Self Succession Theory- The Phenomenon Of  President Obasanjo’s  Sole Reservoir of Knowledge

By

Emma Ihejieto

Ontario, Canada

emmaihejieto@yahoo.com  

 

 

The fundamental question remains what is the constitutional proviso for Executive Tenure of Office? What does the Statute books say are prerequisites for Constitutional Amendments? What does leadership Ethics provide as motives behind the push for such amendments? Does such a motive derive from altruistic dividends to the generality of the people? Or is it aimed at satisfying the whims and caprices of one man, or of particular benefit to a select few?

 

The 1999 constitution, which was promulgated into law as a decree, was approved by the Armed Forces Ruling Council AFRC and endorsed by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar head of the junta at the time. This followed closely the two-month assignment of the Justice Niki Tobi Constitution Debate Coordinating Committee. Section 135 of the 1999 constitution provided tenure of four years for an elected president. The same constitution equally disqualified any Nigerian who “has been elected to such office at any two previous elections.” This is unambiguously enshrined in section 137.Sections 180 and 182 replicated the above provisos for Executive Governors. To amend the 1999 Abubarkar Constitution, section 9 states inter-allia that this must be

 

“Supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of that House

(i.e. National Assembly) and approved by resolution of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the states.”

 

This unequivocal proviso entails only a term of four years at the first instance and another term of four years upon re-election; a rule of political engagement which has become a norm in the nation’s body politic. One of the basic tenets of Democracy is periodic renewal of electoral mandate, the supremacy of the law as well as respect for the Rule of Law. Violations of laid down laws are contrarian to the democratic experiment. The law remains sacrosanct, it’s supremacy reigns and obedience to it is politically compelling on all practitioners.

 

A disposition, which tilts towards constitutional obliteration by some African political leaders, is worrisome. A chronicle of sit-tight precedents dates back to Mobutu Seseseko of Congo (32 years), Idi Amin of Uganda (8 years), Gnassigbe Eyadema of Togo (38 years), Omar Albert-Bernard Bongo, Gabon (39 years), Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso (19 years), Hosni Mubarak of Egypt (25 years), Muammar Gadaffi of Libya (37 years), Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe (26 years) at 82, Paul Biya of Cameroon (24 years) and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda (20 years) in the saddle. Interestingly, Museveni successfully amended Ugandan constitution thereby securing a third term tenure of office; his fourth term ambition is to vie for the President of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania combined. His mercurial adventure is encapsulated in his statement that,

 

By 2010 we should have one presidency where the three presidents become co-presidents of the whole of East Africa and by 2013, we have elections where we shall have one president for the whole of East Africa…the creation of an East African Federation could become a reality with one President for Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania in 2013.

 

In Nigeria the Self Succession trend started with the administration of  Jack Yakubu Gowon (9 year term) who in 1974 shifted his transition program, a misadventure that culminated in Murtala Mohammed  putsch of 1975 (1 year term), which inadvertently saw Olusegun Obasanjo (3 year term) as a direct beneficiary following Murtala Mohammed’s assassination a few months later. Political power transited from the military under OBJ to civilians in 1979 only to be truncated in 1983 by Muhammadu Buhari (1 year term).

 

Nigeria’s political history in 1985 witnessed the dithering of the evil genius, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (8 year term) who broke fate with his transition program severally, a tendency that culminated in his acronym Maradona.IBB was to be stampeded out of office wherein his only remaining option was to step aside. On November 17,1993, late Gen Sani Abacha (5 year term) stepped into IBB’s shoes following a little brief by Ernest Shonekun.This dark goggled junta with a fist festered in draconialism aimed at transmuting to a civilian President, however, another Self Succession bid was to collapse with the General being consumed by a Conflagration of Spiritual Mutation. Abacha died and Abubakar’s only available option was to hand-over to a democratically elected OBJ who was earlier called to the Bar of the Abacha Gulag.

 

This action of fate was highlighted vividly in OBJ’s “Not My Will” which reverberated in 1998 penultimate the 1999 General Election whence His Excellency following “divine calling” took another oath of office as Commander-In-Chief (4 year term).This mandate was again renewed in 2003 by another 4 year term. By 2007 President Olusegun Obasanjo would have ruled Nigeria for 11 years. Rather than learn from history and be thankful for the generosity offered him by the nation, His Excellency has begun to toil with Nigeria’s Destiny once again.

 

No doubt, Mr. President, with the Goodwill of most Nigerians has engendered an era of Political and Economic Reforms. Realizing the depth of the military bastardization of the country’s Political Economy, one cannot but be charitable in identifying some of the legacies this administration stands to bequeath to the next team bound to take over the ship of state by May 29,2007.We cannot deny the fact that some positive changes are visible since the emancipation of this Civilian Administration, however, whether OBJ has the Sole Reservoir of Knowledge of Solutions to the nations myriad of socio-political and economic problems could be anything but an affirmation. Some of these visibly “positive changes since 1999 include”:

 

  • The ineptitude in Electricity Generation by the PHCH another euphemism for NEPA. How could there be economic growth in the midst of epileptic power supply? Was Mr. President in slumber during his first 4 years term of office? After seven years in the presidency there are still PLANS to build 17 new power-generating plants across the country to generate  15,000 mega watts by 2007.

  • The country's improved international rating. by two leading international rating agencies, namely FIRTH BB-Sovereign Credit rating and Standard & Poors rating of B for Nigeria is being highlighted as progress when the per capita income of Nigerians is about the lowest in the world.

  • The absence of security of lives and property in the country occasioned by escalation of armed robbery is another giant stride of the Obasanjo administration.

  • The Prosecution and Detention of Self Confessed Electoral Fraudster in the person of the President’s illiterate hubby (Ngige’s Godfather) Chris Uba of Anambra State remains another reason why President Obasanjo should be giving another term of four years. The same goes for Lamidu Adedibu, that illiterate Ibadan Strongman.

  • Also the elevated position of Chris Uba to the Exalted Status of Member of President Obasanjo’s Party’s (PDP) Board of Trustees and Obasanjo’s continued membership and Leadership of the “biggest political party in Africa” (PDP) is a testimony of the Presidency’s lack of romance with Electoral Criminals?.            

  • The phenomenon of Political Assassinations across the length and breath of our dear nation remains another wonderful legacy.

  • Let us not forgot President Obasanjo’s landmark in the Aviation industry that has claimed the lives of hapless Nigerians and foreign Nationals including innocent children.

  • The Anti Corruption Crusade that saw the Chief Crime Buster IG Tafa Balogun behind bars for six months for stealing about N17 Billion shows that future Fraudulent Conspirators must have been deterred. With Tafa Balogun still flaunting his ORDER OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC, Nigeria should never be seen again as a Haven for Blue Chip Criminals. President Obasanjo actually deserves another round of applause.

  • President Obasanjo’s respect for the nation’s Courts, his muzzling of the Lagos state government by withholding its legitimate Allocations illuminates his Democratic Credentials.

  • The rejuvenation of both the nation’s Educational and Health sectors equally add to this long list of President Obasanjo’s legacies. The list goes on and on as the applause continues.

  • We can now see how plausible it is to assert that a country of about 140 million people, lacks capable hands to run our Ship of State. With the colossal drain of the Brains of able and educated younger Nigerians in the Diaspora, no one individual can claim Sole Reservoir of Knowledge in tackling our nation’s myriad problems.

The trend the world over is to make room for Generational Change by creating Leadership Opportunities for the young, strong, vibrant and able as opposed to the Gerontocracy that pervade our federal leadership. Having done his bid, the President should step aside at the expiration of his current term giving others a chance. The beauty of Democracy lies in the need to renew mandates through voting. Mr. President certainly has his Otta farm to retire to, with his chickens, pigs and golden eggs patiently waiting for his care and attention.

“They keep worrying me, maybe you should stay a little longer. But I believe our transition will not be complete without transiting from government to government and from one personality to another.”

 

This was President Olusegun Obasanjo in an unprovoked statement in Berlin, Germany in March 2005 stressing that he was having promptings to hang-on.

Nigerians remain skeptical as to President Obasanjo’s failure to bluntly say that he would vacate office whether the constitution is amended or not.Mr.President have previously pulled the “under pressure and divine calling” stunts both in 1998 and 2003 making it difficult for Nigerians to believe and trust him anymore. Juxtapose OBJ’s approach with that of President Mbeki of South Africa as quoted below.

 

“I would like to step aside and allow someone else have a go at leadership.…by the end of 2009, I will have been in a senior position in government for 15 years. I think that's too long…I think that after 15 years, I should step aside in any case…the ANC has taken the position that we don't want to change the Constitution. Even when we got that more than two-thirds majority, we said this, that we are not going to use this two-thirds majority fundamentally to alter the Constitution and that remains our position”

 

The above unambiguous statement was recently made by the Honorable South African President Tom Mbeki following  promptings for him to seek another term with the ANC two third majorities in parliament following the 2004 general election.

In the U.S.A George Washington the first US President (1789-1797) was invited by fellow Americans to extend his tenure for a third term of four years ,at the end of his second term of 4 years; this request he turned down unequivocally having been Pioneering President of the United States for 8 years. He underlined this rejection saying:

 

“Long after we have departed this life, history will recall and we shall be judged more by what we have done, about what we have said we shall do.”

 

However, the only case of a third term American Presidency had to do with War time President Delano Roosevelt (1933-1945) following World War 11 hostilities in 1939, two years into his 2nd term. With the raging war, it was not feasible to conduct a General Election; with Roosevelt as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces; he was compelled by a Resolution of the United States Congress to soldier on as President, until his death in April 1945 before the end of the War. Harry S. Truman served out the remainder of Roosevelt’s third term. Does President Olusegun Obasanjo intend to facilitate war with Cameroon over the troubled Bakassi Peninsular, or, does he intend to precipitate a State of Emergency in our Body Politic to actualize his 3rd term bid?

 

The Legacy that President Obasanjo (having been Commander-in-Chief for 11 years) should bequeath to future generations before 2007 handover should include;

 

  • Guaranteed Electoral Reform that secures complete independence of the INEC.

  • Guarantee for Free and Fair Elections

  • Creating an enabling environment for Leadership Generational Change.

  • Generating 7,000 mega watts of Electricity for Industrial Development & Employment.

  • Reducing the spate Armed Robbery, Political Assassinations via Police Reforms.

  • Prosecution of Chief Chris Uba (PDP’S Master Rigger) and other Electoral Criminals.

 

Once the above is secured before the 2007 elections, he would have left another footprint in our History. Getting this done entails that OBJ would have done his bid thus paving the way for others come 2007. Putting laws in place should remain an enviable focus right now .No one leader can solve all Nigeria’s problems. Thinking otherwise or to claim Sole Reservoir of Solutions to Nigeria’s numerous problems is clearly unrealistic, amounting to a political delinquent delusion. The nation is now in a Transition Mode.

 

 

                                               Email: emmaihejieto@yahoo.com             

 

 

EMMA IHEJIETO WAS A PHILOSOPHY TEACHER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTHARCOURT, NIGERIA AND CURRENTLY A COMMUNICATIONS

CONSULTANT IN ONTARIO, CANADA.