seen to be above board in their public and private conducts.

It is often said that President Obasanjo is well meaning with good intentions for Nigeria as severally portrayed in his ambitious pronouncements. Beyond the propaganda, the reality today is that he has been unable to walk his talk.

By May 2007, he would have put in about 40years (since he enrolled in the Army) in his personal struggle to serve Nigerians and save Nigeria. A time long enough for the rebellious and recalcitrant Isrealites to wander through the Wilderness to the Promised Land. It is about time Obasanjo took a dignified final walk to his massive farm in Ota where he will be guaranteed yet an active life considering the demanding, dynamic and now very lucrative business of poultry farming. He can also satisfy his itinerant appetite by going round his reported numerous farm sites in Nigeria. There he can afford to treat his chickens however he likes. They can cackle all day and all their life and still be sold at maturity for a good profit. After all they owe their lives to the benevolence of the farmer.

Unlike the chickens, Nigerians are of different specie. They will resist and protest against being treated like chickens even if it is for “their own good.” So it’s futile for Obasanjo trying to secure salvation of a people that remains elusive after about four decades of personal struggle and sacrifice. Even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, inspite of His death on the cross and resurrection, for the sole purpose of saving mankind, more than 2000 years ago, many remain stiff-necked and unrepentant. The Saviour has since departed to His Father’s abode where He continues to intercede for our souls. As a good Christian, Obasanjo should take a cue from his Master and follow the Christ example.

He should crown his years of public service to Nigeria by ensuring a free, fair and just electoral process and elections to make way for a smooth transition of power come May 29, 2007. And those who the Nigerian electorates will choose to lead them should be honourably allowed to serve whether or not they receive Obasanjo’s anointing. That will be the height of loyalty to the Nigerian constitution and Obasanjo as an illustrious son owes his country that solemn obligation. Such will assuage the deprived, disappointed, and disillusioned citizenry and perhaps in a way compensate for his heroic failure as an administrator and President.

Nigerians may not know for now who will succeed Obasanjo as President come 2007 but they surely know who cannot succeed him justly and fairly. On top of that list is Matthew Aremu Okikiola Olusegun Obasanjo, the Balogun of Owu.

Perhaps I should recommend that the media, particularly the print media, as society’s watchdog, set aside a conspicuous space in their publications to carry a Countdown Campaign for the Obasanjo/Atiku administration due to end on May 29, 2007. The serial publication can start from October 1, 2005, Nigeria’s Independence anniversary. This among other benefits will serve as permanent reminder to our politicians with uncanny memory lapse and as a banner of hope for the people of Nigeria and the world at large. Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!