Obasanjo’s Dilemma; Why He Doesn't Wants To Leave By 2007

By

Abdu Isa Kofarmata

kmatagigi@yahoo.com

 

10th December, 2006

 

 

The intention was to purely write on reasons why Obasanjo wanted to elongate his tenure, probably to eternity, but recent PDP screening exercises as well as primary elections into the federal parliaments and gubernatorial elections necessitated my desire to remind Mallam Ribadu about his promise or claim in October 2005 first, before going into the Obasanjo’s dilemma.

 

On the 22nd – 28th October, 2005 Vol. 8 edition of the Weekly Trust Newspaper, the executive chairman of the presidential puppet commission, EFCC promised Nigerians that “No thief will rule Nigeria again.” However many Nigerian were not convinced and hardly believed all the noises. Nuhu Ribadu has been all rhetoric about his fight against corruption, the first point of departure to disregard that assertion is the incumbent president and his cabinet members. If we are to believe that no thief will rule Nigeria again, certainly, the present bunch of thieves sitting in federal executive council should be removed, arrested and prosecuted. Obviously, it is difficult to find an appropriate name, phrase or adjective to politely and respectfully substitute the word “thief” when describing president Obasanjo.

 

The recent dirty PTDF revelations by the VP, the NNPC account scandals, the Andy Ubah’s gate etc, have all combined together to cast doubt in the minds of majority of Nigerians. Similarly, the list of PDP presidential, senatorial and gubernatorial aspirants cast a lot of doubt on the sincerity of Ribadu’s assertions. One important question frequently raised by majority of Nigerian is did EFCC ever attempted to investigate and verify the source of multi billion naira campaign money as recklessly been spent by those aspirants?

 

For instance, going round the length and breath of Nigeria, one can vividly see the expensive bill boards, posters, stickers and T-Shirts and hear or watch lengthy advertorials in radio and television stations across the country. If however, one is lucky to see a campaign entourage of one of the aspirants, one could hardly believe the existence of EFCC. The number of American Jeeps, the brand new Toyota Haice and other assorted vehicles distributed to campaign coordinators across the nation can tell the extent of corruption and stealing in the public till from both state and federal.

 

If EFCC is serious about its fight on corruption and if Mallam Ribadu is serious about his promise to stop thieves from holding any public office, it is therefore important that the commission conduct thorough investigations on the following aspirants and their activities. Andy ubah and his money laundering case, Professor Jerry Gana and FM transmitter contracts, Aminu Dabo and NPA report, Kwankwaso and Kano state ecological funds scandal. Other notable leads are Abdullahi Adamu, Ahmed Makarfi, Peter Odilli, Saminu Turaki, and Ahmed Sani Yerima etc. Though the list is some how inexhaustible, starting with the above would certainly create and raise confidence of Nigerian about the future crops of leaders come 2007.  

 

 

OBASANJO’S DILEMMA

 

Many believe that Obasanjo’s insistence to remain in power till eternity is born out of the juicy and sweetening of the throne or rather the comfort and privileges attached to the office of the president. But the actual reasons are far from that. We would therefore attempt to classify these reasons according to their nature and consequences on the Chief Obasanjo.

 

Politically motivated murder; these are cases that many ordinary Nigerians must have forgotten but the president is very much aware of them. Obasanjo is fully aware of the fact that the families and political friends as well as disciples of late Chief Bola Ige would certainly demand a satisfactory answer  and full scale investigation into the murder of their political father and leader. In fact the entire Yoruba race could hardly forget the mysterious circumstances of the late Attorney general’s murder.

 

Marshal Harry, a front line politician from the south-south zone would not be allowed to be killed and wiped away from the political landscape of this country in the mid of struggle for the emancipation of the Niger-delta people. Marshal Harry is one that is equal to thousand to the entire people of Niger-delta; therefore Obasanjo is reluctant to vacate office come 2007 for fear of reprisal attack on him or his family from the Niger Delta people.

Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, former senate president, and Igbo intellectual, Uyi could hardly be sacrifice by Igbo people no matter how the presidency attempted to antagonize their ranks. Chris Ubah and his elder are not and can never be a substitute to Dr. Okadigbo. The political and intellectual vacuum created by the murder of Chief Okadigbo could hardly be filled or bridge by political tug and illiterate like Chris Ubah. Therefore Obasanjo is wise enough to hold on to power until death for fear of what might come from the real Igbo intellectuals and politicians.

 

Other high profile political murder which many fingers are pointing toward the direction of the Obasanjo’s presidency, include that of Hajiya Sa’adu Rimi, the wife of the front line politician Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Rimi, and who is known to be a staunch enemy to the president since inception of the present administration in 1999. Alhaji Isyaku Muhammad, the former Vice chairman of the opposition party UNPP. These and many others politically motivated murders send a serious signal to the president, that after 2007, there may be no Ehindero’s of this world to hide or divert the investigation for him. The judiciary that he (Obasanjo) refuses to respect and allow to operate according to the law of the land would be free to do its job constitutionally. The president will recognize the importance of obeying court orders when his lawyers will be pleading for bail.

 

War crime; another fear and reason why Obasanjo doesn’t wants to go by 2007 is the fear for prosecution at the war crime tribunal in Hague for the destruction and massacre of innocent and defend less citizens in Udi and Zaki Biam. In addition to that, the thousand lives that were killed in the Niger delta region would be a good basis for going to Hague.

 

Similarly, the president is afraid of prosecution in the case of plane crash which led to the death of senior military officers. The entire Muslim ummah in Nigeria would also follow the live of their Sultan and other anti-third term senators for their controversial, suspicious and untimely death.  Other issues that fall within this category are military pensioners that promise to follow the lives of their colleagues that died for non-payment of their pension.

 

What intimidates president Obasanjo most is the full pledge gorilla attack that is imminent from General Victor Malu to avenge the killing of his 95 years old uncle.

 

Last in this category is the volunteer movement for the emancipation of Niger delta, Alhaji Dokubu Asari Mujahiddeen, would definitely be free and all his arsenals and weapons of mass destruction would be directed toward Obasanjo. There would be no police and army to protect his movement.

 

The second category of reasons why Obasanjo is finding it difficult to surrender power in 2007 is corruption. The economic and financial atrocities and fraud committed by the president, his family and associates is so much that the president is confuse in selecting who among his corrupt governors should succeed him. One thing is obvious, even if Gbenga Obasanjo is sworn- in as the next president of Nigeria come 2007; the son could only save himself by arresting and prosecuting the father.

 

By 2007 when Obasanjo would cease to be the president, Nigerians would come to know the activities of petroleum ministry. The NNPC account which for eight years refuses to agree with the CBN and RMFC figures would be presented to the public.

 

We need no services from EFCC for us to know the real owners of OANDO, Zenith Bank, the extent of president holding in UBA. Nigerians would also be delighted to collect back their properties from Transcorp and Aliko Dangote. It would be time to collect back NITEL, Oshogbo Rolling Mills, and Lagos Beach Estate etc. By the time all these financial and economic frauds are presented to public and a competent and impartial government agencies prosecuted Obasanjo, Nigerian press would surely emerge with new and mind bugling captions; “Obasanjo to Loose his Transcorp holding,” “FG to take over   Otta farm,” “Obasanjo to loose presidential library” “Obasanjo and Ribadu to appear in court today.” The desperation of Obasanjo to remain in power for life is informed by his fear of the above captions, which is inevitable.

 

Other issues in this regard is risk of been arrested and prosecuted in US for money laundering and illegal purchase of choice estate using one of his numerous children’s name; Olumuyiwa. Political enemies of Obasanjo would have time to fight back, Chief Jim Owobodo, Fasewe, General T.Y. Danjuma and the Globacom chairman, Chief Mike Adenuga would be smiling out of the court after the court announces the confiscation of  Obasanjo’s property as well as  imprisonment sentences. Ribadu would not be there to ignore court orders and swear by the name of almighty God to defend Obasanjo’s misdeeds.

 

The third category of reasons of Obasanjo’s reluctance to leave by 2007 is the army of unemployed youth he created over the span of eight years and teeming number of disengaged federal civil servants. These groups would be supported by the people that lost their houses and shops and other properties selectively in Abuja. These people would not only fight Obasanjo but their wards would surely be involved for making their parent and bread winners redundant thereby leading to their difficult condition and poverty in the mid of abundance.     

 

In this category, academic staff, non academic staff as well as students at all level and sub-sector of education would confront Obasanjo. They would surely ask the president how he came about library while public libraries and institution’s are scanty or empty. The students would also request for satisfactory explanation as to the reason for high cost of tuition and registration fee. Technicians and technologist would demand for reason why polytechnic systems is abolished and bastardized. Primary and Secondary schools teachers would fight the president for the abolishing of NCE certificates by merging colleges of education with universities. ASUU in their usual self would demand for the confiscation of Bells University and or conversion into public school.

 

Conclusively, I wish to offer a piece of advice to the president. The president should at least spend the rest of his six month in reforming and upgrading Nigeria’s prisons. Secondly, the president should visit Bamayi and Al’mustapha for accommodation reservations. In his usual globe trotting, the president should visit Charles Taylor in Hague for weather acclimatization.

Lastly, the president should seek forgiveness from the prison warders for his attitude toward them in eight years of his maladministration.