Obasanjo and the North-West

By

Abubkar Jika

jikaab@yahoo.com

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.