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Obasanjo & Donald Rumsfeld Compared: Two Men of War & Same Modus Operandi By Dr. Wunmi Akintide
I have read nearly everything that comes my way on the embattled American Defense Secretary plenipotentiary including the on-going CNN documentary titled "Don Rumsfeld,- Man of War". I have come away with the strong impression that our own President in Nigeria appears to be a carbon copy of Rumsfeld both in his style of management and his modus operandi. They share a lot of things in common. They are both ex-soldiers with a long tenure of service in different capacities to their countries. Just like the unfortunate war of choice in Iraq is fast becoming a quagmire under Rumsfeld and his arrogant and unrepentant boss, Nigeria under Obasanjo has been a picture of opportunity lost when you compare the pros and cons of Obasaanjo's policies in Nigeria. I recently visited Nigeria on a flying visit, and I came away with the impression that not much has changed despite Obasanjo's eight consecutive years in office and despite all the promises he had made to transform Nigeria when he came to office for the second time in 1999. It's all been smoke and mirrors, if you ask me. I certainly would give Obasanjo credit for a few good things he has done or has embarked upon. The Nigerian Foreign reserve has atronomically risen, but that has not translated to any comfort level for the common man on the street. The middle class has virtually been wiped off in our country leaving only the filthy rich and marginalized poor and downtrodden who are struggling to find three square meals a day. Surely, the problems of corruption in high places, a national cancer is being addressed by the young man named Ribadu with the tacit approval or support of the Commander-in-chief. But the effort is being made in certain quarters in a way that makes the exercise look like an inquisition against the enemies or the critics of the Obasanjo Government and its tactics. The basic infrastructures including electric power, portable water, good roads, avalability of food at affordable prices remain a mirage, all things considered. The only thing working is cell phone communication for which the Obasanjo Government is taking credit, even when he knows the trend is not attributable to government policy per se. The cell phone technology is a global trend around the world brought about by satellite technology and not by any miracle set in motion by our President and his Government as he would have us believe. Yes, investment in Nigeria by other nations of the world has tremendously increased, but that has not translated to freedom for all and life more abundant for the great majority of our people across the board. Violence and crimes and political assassinations in Nigeria have reached alarming proportion as we speak The next general election to pick the Governors and President is less than nine months away, but you can hardly see any signs that that is in deed the case, as the whole natin does not appear galvanized and ready for an opportunity to pick a Government of their choice which is what Democracy is all about. the octopus PDP the ruling Party led by Mr. President and his Deputy still goes around parading itself as the only party in the country with a chance to aweep the polls again come next April or May despite its failings and shortcomings which are legion. So many of its Governors are being probed for corruption and a no less than five are going through impeachment procedures as we speak and a state of emergency is being contemplated or has been declared in at least one of the states controlled by the PDP. The scenario is not pretty at all and yet the President behaves as if he is presiding over one of the most progressive political parties in the history of mankind. The president recently went on a state visit to Anambra where he gleefully announced and very crudely and tactlessly predicted that the new Governor Obi of APGA is not going to be returned to power because that governorship has been willy nilly reserved for Andy Mba one of his aides or special advisers in Abuja. So much is happening around the country that make people believe that Obasanjo may not have abandoned his plan for a third term, and was only waiting for the right time to declare a state of emergencies in as many states he could think of, to rationalize his plan to continue in power by claiming he could not vacate the presidency in a state of anarchy. The president like Donald Rumsfeld, his identical twin, is already convinced, he alone has the magic wand to rule Nigeria and to dictate or decree what is good for our country. He sees himself as the only elephant in the room and the rest are nothing but liliputians who should be ignored or sidetracked at best. Obaasanjo, like Rumsfeld does not believe he could go wrong on anything. He has the answers to Nigeria's problems and he alone is the only one that can do it. Like Donald Rumsfeld, Obasanjo believes he knows more than you on anything concerning Nigeria. He only trusts his own instincts on issues concerning Nigeria, and he generally does not trust subordinates holding a contrary views or who have the effrontery to openly or even secretly disagree with him. The quagmire in Iraq is occurring today due to the arrogance and intransigence of Rumsfeld and his boss just like Nigeria has reached a cul-de-sac in some of her aspirations for an egalitarian society because of the arrogance of Obasanjo. Obasanjo already forms his opinion on any issue and all he expects from subordinates or colleagues is a reaffirmation of what he already believes in. He therefore does not get honest advice from subordinates who only give him what they think he wants to hear, in the interest of holding on to their jobs. Atiku Abubakar can attest to that presumption as we speak and so could Mr "Fix it" Annenih and so many other s who have had a chance to work closely with Obasanjo including Solomon Lar, Gemade, Naaba and Audu Ogbe to mention a few. The conduct of the war in Iraq has proved a lot more difficult than Rumsfeld ever anticipated or imagined. By the same token, governing Nigeria would appear to have proved a lot more difficult than Obasanjo ever imagined or contemplated. Nigeria is at a cross road today in part because of the arrogance of Obasanjo who was supposed to be guardian angel of Democracy in Nigeria but he is turning out to be a worse dictator than most of us had expected. I personally think that the PDP as a mega paarty ought to be swept out of power at the next General Election, if success at the polls is measured strictly by performance and track record. I see a lot of striking similarities between the profiles of Obasanjo and Donald Rumsfeld, and I think our nation is not making as much progress under Obasanjo as our economic potential and manpower advantage should suggest. This is only an opinion, and I admit I could be wrong. I like a feedback on how you feel. I rest my case. Dr. Wunmi Akintide
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