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What is Good For Nigeria By Fixson Akinrimisi A piece of article titled [EFCC, Obasanjo’s Untouchables And The Anatomy Of Corruption (I)] makes an interesting reading. But, the article which appeared to have been written an unnamed individual circulated on the Chat Afrik internet media by a Prince Charles Osilaja appeared to have been motivated by pure partisan politics. There is no denying plausibility of truth and accuracy of the finger pointing content but trust must always be verified. Yes the police have all of the powers, some of which has now been invested in the ICPC, and the EFCC. Even if it was the President who initiated the legislation, it was the responsibility of federal legislators who ensured its passage. There ought to be no pointing out the fact that the corrupt police system has to be cleaned out and doing so required a starting point. It is said that when there is none, the worst may be the best choice. In the absence of a police service Nigerians can be proud of , having an agency that could and would enforce the laws no matter how skeletal their impact might be must be a welcomed approach. Who would have thought the likes of those mentioned as having been dealt with for their part in the endemic corruption’s that for nearly three decades beclouded and engulfed Nigeria could meet with the fate that befall them in the course of this dispensation. Needed it also be pointed out that most thought Olusegun Obasanjo was a puppet of certain oligarchy powers when he was nominated to become President? It is arguable that most of the anti Obasanjo forces are those who wanted things otherwise that the ways and manners in which the President has been confronting issues of national salvage from the ravages of corruption. There is no need for anyone to drink a boiling water over those that has not been touched by the administration but are known or at most assuredly suspected to be guilty of corrupt self enrichment at the expense of national interest. It will be the height of foolhardiness for the President to begin his administration crusade by gunning for those that may be considered to be his friends and relatives. They should come last and that is the order. Opponents of the President will not reveal themselves and what they are doing wrong to the President so that he would effect investigating their woeful assault on the nations' wealth. His perceived friends would also not inform on themselves but they could assist in getting other wrongdoers. What is good for them is bad for the country. Their victory is a defeat for the nation. No wonder, most citizens are not even worried about the whether the Constitution will be amended to accommodate a third term bid for Obasanjo to remain President. Reliable information in a recent opinion survey of more than 3,000 Nigerians from across the country, and 400 others from the Diaspora’s revealed that those who are opposed to amending the constitution are doing so out of fear that removing the immunity clause as is currently contained in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution will jeopardize their status. Enough people in the survey even agreed with opinion suggestion that national leadership should be treated like traditional rulership in the land hence Obas, Obis, and Emirs reign until death do them part in the African world. More Nigerians today believed that an accurate national census figure could be achieved but nearly seventy three percent are of the opinion that states in the northern parts of the country will object to the result. The Nigerian And International Public Interest Research Group [NAIPIRG] recently conducted a three months long survey from Saturday August 19, to November 26, 2005. The opinion survey showed that Nigerians are not at all apprehensive of military coup. In fact sixty three percent of those polled in Nigeria held the view that a coup will brought about unprecedented rejection of the armed forced like never before. Opinions ind icated ethnic, and tribal interest will be considered a primary motivation of a coup leader rather than national interest in the event of a coup in the course of this dispensation in which the President appeared to be riding on a 73% overall job performance appearance rating in the poll. Knowing what is currently a given in the Nigerian polity, there appeared to be a general consensus that the ruling party would not suffer a catastrophic defeat in the 2007 general election provided that the Obasanjo administration continued to aggressively pursue it s policies agenda in ways it has avoided the distraction of outcries agenda of a third term. Clearly, it is only if no less than twenty of the other political parties are able to merge aside the ruling PDP could there be a possible change in which party and who occupies Aso Rock Villa in 2007.
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