Standing up for Nigeria: President Umaru Musa Yar Adua - To Be or Not to Be?ByDan Azumi Kofarmatadanazumikofarmata@yahoo.comWednesday, 30 May 2007
First, I would like to felicitate with all
Nigerians for getting Chief Obasanjo out of Aso Rock Presidential Villa
on this historic day, Tuesday, 29 May 2007. He is now part of history.
Nevertheless, during the eight straight and uninterrupted years of
Obasanjo’s presidency, Nigerians suffered from a number of unprecedented
deprivations in the midst of almost quadrupling of crude oil prices in
the world oil market. Unlike his distant democratically elected
predecessor, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Obasanjo arrived in power when
Nigeria was savouring sustained streams of oil revenues from crude oil
exports, the engine of Nigeria’s development in. All thanks to the
military engagements taking place in the theatre of war in the major
crude oil producing nation of Iraq and the insurgency by the Niger Delta
militants here in Nigeria. However, former president Obasanjo squandered
the excellent opportunities created by the availability of these
stupendous excess crude oil revenue windfalls and external debts pardon
that his presidency benefited from.
This article is not about what was done
and not done by the failed presidency of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. It is
rather, about what President Umaru Musa Yar Adua could do to undo and
diffuse the booby traps left behind for him by nearly-sit tight former
president Aremu Obasanjo. Incidentally, Mahmud Jega’s article in the
Daily Trust of May 28th, 2007 (http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200705280213.html)
equally duelled on this matter as well.
My article of May 27th, 2007 on
this very issue also appeared in both nigeriavillagesquare.com (http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/dan-azumi-kofarmata/is-umaru-musa-yar-adua-ready.html)
and gamji.com websites respectively. Both articles coincidently analysed
the issue of booby traps that former president Olusegun Obasanjo left
behind for President Yar Adua. Nevertheless, the big issue and question
is where would President Yar Adua start in the onerous task of clearing
these booby traps, landmines and unexploded cluster bombs that were left
behind for him? To answer this question one needs to tarry a bit and
search our recent history of democratic experimentation. If we recall it
was the same General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd) that ushered in the
ill-fated Second republic that lasted only four years and four months:
October 1979 – December 1983.
The principal reason why the Second
republic did not last longer than it did was for the booby traps and
landmines General Obasanjo layered on the path of Shehu Shagari’s
presidency. First, it all started with the first jumbo loans secured for
Nigeria by General Olusegun Obasanjo who was then Nigeria’s Head of
State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria after the demise of General Murtala Muhammad who was cold
bloodedly assassinated on February 16, 1976. With the change in interest
rates by the United States Federal Reserve Bank , which led to global
economic recession, Nigeria found it modest external debts ballooned to
high heavens. Secondly, World crude oil prices collapsed and the market
was awash with glutted crude oil on the cheap. Nigeria’s economy took a
deep plunge and the rest is now history.
Other means used by General Obasanjo, who
also as at that time, reluctantly relinquished power to the civilians,
included micro managing the transition programme. For example, General
Obasanjo influenced certain key appointments in the presidency before he
handed over power to former president Shehu Shagari. To that extent,
Obasanjo was able to plug-in a number of his cronies, friends and
associates in sensitive and strategic key position of the Shagari’s
administration. Shagari did nothing to change what Obasanjo recommended
for him. For example, General Obasanjo selected and recommended to
Shagari his Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) before
he handed over power to him.
The consequences of Shagari’s mistakes are
now history. For example, Nigeria since 1983, never experience again,
true democratic governance and successful civilian-to-civilian
democratic transition or change of power until now. Even the current
transition that was celebrated on Tuesday, May 29th, 2007 is enmeshed in
controversy, which no one can say in whose favour it will be resolved by
the election petition tribunal. This again, shows that we have gone
round full cycle in this pathetic situation, still with General Olusegun
Obasanjo again, as the Chief Presiding Officer, in the lingering search
for enduring democratic governance in Nigeria
Again, will history repeat itself under
Yar Adua’s Presidency? This is a billion-naira question. Least we
forget, President Yar Adua has already told us that in addition to
continuing with former President Obasanjo’s repugnant and failed
economic reform agenda, we should also expect minimal changes in the
composition of his presidential staffers and cabinet members, as he
would retain substantial number of Obasanjo’s garbage. If he eventually
does that, then there is clear and present danger for acceptability and
survival of his regime. Therefore, all the talk of Yar Adua will be his
own man, assert his authority and spring surprises will all amount to
nought.
To be or not to be? That is another
billion-naira question. The best starting point, if Yar Adua so decides
to be his own man and assert his authority would be to reverse the 15
percent price hike of petroleum products, which was announced by former
president Obasanjo about 24 hours to his handing over the reigns of
governance and national leadership. This is a very simple but very
popular thing to do. Yar Adua will get instant support and acceptance of
millions of deprived and angry Nigerians. Remember, hike in petroleum
products prices was the Achilles heel and major undoing of the
Shonekan-led Interim National Government (ING). The reversal of the hike
by late General Sani Abacha was what gave him an early acceptance by
majority of Nigerians when he toppled the ING despite the cloud of
credibility of the palace coup he staged hanging over his head at the
time.
Another very important public relation
related policy action that President Yar Adua should consider is
reaching out to the striking unions of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU), the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade
Union Congress (TUC). A face-to-face meeting with officials of these
unions will go along way in dousing the hardened positions of these
unions regarding their grievances. They are on strike this long largely
as the result of the uncivilized manner Obasanjo treats these very
important members of the polity. A gentler and humane rapprochement by
Yar Adua will definitely show the difference in terms of ability to
dialogue with the Unions and seek their partnership in moving the nation
forward and deepening its shaky democratic foundation. There must be
mutual respect and dignity in the process of dialogue with the Unions at
all times. Yar Adua could register a profound difference in style and
substance in this way.
The next line of action that Yar Adua
should consider after the ceremonial inauguration into office is to
appoint a credible and respectable Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
Security of life and property has degenerated in the last eight years of
Obasanjo’s inept handling of state affairs. It is here that the broad
public will start to benefit from the benefits of new administration.
Therefore, making immediate difference from the former regime and the
new administration can easily be tasted when there is improvement in the
general security situation of the country. This could be done with the
appointment of a credible and reform minded IGP.
There are reservoirs of lessons to learn
from previous appointments of IGP made by the previous administrations.
The appointment of new IGP therefore, should be guided by wisdom and
political dexterity. Yar Adua should consult widely among critical
stakeholders in determining whom he appoints as the new IGP.
Furthermore, the possibility of appointing the new IGP from outside the
Police Force should be seriously considered. This could be the best
route to reforming the Police Force. Least we forget, the army was used
in reforming the Customs Service some years back.
In the same league of priority of
establishing authority and enhancing, the credibility of the new
administration, Yar Adua should consider reviewing and or reversing all
administrative, strategic and political appointments and terminations of
appointments by Obasanjo’s administration made during the last three
months to the handover. This is necessary if Yar Adua is to avoid the
mistakes of the past. Least we forget it was the same Obasanjo that
cancelled all administrative, strategic and political appointments made
by General Abdul salami Abubakar prior to the handover of the reigns of
government to him in 1999.
The imperative of this suggestion goes
beyond the dictum that says what is good for the Geese are also good for
the Gander. It is abnormal for an outgoing administration to make key
appointments for an incoming one in any democratic and governmental set
up. Here again, Yar Adua is a lucky man in the since that if he wants to
get it right, he could consult widely among critical stakeholders, more
especially from among elder statesmen such as former Presidents and
Heads of State (minus the immediate past one), seasoned politicians and
retired generals amongst others.
The next line
of action that President Yar Adua needs to do to assert his authority
and win the confidence of the polity, is to review all the sales of
public properties, award of contracts and allocation of oil blocks done
by Obasanjo in the last three months of his administration. This is also
necessary if Yar Adua wants Nigerians to believe his acclaimed posture
as an honest, sincere and incorruptible person, who always believes in
transparency, accountability and due process in public service. This
suggestion is also inline with the antecedents of Obasanjo’s action
immediately after he was sworn as President in 1999. The reason for
undertaking such a policy measure is to ensure that proper procedures of
due process, transparency and accountability had been adhered to or
followed.
To assuage the
concerns of the opposition political parties, civil society
organizations and the international community, Yar Adua should during
his first 100 days, lay the grounds for the very urgently needed reform
of the electoral system. This will go along way in fulfilling his
promise to reform the electoral system and processes. By doing so, he
would have set the first stage towards laying strong foundation more
amenable to the principles of democracy. “Perhaps these could even be
Nigeria’s first steps to democracy,” to quote Reverend Father Matthew
Kukah, a Catholic clergyman.
However,
establishing his authority without compromising his ideals on "good
governance, transparency and accountability" should not be construed as
“biting the hand that fed him,” with due apologies to former Minister
Nasir El-Rufai.
The next and
most sensitive, emotional and probably sentimental but controversial
decision is one that borders on immediate pardon and release of
Obasanjo’s political prisoners. These are the likes of the jailed
Niger Delta militia leader Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, MASSOB leader
Uwazurike, General Ishaya Bamaiyi, Major Hamza al-Mustafa, Colonel
Jibrin Bala Yakubu, Police Commissioner James Danbaba and CSP Rabo
Lawal. Some of these people were incarcerated for almost eight years
now. Justice delayed is justice denied. President Yar Adua must end this
travesty of justice inflicted on these individuals. The case of Mujaheed
Asari Dokubo is a special one. He should be pardoned and released
immediately. He can be a catalyst for resolving the lingering and
embarrassing crisis in the Niger Delta. Moreover, without the spirited
agitation and struggle led by Asari Dokubo, His Excellency Vice
President Dr Jonathan Goodluck would not be that lucky enough to be
occupying his new exalted position today. We should also remember that
other ethnic militia leaders such as Dr Frederick Faseun and Mr. Gani
Adams were released sometime ago
Another case
that President Yar Adua should revisit immediately is the controversial
Federal Government gazetted White Papers on the Petroleum Technology
Development Fund (PTDF) targeted against former Vice President Atiku
Abubakar and others. This is yet another travesty of justice at play
here. Although the courts have quashed these Kangaroo and vindictive
indictments, Yar Adua should provide additional executive/presidential
reprieve. This will hasten the spirit of reconciliation.
Haven addressed
these immediate explosive domestic challenges left behind by former
President Obasanjo, on the international scene; Yar'Adua should seize
the opportunity opened to him to attend the G8 meeting in Berlin next
month to launch himself and his administration into the arenas of
international affairs and diplomacy. This opportunity should be used to
the maximum, to initiate Yar Adua, who has had little experience of
diplomacy and world politics beyond Nigeria.
Finally,
President Yar Adua must navigate a fine way of insulating himself from
the political vampires that also go by the name “Any Government in
Power” (AGIP) and business moguls and oligarchs that have grown in
stature and influence under Obasanjo reign. These rent-seekers are
capable of undermining Yar Adua’s credibility as they did to Obasanjo,
whom became captive of their idiosyncrasies at the detriment of our
collective national interest and patrimony.
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