Professor Nwosu’s Medicine After Death Book is Dishonest, Self-Serving and Unpatriotic

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If Professor Nwosu has had the courage to issue a statement within hours of the annulment of the 1999 elections summarizing pretty much what he is now saying in his new book, most Nigerians and the world public opinion would have proclaimed him a hero. Waiting for 15 years to write what he is now saying is a disservice to or country and to the so-called intellectuals he represents in our country. What is more revolting is his attempt to sweep the truth under the carpet by trying to put the blame of what happened on the underdogs in the Administration while sheepishly defending President Babangida’s role in the terrible scenario. Of course Professor Nwosu has a right to want to make some money by writing this book and by inviting Babangida and his minions and cohorts in Government to come launch the book and make huge donations out of the several millions and billions of Government money they have stolen while in office.

Professor Nwosu could single-handedly have changed the course of Nigerian History and probably saved many lives including Abiola’s by speaking up on time. If the role played by Abacha and some of the names he had listed in his new book have been made known to Nigerians and some members of the military junta at the time, Abacha would  probably not have been named as Head of State. If he was, he, most certainly, would not have been able to deceive the whole nation for as long as he did with all the consequences the nation has had to grapple with before and after his death. By keeping silence or going underground for his own personal safety during the crisis, he kept Nigerians guessing, and he put his on personal interest over and above that of the nation. His attitude has shown he was an accomplice in the carefully orchestrated conspiracy and strategy to annul the freest and the fairest election in Nigerian history.

I see little or no difference between Nigerians who have held the same office before him and have ended up pretty much with the same result selling out their conscience for a pot of porridge, and pulling back the hand of the clock for Nigeria The one big difference I see between Nigeria and a country like America is the willingness of Nigerians to sell out, or take the line of least resistance every time the crucial interest of the country is at stake. For some reasons, few Americans do stand up for their country when it needs them the most regardless of the monetary temptations to do otherwise You know Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal that eventually drove him from office would not have seen the light of day had the other Americans working with or working for Mr. Nixon colluded with him by putting their own self interest above their nation’s. The former Press Secretary and a personal friend to President Bush Maclelan has just released a book revealing how the President has deceived the nation by going to war with Iraq on false pretences. There was the case of one Mr. Clark who refused to toe the line of the President at his own peril and he paid dearly for it. Even though Mr. Maclelan has released his book before the president leaves office and at a time the President and his Party would have preferred that he keeps quiet, so as to give the Republicans a chance in the coming elections, there were many in America who still blamed him for not speaking up sooner. Professor Nwosu on the other hand is releasing his own book 15 years after the fact and after so much water has passed under the bridge. The nutty professor has done more harm than good on balance if you make a comparison.If Professor Nwosu were to be a Judge or Chairman of one of the Election Tribunals in Nigeria today, you know what to expect. he would find some ways to rationalize the massive rigging of the 2007 elections just like Professor Iwu has done and is still doing. General Obasanjo would have been completely freed of any interference in the outcome of those elections. Whao!

Press Secretary, Maclelan has regretted waiting this long to make the confession and he deposed he could not, in good conscience, remain silent, because he has placed the interest of the nation above his own. I recall Admiral Fallon resigning his job as commanding officer of the allied forces in Iraq because he had a major policy disagreement with a decision taken by the President. Even though he did not immediately come out to denounce the President, it was clear to all and sundry he made his decision based on principle. You can count hundreds of cases like that in America where ordinary Americans would come out to openly disagree with their Government without pulling punches, but all in the interest of their country. It takes such men of character to build a strong nation, I might add.. Why, for goodness sake can’t Nigerians give such important national assignments to distinguished Nigerians like Gani Fawehinmi, Professor Itse Sagay, Nobel Peace laureate, Wole Soyinka and others who would carry out the assignment without fear or favor and damn the consequence?

Until Nigeria is able to produce more Nigerians with that kind of clout and sense of honor and integrity, we labor in vain in building a great nation. I must admit, however that I have come across a few Nigerians in my public service days with the Federal Government of Nigeria. I recall with pride the principled activities of two Permanent Secretaries among a few I had the honor to serve under. The first was Alhaji Ahmed Joda from a town called Girei in Adamawa Province at the time. He was my Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education. The second, Mrs. Francisca Yetunde Emanuel was the first lady Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service of Nigeria.  She was my Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Establishments. The two of them were spectacular from my own point of view and I was an eyewitness to their sense of honor and their integrity and I still cherish their memory till tomorrow.

I recall that late Justice Jibowu who should have become the first Chief Justice of Nigeria . He was robbed of that position because he was too honest and disciplined for the Balewa Government. So was Justice Taylor, Justice Akinola Aguda all of who were by-passed for Chief Justice of Nigeria because the Government was too scared of them and their independent streak.

Professor Nwosu and Professor Iwu are birds of the same feather in my book. Nigeria deserves better than that..

I rest my case.

Dr. Wumi Akintide.

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