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Umar Yar’Adua – Understanding the Mindset of PDP Presidential Flag-Bearer (Part 1) By Oyeyemi Olodo
“We are continuing to follow developments in Nigeria closely…delegation of the U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom have travelled twice in recent years to Nigeria, in 2000 and 2003, to assess religious freedom conditions first hand” – Angela Stephens, Assistant Communications Director, U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom
“I assure adherents of other faiths that government will guarantee the security of their lives and property” - Katsina Governor Umar Musa Yar'Adua (quotation culled from BBC News, 1st August 200)
“They are confused” – Vice President Atiku Abubakar (reacting to the news that he is still Nigerian Number Two Citizen. 8th Jan 2007)
Following Governor Umar Yar’Adua of Katsina State sudden adoption as PDP Presidential Flag-bearer for 2007, in the best political chess match ever witnessed in Nigeria young democratic process. Many political commentators were left browsing through their historic books to understand the end game of PDP and more importantly, OBJ Master Plan. President Olusegun Obasanjo recently in New York told Nigerians in the Diaspora, that Yar’Adua is the only man that will “keep Nigeria on track” but the untold story about the shy governor is shocking, frightening and worrying, to the extent that Western countries have placed Nigeria on their watch list and following the political development in the country with greater interest.
If Nigerians could only be honest with themselves, they know that Umar Yar’Adua will be the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria except he is just another riddle in the whole masterplan of the present Command-in-Chief. That aside, It is common knowledge that rigging and exchange of ballot boxes are natural phenomenon in Nigeria politics. A clear evidence of this happened recently during the PDP Primary Election held in the City of Ife (South-West) Nigeria. Honourable John Olawole Fasogbon on the 25th of November 2006 was re-elected to represent its ward (Ife Chapter) after securing a vote of 1,425 and was issued with the INEC certificate. The result was announced on local and national media in Nigeria but the decision was changed by powerful political stakeholders in Osun State and Barrister Albert Adeogun was declared the PDP nominee for the ward. In an exclusive chat with the integrity magazine from Nigeria, Honourable Fash made it clear that he was battle-ready to claim his crown, “I was robbed of my mandate; the electorate gave me their vote but I was pushed out by a few people in the corridors of power… Where are the true defenders of democracy in Nigeria when this is happening in their backyard and they are speechless….” Whilst, the leadership of PDP are aware of this incident, nothing is being done to correct the injustice and there are many examples of this type of undemocratic process going on.
If this is the picture of PDP democracy, then Nigerians are definitely heading for a period of political uncertainty where leaders are only interested in fulfilling their own desire rather than addressing the needs of the people.
In the wake of the New Year, Umar Yar’Adua made clear what will be the priority of his government. Following in the footstep of his political godfather, President Olusegun Obasanjo, he said corruption will be top of his agenda with no mention of addressing the root of corruption. Whilst, his intention might be genuine, his assertion clearly reveals that his political foresight is myopic and needs to be re-engineered to look at the big picture affecting majority of Nigerians. Yar’Adua needs to know that what is needed in Nigeria presently is addressing the suffering of Nigerian people; food, job and security.
Whilst, Yar’Adua was concerning himself with issues of less importance to the masses of hungry Nigerians, his counterpart in the other side of the continent with similar ambition to become the next Prime Minister in the UK, Gordon Brown, was outlining his foreign policy priorities which included a pledge to educate Africa’s children for free. The UK Chancellor Gordon Brown wrote in the Guardian Newspaper that “…education for all makes not just moral and economic sense, but strategic sense too”.
Gordon explained that his decision to pledge universal free education within a decade in Africa was based on his personal experience during a visit to Nigeria where religious extremists lured poor pupils with basic schooling but indoctrinated them “filling void created by our failure act”. As far as the UK Chancellor was concerned, the situation in some states in the Northern part of Nigeria was a good breeding ground for extremists by default and our dear governor, Umar Yar’Adua, happened to be one of the few praised for his good work in Katsina State. So, let’s examine his work in the area of religion and determine if Gordon Brown’s comment is true or false.
The fifty-one governor of Katsina state is better known as the younger brother of the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua who was the Chief of General Staff and second in command to President Olusegun Obasanjo, when he was military head of state before he handover to the Shehu Shagari NPN Party in 1979.
However, the two term governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the fifth governor in Northern Nigeria to adopt the controversial Sharia Law for Katsina State. An approach that led to the lost of lives and properties across the nation and which was declared unconstitutional by the Attorney General of Nigerian Federal Government and Minister of Justice, Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN) when he declared that the practice of Sharia by these states was a clear breach of the constitution because they contravene section 42(1) (a) of the 1999 constitution. Kanu Agabi also went further to say at that time that, the affected states have thus been advised
The PDP Presidential flag-bearer, Governor Umar Yar’Adua, according to the assertion of the Attorney General of Nigeria committed the greatest sin against Nigeria constitution by violating the law of the land and endangering the lives of other Nigerians residing in Katsina State. Should we now say that anyone who introduces Sharia law amongst Muslims who desire to live under such law is fanatic? The answer definitely in “No” but the sensitivity to the way in which the implementation is managed is what will reveal the true intention of the sponsor of the initiative.
However, the U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom released its 2006 Annual Report with recommendations on U.S. policy for the President, Secretary of State, and Congress with regard to CPC countries, as well as other countries where the United States can help to promote freedom of religion or belief and Nigeria was placed its Watch List. In February 2006, at least 120 Muslims and Christians were killed in four days of sectarian violence across Nigeria and Katsina State was one of the states where protests over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad were held. Whilst, Governor Umar Yar’Adua promised that non-Muslims would not be affected by the introduction of Sharia law in Katsina State. The contrary was the case, in April 2001, the Katshina Arts and Musicians Association wrote to the Katsina House of Assembly protesting the arrest and detention of Sirajo Mai Asharalle. Asharalle was arrested by the state-sanctioned Rundunar Adalci vigilant group while performing music at a local function. The performance of music and dancing was banned under the Sharia law introduced by Katsina state.
A report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial in 2005 listed, the case of March 2002 where a Sharia Court in Katsina State sentenced Ms. Amina Lawal to death by stoning for zina which a higher court upheld the judgment in August 2002. Though, on appeal in September 2003 the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal (by a 4-1 majority) overturned the conviction. Yet, it revealed the fears of Human Rights organisations that if not for the publicity generated in this particular case, there was the likelihood that she would have killed. According to Dr. Paul Marshall, Senior Fellow at Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom "The March 25 decision not to stone a woman to death for adultery was based only on a technicality and does nothing to reverse or moderate sharia".
However, all the above cases happened when Governor Umar Yar’Adua was meant to be the custodian of Nigeria Constitution. Though, the assertion is in no way inferring that Umar Yar’Adua is an extremist Islamist just because he happened to be the governor when couple of innocent Nigerians were slaughtered like goats because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Whilst, it must be said that the Governor Umar financial record is something to be proud off. However, the freedom of religion is one of the fundamental right guaranteed by Nigeria Constitution and it is the duty of Nigeria public office-holders not to discriminate against other faiths which Governor Umar Yar’Adua said he adhered too but information on record actually reveals the contrary because on May 15, 2001, the Government of Katsina State reportedly directed 38 of the 41 churches in Katsina City to relocate or face demolition. The relocation area was to be to designated “Christian zones” according to Compass Direct (June 1, 2001). Also in May 2001, an Islamic court in Katsina State ordered the removal the left eye of Ahmed Tijjani, who was found guilty of partially blinding a friend during an argument.
The U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom also observed that over 10,000 Nigerians have been killed in religious unrest since President Olusegun Obasanjo came to power in 1999. The big question now is simply, “Is it possible that Governor Umar Yar’Adua can turned Nigeria into an Islamic State” and some political commentators argued it is possible. Apostle Oyewole Olusegun, the editor-in-chief of Defence Times Magazine (UK) told integrity magazine that, “Governor Yar’Adua has done it before at state level and except he is stopped now, there are possibilities he will attempt it on federal level because he (Umar) has all the necessary contact in the Middle East to assist him…” He went further to indicate that Nigeria foreign policy will be greatly changed if Umar Yar’Adua becomes President because “his perception of Middle East will be different and there is likelihood of a clash with the Americans on that front” explained Oyewole Olusegun who is also the author of the forthcoming book entitled “Bush in God’s hand”. He also pointed to a report submitted to U.S Congress predicting that Nigeria will not exist as an entity in 15 years time and that it is sad that nothing is in place to examine the reality of such research or address it.
Recently, Mallam Mohammed Ashafa, a 40-year old Nigerian and leader of an illegal terrorist organization called Nigeria Taliban in the northern part of Nigeria was arraigned before a Federal high court sitting in Abuja for gathering information and planning to carry out terrorist attacks on the residences of Americans living in Nigeria. Observers of Nigeria political scene believe that there are possibilities that this type of activities will increase with the emergence of Umar Yar'Adua as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
There are many unanswered questions about the Governor of Katsina who is the flag-bearer of PDP and it is important that he makes a public declaration on some of the critical issues or it would be difficult for him to convince the majority of peace loving Nigerians that he would be neutral on matters of religious freedom.
Dr. Paul Marshall, Senior Fellow at Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom who is one of the authors of a research work on The Talibanization of Nigeria in the report “…warns that if left unchecked, sharia's further spread could provoke widespread inter-religious conflict, and transform Nigeria, Africa's largest nation, into a center of radical Islamism, linked to foreign radical groups and governments…”
Governor Umar Yar’Adua also needs to publicly outline his foreign policy priorities to win the confidence of the international communities. For example, on the 24th February 2001, 10 persons were killed and 3 persons were injured when youths claiming to be Shiite Muslims clashed with police during a protest following the visit of Israeli Ambassador Itzhak Oren to Gombe state. The youths also burned two churches and a nightclub. Knowing the sensitivity of the Middle East Crisis, it would be important to know if Governor Umar recognise and support the existence of Israel as a nation.
Dr. Ali Mazrui told a conference sponsored by the Nigeria Muslim Forum that, "The population of Nigeria, as we indicated, encompasses more Muslims than the population of any Arab country, including Egypt. But can the Sharia be implemented at the state level without compromising secularism at the federal level?" It is clear that there are some sections in Nigeria that will advocate that the country becomes a member of the Islamic state but such action will cause political chaos and the past record of Governor Umar Yar’Adua does not give any confidence that he will not follow this path except he publicly makes that promise now.
However, Umar Yar’Adua poor health has also been a subject of intense speculations in the last six years as he is said to undergo dialysis frequently to enable his kidneys function effectively. Whilst, I am not suggesting that a person’s health should be one of the criteria but it is clear that Nigeria needs a healthy leader in order to compete effectively in a global world.
For Nigerians living in the Diaspora, there are other critical issues of importance that any emerging president need to address particularly a good nation-wide strategy to tackle armed robbery and effective policing. I was in Nigeria some couple of months ago and it was a sad sorry because Nigeria Police Force had lost its credibility and ordinary Nigerian’s perception of the police is at its lowest. The Police Force slogan “To serve and protect with integrity” need to be replaced because majority of them are trigger-happy frustrated individuals and armed-robbers in uniform. What made my experience of Nigerian Police worst was that I had a British friend with me visiting Nigeria for the first time and our policemen illegal roadblocks and general attitude was a complete apology.
As a Nigeria with experience of working with the UK Police Force and understanding of community policing, I am convinced that the attitude and manner of policing need to be address with urgency. The problem of Nigeria Police goes beyond just equipping them but rather educating them about value, personal accountability and proud. In fact, I will personally encourage the government to pilot the idea of declaring one Nigeria city as a “Fire-arm Free Zone” with only Special Forces being the only personnel allowed to have firearm and an amnesty of weapons declared in the town. In such a town, police should be disarmed and a special unit set up to handle firearm incidents with intensive penalty for people contravening the rule. A proper monitoring of the pilot scheme and evaluation will help to understand the best way forward. The purchase of 40,000 pieces of Ak-47 rifles and 20 million rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) ahead of the country’s 2007 elections does not help the situation. There is no doubt in my mind that 30% of the rifles will end up in the hands of political thugs and armed-robberies for their ongoing activities after the election.
Nigeria government also need to address the issue of power supply from a regional perspective rather than trying to solve the entire problem at once. Transportation in Nigeria is nothing to talk about with emergence services un-equipped to save lives.
Nigeria needs a good leader that will be accountable to be people and not run the agenda of a particular ethnic group, religion or political class. If Governor Umar Yar’Adua will “Keep Nigeria on Track” in the words of President Olusegun Obasanjo and not allow his religious opinion to stain his reputation then he might be the best president yet to emerge in Nigeria politics because his contribution on other socio-economic issues are impressive. However, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar believes that Yar’Adua does not have a chance to enter Aso Rock. VP Atiku speaking to the Voice of America (VOA) said, “We will surely defeat the PDP, by the grace of God, in collaboration with other political parties in the country…Umaru Yar’Adua or not, we are in Politics”.
However, what will happen to VP Atiku when he returns back to Nigeria? Is history likely to repeat itself? …Is it possible that Atiku will face the same fate like Chief Moshood Abiola? We are onlookers and witnesses to the ongoing political chess game in Nigeria.
Oyeyemi Olodo is a political analyst and publisher/Director of the Integrity Magazine (UK). Forward your comments about this article to info@theintegritymagazine.org.uk and visit our website at www.theintegritymagazine.org.uk
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