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Counting the Gains of Clinton's Visit Nigeria By Walter Duru Early last week, America’s Minister of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton visited Nigeria, as part of her working tour on some selected African Countries. She arrived Nigeria and met a low key reception at the Airport, a situation many blamed on the alleged anger of the Country’s leadership, over the inability of the President of the United States of America, Senator Barrack Obama to visit the Country. Before her arrival, Mrs. Clinton talked very tough about Nigeria, even from South Africa from where she proceeded to Nigeria. As expected, receiving America’s number three citizen at the State House, Abuja, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua assured the United States Government that the Country will not relent in its anti corruption war. Responding to questions from newsmen after the meeting, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe said there was a great conversation between the State and the U.S. Secretary of States. Maduekwe said the talk centered on electoral Reforms and commitment to the rule of law and the fight against corruption. The Minister said President Yar’Adua ‘’acknowledged that we have serious challenges there. The President made it clear that the whole thing goes even more than the rule of law. It is about attitude and this affects the intergrity of the electoral process. “The meeting was very productive. The way you will expect it to be among friends; honest, candid, encouraging, mutually inspiring, mutually re-enforcing and ultimately strategic. It is about strengthening the capacity of the partnership for the two Countries. One of the most powerful indications of that partnership is that the Secretary of State has pledged the commitment of the Obama administration to evolve a special relationship with Nigeria that will warehouse in what could be known as US/Nigeria Bi-National Commission. Nothing could be stronger than that in terms of how two Countries can work together on a daily basis to strengthen understanding, goodwill, capacity and of course, in the case of Nigeria, to mobilize our tremendous resources, human and natural, to create prosperity. And the regional leadership we have been providing for, the Secretary of States was very appreciative and she, again pledged the commitment of her administration to continue to assist Nigeria to play the regional leadership”. Earlier in her speech, Clinton acknowleged Nigeria’s leadership position in the African Continent and spoke on the need for deliberate steps to be taken to right the wrongs in the system. She lamented over the way in which corruption has creped the nation and called on the people to hold the leaders responsible. She reminded Nigerians of President Yar’Adua’s inaugural speech where he acknowleged that his election was full of flaws and promised to give Nigerians a credible electoral reforms that could ensure free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. She however expressed disappointment at the process and attitude of the government towards the reforms project. She further stated that a whooping sum of about three hundred billion dollars has been stolen from the Nigeria purse and stashed away to overseas in the last thirty years by the leaders of the Country. Siting other democracies in other parts of the world, Clinton argued that Countries more populous than Nigeria such as India and even younger democracies like Indonesia are doing well and far better than Nigeria in the area of free and credible elections. She therefore pledged that the United States of America shall stand by Nigeria in ensuring that the Country moves forward. She therefore challenged the Country to adopt an electoral system that will not be disputed anywhere. Reacting to Mrs. Clinton’s speech, Nigeria’s Senate President, Senator David Mark expressed dismay over Clinton’s comments about Nigeria, arguing that it is not a true representation of the situation in the Country. “How can somebody be sitting in the United States of America and tell us how to solve our myriads of serious problems. Has America solved all its problems? What did the United States go to do in Iraq?”, he querried. Adding its voice, the leadership on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP also frowned at Mrs Clinton’s comments, accusing her of being out to antagonize some selected individuals. “She took on some persons that she felt, she has an axe to grind with”. However, while we agree that Mrs Clinton’s speech is an obvious indictment on the Country’s leadership; beyond ‘politics’ and self ‘defense’, Mrs. Clinton only told Nigerians and the world the obvious about the Country. She only reminded Nigerians about things they already knew. First, do we need any prophet to tell Nigerians that the anti Corruption war in Nigeria is dead? Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was frustrated and bullied out of office and forced into exile just to allow criminal elements to continue with their ‘business’ with Nigeria. Is it not obvious that the exit of Ribadu was the end of anti corruption war in Nigeria? How can a government that proclaims respect for rule of law be part of the ‘coup’ that saw to the illegal removal of an averred crime fighter in Nigeria. While we agree that the step may have been taken to save the friends and sponsors of ‘Mr. President’ and other ‘Political big fishes’ accused of corruption from being prosecuted, posterity will not fail to judge all those that have a hand in the looting of the Country’s treasury. EFCC has no doubt, become a lame duck. What about all the former governors accused of corruption, have they all been forgiven? A situation where past and present leaders whose wealth is questionable and cases were established against them by the anti- graft body now move freely and are even given other positions of responsibility. For instance, the present Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Adamu Aliero still has a case to answer with the EFCC but still occupying a public office. Again, former Delta state governor, Chief James Ibori is already facing trial though, “mock” and rumours have it that he is ‘scheming’ to replace Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the nation’s Vice President come 2011. What of the former governors of Rivers state, Dr Peter Odili, Zamfara, Alhaji Sanni Yerima, among many others? Are they still being tried or forgiven? The EFCC under Ribadu was dreaded and succeeded in instilling fear in the minds of public office holders. Today, the reverse is the case. Serving Public office holders now steal and loot with impunity and nobody is asking why; possibly, because their predecessors looted and went Scott free. This is sad. Little wonder, the EFCC is being described in some quarters as ‘a business enterprise’. The question remains, What is the EFCC under Mrs Farida Waziri doing? More so, other anti graft agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and others have proven to be non-existent and as such do not deserve to be in existence. In addition, electoral Reforms which forms part of President Yar’Adua’s 7-point agenda is already being politicized, as the report of the Justice Muhammad Uwais-led Committee which got the blessings and approval of majority of Nigerians has been watered down and ‘doctored’ to favour a few selfish individuals. On the Niger Delta Crises, the inability of the Federal government under President Yar’Adua to either issue a white paper as well as implementation of the report of the Technical Committee on Niger Delta puts a question mark on the President’s sincerity in solving the Niger Delta problem. President Yar’Adua made a big mistake in trying to choose just two small issues in the recommendations of the Technical Committee, which was presented to him on the 1st of December, 2008. This is what brought about the issue of amnesty for Niger Delta Militants; leaving other key developmental issues, which form the kernel of the people’s agitations. But, will the Amnesty deal work? The whole World is watching. Undoubtedly, the time has come for the leaders of this Country to sit back and advise themselves, before the wrath of God befalls them. Again, the Nigerian people have actually been too quiet and that is why the rulers are unrepentant on oppressing the masses. The time has come for us to hold the leaders responsible. More so, the only hope for Nigeria is on the people, that is the masses and we must take our destiny in our hands. Furthermore, Civil Society Organisations, the Mass Media, Professional bodies, Non governmental Organisations and all other stakeholders must unite to fight this cankerworm, which has already eaten very deep into the system to save our Country from collapsing. Also, Nigerian government and other stakeholders must at this juncture, desist from deceiving themselves by the ‘rebranding Nigerian’ Project but must commence a genuine and sincere project to rebuild Nigeria, as there is nothing to rebrand. The time to act is now. Walter Duru is a Port Harcourt based journalist and Public Relations/Media Consultant Consultant. |