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All in the Name of Third Term By I always appreciate a chance to write through your medium, and have nothing but gratitude for the chance you have given many in the Diaspora to air their views on national issues.
I have always felt in a dilemma about our local and national politics and the shame that it drags. How can all the crooked men plunder and pillage without conscience, and boast of same, while I can't even speak out. And I wonder how many other people feel as I do. Am I incapable of Politics or too afraid of it. Do I love my life that much that I can't give it to save truth or justice for the many. I am still in dilemma; especially watching daily the limitless boundaries men are able to travel without stopping for once to have a dialogue with their conscience. I have no doubt that before man became a political animal, he was first a brute, selfish machine.
On the very moment that Charles Tailor's capture flashed on CNN as a breaking news, I wept for my Country, and the last hope I held for Obasanjo's good intentions in governance vanished like a mirage on a highway. Well, not that I trusted Obasanjo, but I did indeed trust a few of the people that worked for him. I trusted Okonjo-Iweala of the finance ministry, I trusted Dora Akunyili of NAFDAC, I trusted Soludo of the Central bank, I trusted El-Rufai of Abuja ,and I somehow trusted the EFCC's Ribadu.
I hoped and indeed thought that together, these men and women represented the best of patriotism and diligence. They gave me courage in knowing that 'homo politicus' was preceded by 'homo laboris'. Well, I was naive in thinking that Obasanjo would let these people do their work without interference. This increases my dilemma. As soon as I saw the capture on the breaking news, I knew it was too good to be really true, and the sequence too smooth. The following morning, on a phone conversation with one of my classmates in Switzerland, I told him my fears.
Now, look at this scenario:When Liberia officially asked for Taylor's repatriation, Obasanjo played to the gallery by announcing to us that he would consult other African leaders before making a decision. The following week, and a week, before it was due for his photo op with George Bush, the government announced to us that Liberia could now take custody of Taylor. When Liberia realized the trickery, they said, "hey!, wait! he is not charged by our courts. We don't want him. Send him to Sierra Leone instead". Some Nigerian diplomats hailed Obasanjo. I (not a diplomat) for one hailed him just for the brain game. Then, a few days before his trip, some voices in the U.S. government started being vocal that Obasanjo should not meet Bush. The issue is Taylor. Everything so timed that Obasanjo should received his biggest humiliation in the U.S, just the very moment he needed more than a photo op. He needed a backing or at least an American passivity about the 'third term'. And he needed to hear this directly from the world Emperor himself, not his representatives.
But Obasanjo knew well in advance that he needed to burnish his c.v. Bush already knew Obasanjo to be a good boy for his efforts in Americanising the Nigerian economy, making sure that companies that his deputy, Cheney as well as other cronies held interests in got much from Nigeria's privatisations, conceding them a naval station somewhere in the old bight of Biafra, prodding open the doors of the Nigerian military as well as the military secrets that went with it on the excuse of training for peace keeping ,the list could go on. And then most recently ,for making sure that Nigeria will pay off its debts fully, in cash and only in three instalments. Counting what we already paid in previous years, this makes for more than 100% of the dubious borrowings. The Bush people have calculated that judging by the rate of wars in Africa, viz Somalia, etc, it is better, and in the long run, more profitable to forgo some accumulated and accumulating interests and just collect the principal in bulk, (having collected much interests over the years) now that Nigeria is intact. After all, their security reports on Nigeria have been dire. $18b US will definitely generate equal, if not more interests in safer places over time. And what is more, the Capitalist will also be seen to be benevolent and godly by their own liberals and activists. Don't get me wrong, for the activists are the only human face that the west has.
Which brings us back to Taylor. For Obasanjo's men, the possibility of Obasanjo not being photographed with Bush hastened (but did not initiate) the next act. Like we all believe, things often get worse before they get better.. Obasanjo's men needed to get things worse, for the impending good news needed to be appreciated even more. Taylor was then 'disappeared'. A high powered investigation was set up. And the clock ticked. And just as Jesus rose from the dead in the nick of time, at the darkest hour just before dawn; a few hours before Obasanjo was to meet Bush, Charles Taylor 'reappeared' again, on the CNN breaking news, having been arrested just as he lifted the gates to cross the border into Cameroun. What an efficient police force ! Taylor's arrest and handover is now even sweeter, what a convenient timing ! Meanwhile, one of the presidential jets ,was waiting at the Maiduguri airport for Charles Taylor even before his arrest. The result ? Obasanjo and Taylor appeared almost at the same time on CNN. One shaking the hands of Bush, the other his hands cuffed. One being hailed as the hope of Africa, the other looking like the criminal he was. The Americans now saw the need for Obasanjo's continued stay in power, and even if they still do not approve, should then pass it up to Nigeria to decide. That is Obasanjo's Nigeria.
Meanwhile Obasanjo scored another point. Since Taylor was arrested trying to escape from our custody, then, he it was, who broke his word. Obasanjo then did not break his promise, at least in the eyes of the people that matter --voters, as well as in the eyes of other African leaders. The score now is Obasajo 3, Taylor 0 and Nigeria -3.
Actually, Taylor's game was not really played with the Nigerian audience in mind. It was an away game, played for an international audience. He needs a different game style while playing at home.We hope it does come to the case of "whack the dog" as we keep our fingers crossed. Meanwhile Mantu is doing his best (Gana and Aneni having done theirs and still doing) Atiku however doesn't like this and is doing his best also to spoil it. While we pray that his men succeed in thwarting the third term agenda, we have to separate it from who will be the next president. Atiku's men are definitely right now better positioned than Obasanjo's men (so long as he does not resign). But sadly, whoever becomes our next president, his own men will now even have a richer experience to draw from.
Emma Sunday Ozoemena (Tokyo, Japan)
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