Not In Power To Build Road

Not In Power To Build Road…Obasanjo

Abbas A. Dikko

What an insult on our collective intelligence! Nonetheless, let me quickly remind him of his 1999 campaign slogan in Maiduguri. Baa Ruwa! Baa Wuta!! Baa Abinshi(ci)!!! Meaning: no portable drinking water, electricity and food therefore, vote for me; I will provide these basic necessities. But today in far away Jigawa, he was shamelessly telling those who care to listen that he was not in power to build and provide road, portable drinking water, electricity, primary health care and basic education. Let me also remind him that immediately after he was sworn-in in May 1999, he promised in the next six months to fixed back our power surge. Eight years after he was forced out of office, these basic necessities of life were no anywhere visible except infrastructural degradation, hunger, disease, deprivation and perpetual darkness.

And as comical and deceitful as his nature, it’s now he remembered that he was brought on board to stabilize not the country as he said because there was never mayhem when he was released from prison rather, the polity. Today, what were sincerely the legacies he left behind, confusion, contempt, discord, discontent, weak and unfocused leadership at the centre and in most components units of the federation that has now led to political uncertainty and instability in the country or what?

No! This product of timidity and incivility needs to undergo a clinical examination of brain disorder, definitely, he should be suffering from narcissism. These are indeed, the kind of leadership we have in this divide yet, certain media illiterate from nowhere comes forward with concept called rebranding Nigeria, in their usual traditional method of recklessly squandering our resources that may have been utilize to address more pressing problems of national prominence.

However, that was the disparaging statement and position of the most unfortunate and wicked president this country ever produced since its nationhood. An ex-jail bird, wretched by all definition, brought out of prison, polished and rehabilitated by the Nigerian people through consensus electoral process that brought him to the presidency in 1999 with one term mandate to stabilize the polity and live, similar to that of Nelson Mandela. Unfortunately, renegades from the agreement instead, launched an onslaught against our democratization process that undermined our political development as well, destroyed our economy through fleece and flagrant abuse of due process.

More disheartening, there was never any aspect of our life as a people and a nation that was not fractured by this disgruntles personality, like I said; is it the polity, economy or our value system had he left un-punctured? Under his jaundice and unethical style of administration, the spate of ritual killings, political assassinations, arm robbery, broad day light ballot box snatching /stuffing high-class prostitution were at its crescendo. To date, it’s much in our memory, his ungodly third term project that has no any symbiotic relationship with constitutional democracy and best acceptable practice the world over and its attempt to have caused destabilization in the polity, the consequential damage in the Niger Delta region that today puts our economy, the people therein and the country at a standstill, the Zaki-Biam, Shagamu, Kano and that in the East massacre that nearly jeopardises our peaceful coexistence.

Yet, this brute has the audacity because he is/was left untouched, to carelessly tell the world that he was only there to unify the country as if there was restiveness before he assumed office. Well, one wouldn’t blame him, it’s only in this end a leader would commit and perpetrate all kinds of immorality, injustice and crass abuse of directive principle of state policy as gory as that of Obasanjo and get-away unpunished. In fact, to almost extent, accorded recognition, respect or delegated as emissary of the country to attend International assignment. Therefore, former president Obasanjo can go anywhere in the world not only a remote and poverty stricken state of Jigawa and poured out all manner of uncouth statement including a slap on the face of the existing system.

He truly well know that the leadership at the centre was one among his products of malfeasance therefore, cannot muster the tenacity to bring him to book for whatever rot left behind by his administration.

As it was distinctively known, when he was released from prison, we were not in any way at war, therefore, the issue(s) of rebuilding and reconstruction of any part or all of the country was not a subject. So where had he buried our monies now that he has affirmed was not in power to provide basic necessities confirming as well, eight years of his administration was in its entirety a waste? For this self affirmation alone and if truly the leadership at the centre are sincere with their anti-corruption crusade, concerned about state of our infrastructures, even if not for the purposes of prosecution, Olu should be summon to candidly explain where are all our monies from the sale of crude, its excess, federal government property/agencies and other revenues accrued to the nation during his tenure as president?

At least, we are in dire needs now that the world financial melts-down has puts our economy and development effort at a coma.

Here again, Olu will be doing a greater service to the nation if in his vulgarly manner could boldly open up as he did in Duste-Jigawa, and tell all Nigerians and the world at large those that mismanaged our fortune through sleaze in his last eight administrative years as seen done to Gen. Abacha’s regime immediately he assumed office. And how truthful was his project of unifying Nigeria when people like Almustapha and co are kept in detention for unnecessary years under a constitutional democracy while, Ganiu Adams and assassins of Dokubo, Bola Ige, Harry Marshall, Funsho Williams to mention just few, breezed air of freedom?

Deceit and deception would never deliver us to the land of milk and honey, and as is the adage; gods are wise, so equally Nigerians today. Olu, you’re just a manifestation of lies, failure and corruption, simply accept the fact and let’s close the chapter. Of recent, it was to the notice of not only government but Nigerians in general that the 2^nd Niger Bridge was a hoax, the contract never existed unfortunately we were being white-washed by your government that the contract was awarded. At every opportunity, several times before now, the ingrate would vomit unnecessary and messy statement(s), pretends being a messiah simply because he is/was left untouched or always given benefit of doubt while, all his actions always scores him worst.

For God sake, when would our leaders have conscience, accept their misgivings, seen to be doing the rightful. This was one, at the onset, trusted and generally accepted by the larger segment of the Nigerian society, overwhelmingly, gave him their mandate later on, forced self back to power and, still accommodated. Mismanaged and mortgaged their conscience, resources, country and, inhumanly enriched him-self, family and cohorts and now, directly looked at their frustrated faces and carelessly tells them whatever suit his memory, thought and believe. Disappointingly, the authority in-charge listened and watched helplessly, truly Nigerian leadership requires wholesome overhauling and indeed, rebranding not the Nigerian masses.