Obasanjo and the North-West
By
Abubkar Jika
It is no longer news that the North is
politically
estranged with President Olusegun Obasanjo. Nigerian
newspapers and magazines are full of stories, for the
past couple of years of the North's "political
divorce" of President Obasanjo. There are various
versions of the genesis, dimensions and consequences
of this "failed political marriage".
It was however generally agreed that the North,
particularly the Northwest, was in the fore - front of
drafting and even funding the Obasanjo Second Coming
project. Coming on the heals of June 12th, the
incarceration of the presumed winner of that
elections, and Abacha's running battle with the Yoruba
political mainstream, his hasty adoption by the
Northwest as its "political son" in 1999 was
understandable.
He was there before and to be fair to the Egba Chief
he was a loyal deputy to legendary Murtala Muhammad -
a political legend from the northwest - and he
performed creditably well when he took over. For a
Yoruba man, he was quiet broadminded and even
relatively fair then so every one expected he
reciprocate this support. In fact this consideration -
the fear of being abandoned by his own people - then I
suspect led Rimi to blink at the Jos convention.
The sentiment was power shift. To be fair, the North
west having gotten convinced of its desirability and
the logic then of backing Obasanjo was in frenzy. It
was on record that the Northwest more than any other
zone gave President Olusegun Obasanjo massive
electoral support in 1999. Compare this scenario with
the Southwest, Obasanjo's home base. He was over
whelmingly rejected. They chose Olu Falae and
politically disgraced Obasanjo even in his own state -
Ogun State.
Obasanjo became president largely due to the North
political support and despite his rejection by his own
people. In normal political climes, and for a normal
political creature, the scenario was obvious: he owes
the North. Though late Abacha jailed him, and Abacha
was from the Northwest, Obasanjo more than any other
person knew, Abacha was not sent by the North. In fact
Abacha as other military leaders, including Obasanjo
himself was strictly on his own.
In any case to douse any suspicion of ethnic or geo
ethnic coloration Obasanjo was traduced and jailed
along with Shehu Musa Yar'adua. Indeed Yar'adua died
in the hands of Abacha. Obasanjo more than any other
person knows Yar'adua was from the Northwest. The zone
could not have supported Abacha's jailing of Yar'adua
or yar'adua dying in the hands of Abacha.
But we all know the North west was and still is
politically short-changed by Obasanjo. It was not
given the number two slot. My own Northeast was given
that position. To also be fair, Northwest did not be
grudge my zone for this choice. My proof? They gave
the Obasanjo/Atiku ticket massive support against
Falae/Shinkafi. The latter (Shinkafi) is from the
Northwest. So in my view it was and still is
politically amateurish and jaundice to be driving a
non-existing wedge between Northwest and Northeast.
I was a Discussant at the Arewa Youth development
Foundation, Youth Summit held at Kaduna and graced by
three former Nigerian leaders - Gowon, Shagari and
Buhari. One of the myths we demolished, which was
promoted by some participants from my northeast zone,
was the jaundice claim of northwest "jealousy of
Northeast holding second place in this dispensation".
This is a myth. History and contemporary realities do
not support this.
Again, what are my proofs? History recorded that the
Northwest stepped down for the Northeast in 1959 -
1966, which saw Abubakar Tafawa Balewa ruling Nigeria.
Obviously a Prime Ministership is more than a Vice -
Presidency. Northeast reciprocated this in 1978 - 1983
when Adamu Chiroma from the Northeast conceded to
Shehu Shagari from the Northwest. I personally believe
the promotion of this myth is due to lack of fresh
ideas and strategies in political mobilization.
The sad part however, it looks to me as if the
presidency may have bought the ramshackle view that
the North west is its "political enemy". The zone, we
all know lost out its privileges. In fact the general
view is that the zone is being punished while its
southwest counter part is being rewarded. There are no
signs that this trend would be reversed before
Obasanjo request for a second term.
The other day I read in the newspapers the Senate
rejected President Olusegun
Obasanjo's nominee for Auditor - General. The Senate
argued that it was not in the spirit and letter of the
constitution, as it does not reflect Federal
Character. It contended that Minister of State for
Finance (who is seen by many as the defacto head of
the ministry) is a Yoruba man. The Accountant General
is a Yoruba man. The Chairman Federal Revenue Board is
from the same zone. To give the same ethnic group
Auditor - Generalship in a Federation is patently
unfair and inequitable.
The view that the nominee was from Yoruba part of Kogi
State appears not to convince many people. After all
it was the same argument Obasanjo's handlers used
against Awoniyi, who is Northern Yoruba when he sought
the party's Chairmanship against anointed Gemade. The
fact was even though the nominee was a northerner,
even within the context of the north, many analysts
finger what they see as penchant of Obasanjo to prefer
giving northern slots to this Yoruba kinsmen.
Be that as it may, it cross my mind that carefully
handled and with genuine intentions the Auditor -
General slot that is now vacant can be tactically and
strategically used by President Obasanjo to commence
his political rehabilitation with the north. It may,
on the face of it, look easier and cheaper to get a
Yoruba chap to "cover the back of Mr. President's
accounts". But I believe the opposite is more worthy,
because it is more credible.
Assuming President Obasanjo decide to be as open and
as transparent as he claims, who should be choose to
Audit his Accounts? Whose reports would be more
credible and believable between a Yoruba man and a
Northerner? Since Obasanjo is a Yoruba man, an audit
report authored by another man would of course be
legally accepted. But is it politically acceptable? It
does appear to me that may be the latent part behind
the Senate rejection of Obasanjo's choice for Auditor
- General. After all the Accountant - General like
Obasanjo is a Yoruba man.
The vacancy offers President Obasanjo a great and
unprecedented opportunity for a political engineering.
Instead of looking for a kinsman or settling for an
avoidable kinsman even if he merits it, he should for
somebody that do not have ethnic or even religious
affinity to him. After all the job is about verifying
and checking his accounts. Apart from the primary
professional merits, there is the secondary and
equally weighty political merit.
First, at the moment his greatest critics are from the
North, who could be politically credible to vet his
accounts and issue him a certificate of transparency?
Certainly a Northerner looks a more politically
credible choice than a fellow Yoruba man or even a
southerner. Within the North itself, which zone is
politically better qualified for this task? Obviously
northwest. It is one zone that every one knows is
disenchanted. If an individual, a credible,
professionally solid individual from that zone
confirmed that President Obasanjo is transparent and
honest, who is to dispute this?
Moreover, it is not a job that offers patronage. It
could therefore not be seen as if the zone gains any
thing tangible from such an offer. But on state of
politics it is virtually flawless political move. In
addition, the president had persistently claimed he is
above board. The best shot you could give his
reputation in my opinion is to nominate not a kinsman
but some body from a zone that insists it is being
marginalize. It is a powerful message: come and see
yourselves, I have nothing to hide.
I believe the president has nothing to fear or hide.
To prove this he needs to offer this slot to the
Northwest. But does the northwest have a credible
candidate to fill this slot? The government should
know if the zone has. If it does not, it should
clearly state so. This is an honourable path for
obasanjo to start reconciling with the northwest.
Jika teaches at the Department of Mass Communications,
Bayero University, Kano.