NIGERIA NEWS :: THE OPTIMIST VOICE

Archives on Optimist Voice's Conference October 31, 2009

(A Map of Nigeria) Kwara, Kogi Benue are the Southernmost Northern States

The issues at first were known for what they were regardless of what the papers say. People kept their heads above the water and could decipher the truth for themselves. But for the most part, during the last two decades (twenty plus years), probably beginning from the General Ibrahim Babangida era August 1985 until 1993, the picture became muzzled. The Babangida regime marked the beginning of an era where the corrupt and the hard working civil servant were no different in the eyes of the government. The era of rewarding hard work, accountability; and holding corrupt and inept leaders accountable for their actions ended with the Buhari regime.

The reporting style of the Nigerian Press since inception, charging Northern Leaders first with ineptitude and prejudice paid a lot. Those northern leaders in trying to prove otherwise pumped money into projects and development to the south. The massive amount for example pumped annually into Lagos, including reckless spending in efforts to reclaim land from the sea for development cost billions. This writer once saw the raw statistical figures of federal projects spending in those days and it was alarming. The style paid handsomely, so much so that the Northern part of the country when it comes to developmental projects was to a greater part neglected.

There was no denying the fact that the Gen Babangida regime first came in with an idea of appeasing the minorities and Southern Nigeria in particular. The first set of cabinet positions, for example, saw a majority of position going to Christians; and ethnic wise the North and South was reflected equally to the proportional detriment of the majority population of the North. Even after the initial cabinet reshuffle, the Babangida regime continued along the same lines.

But what marked the administration the most, and tends to be the hallmark of the Babangida era was the open way it showed everyone that it was not willing to go after corrupt government officials. The “everything goes” mentality was entrenched. It also dismantled many of the institutions that Northern Nigerians were gradually developing in order to coach their people business skills, such as the Northern Nigerian Development Company NNDC headquartered in Kaduna and the like. The honeymoon with the South did not go beyond the attempt of that administration to build a self made democratic dispensation.

The result of the Post Babangida era on the nation was blackmail, and hoodwinking of the nation. The press went haywire over the annulment of the 1993 elections, which occurred before the final results were collated and announced. In that election a Southern candidate Moshood Abiola and a Northern running mate Bashir Tofa were reportedly favored to win according to the polls. Soon thereafter, the nation witnessed many southern groups such as NADECO and other organizations actively campaigning within and outside Nigeria against the nation. The Southern press raised so much heat, even though that was not the first credible election annulled, neither was it the first time the military has deceived the nation to remain in power or else wriggle it away from civilians by force.

Very soon the Northern majority were willing to lie backwards and allow everyone to set every unconstitutional agenda it wants on the people. The majority succumbed to a very undemocratic maneuver that resulted in an invasion of a cabal of lawless wolves that have today metamorphosed into party politics in Nigeria. They want to convince the nation that they can now play clean, take care of everyone and play representative politics. They use these dichotomies of North vs. South and Muslim vs. Christian to play games with their electorate, causing irreparable loss of lives and properties. Lawlessness became the vogue and corruption became the norm.

Recommendations and Conclusion

Nigerians have to realize and learn to live with reality. Any rule or administration where the majority is under oppression, and the minorities are forcing themselves on the people through manipulations of various kinds will not augur well for the nation. There is always a limit to oppressing the majority in any nation. That is why even in a country like the United States, a nation that boasts of the most enduring democracy that has lasted beyond two centuries, have learned to respect the right of the majority at all times. And Nigeria with the North controlling two thirds in land mass, and the two other regions of South West and South East sharing a third of the land mass tells the story to any objective mind.

Despite the fact that population figures do also decide many advantageous gains in the U. S., the United States census is transparent. No one goes out of their way to manipulate the numbers. They even projected after the last census that the White majority will soon become a minority in less than two decades from today. They work objectively with the numbers they get regardless of how unpalatable it may be to the ruling class which by the way are the white majority today.

Nigerians on the other hand in a very irresponsible manner still rely only on the 1963 census, which the nation and the world do realize is the last most sensible data to gauge the nation’s population. The country has attempted many censuses after that but fraud and manipulations have been forcing its rejection. That 1963 census gave the North a majority of population, and in terms of religion Muslims a majority of 47%, Christians 35% and those who claim Traditional religion and atheists 18%

It is therefore necessary for the nation to be true to itself. Nigeria is not the only country struggling with heterogeneity, but it is one that continues to manipulate itself to destruction. Had the different demographics of the nation come together just like any other heterogeneous nation, then prioritize their developmental objectives based on realities and truth, allocate to people jobs and functions and positions based on merit and expertise and not ethnicity, the nation may not be rivaled on the continent of Africa. Both capital and human resources are there to make it a reality.

PDP has dug a deceptive hole for the nation which it labeled rotational presidency. Through it, clear and brazen manipulations are being pulled on the majority. The responsibility principally lies on the shoulders of PDP to lead the nation out of such lawless quagmire. If it does not do that to the satisfaction of the people, the majority should reject it.

As for the overrun opposition that has been crippled by the PDP through both legitimate and mostly illegitimate means, this is the time to rise up and form a righteous and formidable party that gives the nation the genuine mandate of equal opportunity for all: They need to also grow up and quell intra party issues that has weaken them. A conglomerate of different opposition parties can sit and pick the most deserving interests they share and use it to form a party that allows people to run for any office of the land, from the north or south at anytime, in any election session. The nation not only needs such a party, it also needs a strong opposition to check the overzealous one party state Nigeria is turning into.

Let the opposition come together with a formidable party that respects the constitution, and rule of law. There is no reason whatsoever, that our constitution - following in the footsteps of the US constitution tested and retested for centuries - should choose to go its own way over such an important principle for selfish reasons. Imposing a minority and unpopular government on any nation to appease anyone will never work, because it negates the core value of democracy that gives every person the same right regardless of where he comes from and who he or she is.

I do not by that mean no one from a minority group should run and be elected as President. What I am saying is that is should be open to everyone, and be based on the merits of the person running for office. Anyone from any part of the country can run for any office. If one is judged to be the best to rule by the majority, regardless of where he or she comes from north or south, he should be given the chance. No party should build that unprincipled agenda into itself. And if they do we should reject them.

We should demand right now that that clause be fixed before the next round of elections or we will reject whatever it is the party and its officials try to impose on us. If they refuse to do as we say, we come out onto the streets and continue to protest until they respect our genuine interests and demands. Of recent many nations have peacefully asserted their will that way. In unrelenting peaceful protests on the streets they forced governments that have even celebrated victory to lay down the crown and follow the will of the people. In Ukraine for example, such protests tagged “Orange Revolution” in major cities lasted from November 2004 until January 2005, forcing the government to a fresh re-run election that resulted in the victory for the protesters. We have to rescue the nation and fix it to serve the people and their needs.

NIGERIA NEWS

Today's Most Pressing Issue: Rotational Presidency Quagmire

Hadiza I. Wada, DBA

December 5, 2009

The issue of rotational presidency has once again surfaced with the current dilemma tabled before Nigerians that their current President may have to soon decide to either resign from his position, or else not run for a second term. Though rotational presidency actually contradicts the constitution even if by denying all members of the PDP the same rights to vie for a position the constitution guarantees them, basing that choice on ethnic and regional terms; but also by knitting in saliently some other contradictions; allowing discrimination against people based on demographics that the Constitution guards against i.e. discrimination based on ethnic, religious and other factors. It also ends up denying all Nigerians their political rights vie for and to elect Presidents from any region of the country.

Rotational Presidency is a PDP issue and not every party’s issue, that was forcefully shoved down the throat of Nigerians by a party that is increasingly becoming tyrannical and a monster out to crush anyone that stands on its way. This the party does regardless of the merits of law and the dictates of democratic ideals. The fact of the matter is that with such disregard, we now have a cabal of people out to manipulate both law and righteousness for their selfish ends.

Rotational Presidency does not enjoy the backing of the Constitution. The constitution actually extends to every citizen the right to vie for the highest office in the land regardless of where one may have came from in the nation. It is the inalienable right of every citizen. PDP came out in a gangster fashion in my opinion, to announce to the nation before the 1999 elections that it has adopted as part of its party manifesto to rotate between the North and Southern part of the country the office of the President of Nigeria.

Furthermore the South was given the first shot at the seat. President Olusegun Obasanjo was jostled out of Prison in a hurry few months before campaigns, dusted up and practically anointed to run for the office in 1999. Democratic process of allowing all those who want a shot at the seat was muted even within the party. Soon we have an Army General who had ruled Nigeria before, from South Western Nigeria as the presidential candidate for the most popular party. The Western nations, with either good or bad intentions, appear to have waited for the party that has the most chances to win, to usher such a move. Then before you know it, Mr. Obasanjo was made a President.

The Former Leader, Obasanjo began to enjoy support from Western nations that no Nigerian President has ever enjoyed in Nigeria’s history. He dined with every Western President that enjoys the highest powers on the planet, be it in the White House or number10 Downing Street. The doors were also open to the former President to attend every Organizational meeting be it G8, WTO etc whether Nigeria is a member or an observer. Soon everyone cannot mistake the fact that some sort of honeymoon was occurring.

While all this was happening, Nigerians at home were witnessing one of the most tyrannical and bloody regimes in its history. Not only was separation of powers crushed and under constant challenges, there were horrendous incidents of ethnic and religious crisis, one after the other never witnessed at that proportion in previous eras, not even under military regimes. In most of these incidents, the primary targets were either of Northern extraction or else Muslims. It is common knowledge worldwide that Northern Nigeria is majority Muslim, while the South in majority Christians. The crisis unfolded with the first incident being that of attack on Muslim Hausa in Shagamu barely three months into President Obasanjo’s regime. It is worth noting however, that the Obasanjo era crises began two years before the United States experience with the twin tower attack that also saw many nations of the world turning against Muslims and their interest globally.

Though Nigerians have not expected a smooth ride during the first democratic government in years after a long period of Military rule, the challenge they faced was of a different kind. They never expected that they will be faced with an ethno religious crisis that will turn a civilian government into one of the bloodiest. This you expect from military rule. The effect of those crises looms large casting shadows that has remained with the nation to this day. The main reason for the continuous tension and enduring insecurity in Nigeria today including reoccurrence of such crisis is because the Nigerian government at that time did not hold the perpetrators accountable for their action, even though the same administration remained in office at least seven more years after the first of such crisis.

Whenever you make laws, no matter how beautifully it seems to address the issues on paper, when you fail to implement them and take them seriously, the public feel they can violate them at will. People take cue from the governing bodies and act accordingly. If you do not have effective law enforcement and serious courts that believe they are accountable to the laws they swore to uphold, and the trust of the people they swore to defend you might as well forget that you have made laws. Above all these factors is good leadership that is honest and sincere regardless of whose bull is gored. All previous administrations military or civilian have a record of swift control of such crisis, muting it at eruption and punishing culprits whenever appropriate. The Obasanjo regime inherited the same country, people, and their problems as any before it, but made a mark for neglecting timely action and the prosecuting of perpetrators of mass murders

As serous as issues of taking lives without just cause is, the Obasanjo Administration since 1999 failed to enforce the laws. It failed to show such violators and enemies of security and peace that when they tread on the rights of innocent citizens they govern, they will be made to face the law. Since it was not a new problem, the right time to nip it in the bud was when it first occurred. Failure to prosecute the perpetrators was what gave subsequent violators the strength to continue along the same path, so much so that such crises became prevalent even spilling into the present administration, with the mass murder incident in Plateau State.

The same Obasanjo Administration, after failing to perpetuate itself for unlimited terms through constitutional amendment, decided to deceive the same people who I will blame for ceding their rights the most in the first place. By that I mean Northern Nigerians who have been in the majority since the inception of Nigeria. Not withstanding the fact that had President Obasanjo succeeded in perpetuating himself in power through constitutional amendment, the former President would have willfully and by choice violated the rotational presidency clause of the PDP, cheating the North of its turn for as long as he wished. No one saw the double-crossing nature of that maneuver.

Having failed in the third term agenda, and since the second civilian regime was supposed to go to the North, the former President, based on many media accounts yet to be denied, personally sent for the then Katsina State Governor Umaru Musa ‘Yar’Adua, who was said to have been asked to vie for Presidency by President Obasanjo. Even at that time Nigerians know very well that President ‘Yar Adua is sickly.

And here is the twist. Though rotational Presidency does not enjoy the backing of the constitution, the former President knows that the constitution, much like the United State’s has enshrined as second in line, the Vice President. So the trick is, should the President be unable to continue, or just run for one term due to his invalid state, another Southerner now by constitutional backing will gain the seat of the President of Nigeria. What a grand design. So today whether anyone likes it or not, just as President Umaru ‘Yar Adua has the final word on whether he would resign or else stay on, the Vice President also has a right to demand that he is next in line. The only third option that may deny the two the final say in that matter is when someone legally challenges that provision in a court of law and opens the issue to deliberation and interpretation by the Courts.

The Northern Blunders

Northern Nigeria not by design has found itself almost always supplying the leadership of the country. In a democratic setting where you have a one man one vote rule, the majority will always decide who rules. For all our quarrels and contentions, Nigerians seems to have respected that for many years. Even during Military times, the military seem to have respected that fact, giving way to the dominance of Northern Military leaders also, except for the forceful entry of General Aguyi Ironsi after a tumultuous episode of the first recorded coup; and also Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo after the assassination of his first in command Former Head of State General Murtadha Muhammad in February 1976.

Northern Nigerians however do not dominate the printed press to date, which until recently has been the most popular advocacy group. They also do not seem to take seriously the need to educate the world in their own words what the realities in Nigeria are from their perspective. The Nigerian Press has been dominated by Southern Nigeria since before (1940s) and after independence from foreign rule in 1960. The Southern press began challenging and painting subjective and inaccurate historic and political picture of the country. On the shoulders of the press more than any other group, in the writer’s opinion, lies the burden of strong divisive propaganda that has resulted in a divided nation. They propagated against whatever group they choose. The Nigerian Press being dominated by the South, from inception began an incessant campaign along ethnic and religious lines.