MY BLOG ON NIGERIA

Hi Comrades,

Obasanjo and Babangida - Kettle calling Pot black
Perhaps day of reconning is nigh for these two shameless ex leaders who, without prompting, have chosen to wash their dirty linen in the public. These shameless duo tried tell each other apart but Nigerians are not fooled by their vituperations on each other as we know clearly well that they have more in common than they are trying to make us believe. Both had been heads of the military junta in the past. Although Obasanjo willingly relinquished power as a military head of state in 1979, as a civillian president he attempted to manipulate the constitution for a third term rule after seving the two terms of 8 years. Babangida, as a military president, embarked on the longest transition to civil rule we have seen in the history of the country. He never planned to relinquish power until he was forced by the will of the people to go after annuling the most free election in the history of the county. Both men's regimes witnessed high level murders. Mr. Dele Giwa, the founding partner of the Newswatch was brutally muredered in house while Babangida was the military president. President Obasanjo regime witnessed the murder of the Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige. Both murders are unresolved to date. The two are stupendously ricjh, Although no corruption charges have been brought against them, none of them has been able to explain the source of their wealth in any coherent way. But again Nigerians are no fools We know they have been past rulers - Obasanjo for eleven years, Babangida for eight years. Needless we probe any futher.

GNU WILL DIMINISH OUR DEMOCRACY
Chief Bisi Akande was right to to suggest that the so called govermment of national unity will kill our democracy. Chief Akande

was speaking the minds of many Nigerians who witnessed how a similar contraption in 1999 by the government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo almost led us into a one party state. After winning the 1999 election, (though he did not win in state, Ogun ) President Obasanjo had invited members of the opposition to join him in running his goverment. Chief Bola Ige, then the deputy leader of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), became a minister but he later lost his his life in a most gruesome manner serving the GNU. And just before the 2003 general elections Chief Obasanjo struck a deal with 5 of the six sourth west governors to ask thier suppoters to vote for Obasanjo's PDP in the presidentioal election.This later turned out to be a ploy by Obasanjo to unseat the governors and problably anhiliate AD as a party in the south west. All the five governors regretted their action. Only Senator Bola Tinubu was able to retain his position as the governnor of Lagois State after the 2003 electiosn. President Jonathan may be a president of national unity but he should see the Nigetrian masses as his immediate constituency having been voted for up and down the country by the ordinary Nigerians who set aside religion, ethnic or political affiliations and sentiments. Nigerians voted for him on their own volition and not on the instruction of a god father. Threfere, ministerial appointments should not be used to recycle old politicians, reward certain individuals or to favour sons and daughters of political dynasties. Appointments should be based on merit rather than any vague consideration.
GNU can not do us any good. It will stiff le the opposition and leave the people without choices. President Joinathan should instead have a look at the manifestoes of the other three main parties and attempt to implement some of their policies so that the combined 13 million voters or so who voted for Buhari, Ribadu and Shekarau would not have voted in vain.
Onaolapo Adedeji

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Babangida berates Nigerian youths
So IBB (Babangida) wants to come back again. What amusing news! Well it’s not the first time he has itched to return to power. In 2003 and 2007 he made feeble attempts to partake in the presidential elections.
Despite the fact that his supporters made all the noise, not many people were convinced that he was a serious contender. I told those who cared to listen then that all he wanted was protection for his ill gotten wealth.He didn't have to become president. It's enough he was able to cow who ever did into protecting him. So far it has worked for him. But what makes those years different from now is that he's has been more forthcoming than ever. This is a significant observation of a slippery character best known for his 'maradonic' attitude.

The question now is why is he so serious about his ambition this time around? Could it be that his late wife was not supportive of his ambition in those years; was he too busy nursing his terminally ill wife; or was the political climate of those years when Atiku had a formidable followership too hostile for him. More than the above reasons I want to se him as a very desperate man who reckons this could be his last chance to throw in his hat for the presidential race. The man will be 70 years old soon; so it is either now or never again.

The joy of growing old is seeing your off-springs growing up. You should be ready to quit the stage at the right time. Why must it be you all of the time? Is IBB saying that he hasn’t got political off-springs he has mentored over time. Poor him. This is why he got it wrong at start by berating the youth of this country. I really don’t know which planet this man is coming from. Why is he unable to know that the Nigerian youth have moved on since he stepped aside from their life in 1993. Need he be reminded that he came to power through the barrels of the gun at the age 44.. Although, he had all the opportunity to have his name written in gold but he chose to squander it all. He ran a political economy that is most corrupt in the history of Nigeria. He stopped at nothing to soil the hands of many honest Nigerians. In fact he institutionalised corruption. Many bogus investment companies thrived during his regime. These were a reflection of the nature of the political leadership at the time. There were many unexplained assassinations during this time. The fairest election in the history of Nigeria was annulled the aftermath of which left many Nigerian dead across the country.
So his campaign managers are now saying that he is in the race to correct the past mistakes? Which past mistakes? Let him confess them now as an ordinary Nigerian not as a president. He had the opportunity of doing so at the Oputa panel which he ignored.

Nigerians don’t need people like Babangida anymore. He constitutes a risk to the future of our country. He should be stoppped. He will not be able to deliver on the needs of a modern Nigeria we all crave for. His political awareness has gone down the hill so is his political socialisation is at is lowest ebb. No wonder he thought Barack Obama was a council chairman before he became president of the US.

Patriarch Babangida sholud start to live up to his name, babangida. Quite rightly he belongs in his household..

Onaolapo Adedeji
http://www.myownnigeria.com

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YarAdua - As the reality show drew to a close
The star actor in the hilarious but hurting reality show that played out since November 23 when President Yar’adua left for a Jedah hospital in Saudi Arabia until the ascension of Jonathan GoodLuck as the acting president was not, unexpectedly, the president himself. It was a suspense packed show. The opening character was the presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi who announced to a bewildered nation that their president had travelled to Saudi Arabia for a routine medical check up. This time around, in order to prove that there was nothing to hide, he went on to disclose the true nature of his illness. Hoever he made no mention of delegation of authorities. This sudden announcement was met with strong condemnation from the Nigerian public and the opposition. The AC was the most vociferous in this regard. However, Nigerians in their large heart wished the president well and early return to the country. It soon became the lot of our religious leaders to offer prayers of quick recovery for Mr President. As days and weeks drew past and the presidential spokesman was not forthcoming with updates on the president's health situation or his return to the country, tongues started to wag.

It's now the turn of the Attorney General of the Federation Aondoakaa SAN to justify the president’s absence. He let us know that the president can rule from anywhere in the world and he is not mandated handover to his deputy when travelling out of the country. He did not clarify whether the president is able to do that even as a severely sick person. Soon it was time to sign the Appropriation Bill. The vice president had no acting capacity to do so. One David Edevbe had to travel to Saudi to get the document signed by the sick president. Turai, the president's wife who's been with him since he moved to Saudi decides who sees Mr President. David, the transmitter, was not allowed to see Yaradua according to newspaper reports; and back home this has raised a doubt on the authenticity of the signature. But the FEC through the spokesman Aondoakaa who, udoubtedly,is the star actor in the reality show continued to insist that the President was fit to rule. Meanwhile Nigerians were and are still kept in the dark about their leader’s health whose hospital bill is being picked up by the tax payer.

It remained like this with intermittent power game here and there until the American Chronicles introduced some shock when it reported that 'Yaradua is dead'. It was the beleaguered president himself who doused the rumour by granting a radio interview with the BBC. Why BBC and not any of our numerous media organisations in Nigeria? When asked when he would return home he was evasive. Obviously he will not stay a day longer than necessary! Like everything that has a beginning must have an end. It was becoming dawn the president's so called kitchen cabinet that the end game was nigh. That was when, after a spell of dilly dallying, the Senate thought it right to do the right thing, and the FEC strongly divided against itself.

Glad we now have acting President Jonathan Goodluck on the saddle. At least the nation can inch forward after a period of unwarranted stagnation. Why a cabal had to hold 150 million Nigerians stagnant for that long beggars reason. This is a patriotism issue which I prefer to leave till another day. I will rather use this time to advise the acting president to hit the ground running

Lots of things happened when the country remained rudderless. One of them was the Jos crisis which claimed the lives of many people and led to destructions of properties worth millions of naira. Far reaching permanent solution should be found to the problem in the area which in mind smacks more of political than religion. Another ugly incident was the United State's blunder that added Nigeria to the terrorist list I still can’t fathom why the Obama administration took that hasty, ill-conceived decision. Blunders like this have precipitated terrorism in otherwise peaceful nations in the past. Terrorism is foreign to Nigeria and the US should not try to bring it into her consciousness.

Another ugly incident while the president was AWOL was the murder of Dipo Dina, a politcal figure in Ogun State. It was a heartless act to say the least. Justice must be obtained for the deceased.

It is important to note that all these three incidents are security issues. Jonathan should do a lot in this direction. He should also heed the advice of the elder statesmen that he prunes down the 7-point agenda to two or three manageable level. Electricity, of course, must be on the top.

I wish the acting president Goodluck well in this new task. I also wish the president gets well quick enough to come home and resume full duties. May these prayers be answered.

Onaolapo Adedeji
http://www.myownnigeria.com

As Bode George Goes To Jail
The landmark judgment in the trial of Chief Bode George is an indication that the judiciary can save the country from imminent collapse. More importantly, it can wrestle the country from the grip of the PDP's unbridled desire to turn the country into a one-party state. Many kudos to the judiciary. It is important to remember here that a good number of PDP state governors and other office holders have lost their positions through various tribunal and court actions. The latest being the sacking of Senator Iyiola Omisore. An Appeal court has ordered a fresh election in his senatorial district. . So his latest travail serves him double 'wahala'. It is good that we are beginning to see a clear separation of powers of the tiers of government. This is healthy for both our political and economic developments.
As deputy chairman of the South West PDP, Chief George was larger than life. He was the Face of PDP. He possessed the hat trick to 'create' political office holders. He also created himself but ironically not well enough.
So his supporters are thinking the establishment made a sacrificial lamb of him. They may not be far from the truth going by the speech of President Obama while visiting Ghana. 'No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top, or the head of the port authority is corrupt.' he had said. The Yaradua's administration needed to prove to Mr Obama that his anti corruption drive is for real. Bode George came handy. May be we can expect Obama to visit Nigeria soon.

All said, let me wrap it up by saying to the members of the bench 'keep it up'

Onaolapo Adedeji

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Who could have stopped Gani?
We have just lost a great man. Human rights activist, friend of the masses, defender of the truth, hater of oppression, philanthropist of note and an outstanding lawyer. Gani Fawehinmi obviously lived a fulfilled life because he lived everyday according to the dictate of his conscience. He left a legacy of courage and honesty. He wanted a corruption-free Nigeria, he demanded to know who killed Dele Giwa, he fought for the actualization of the June 12 mandate given by Nigerians to Chief MKO Abiola. He had a brush with virtually all the military dictators we have had in this country. He was the most incarcerated human rights activist in Nigeria. Often times he was manhandled and beaten up by the agents of the military junta, and the masses often feared for his life. But somehow he managed to survive all of the abuse. We were all soon convinced that Gani could never die in the hands of the oppressors. He was unstoppable by the military arsenal of the juntas. Who then could stop Gani? As a cancer patient he continued to speak up against the ills of the society. At one point he challenged President Yaradua to make public the nature of his illness as it’s done in the advanced countries.

Gani is dead. That’s the reality. His death definitely left a vacuum but we all must draw from his many legacies and carry on from where the notorious lung cancer stopped him. May the soul of Gani rest in peace. Amen.
Pay your tribute to Gani Fawehinmi at http://www.myownnigeria.com/

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Atlas Cove Jetty - The Infamous Attack:
I still can't figure out what was going through the minds of the MEND men in that moment of madness. They have been let alone for far too long and the time really is now that they are curbed once and for all. The perpetrators of such a huge vandalism are, undoubtedly, economic saboteurs and should be made to face the law. It is the most politically insensitive action of the so called militants and Nigerians are angry with them. They'd better started to MEND their ways.

Onaolapo Adedeji
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Rewards for Militancy:
Just why did the government suddenly renege on its vow not to give cash incentive to the militants. Is the governments saying that it pays to carry arms, maim and kill. Or is this another way of siphoning cash?

Onaolapo Adedeji

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7-Point Agenda: Telly it to the air.
This is definitely a propaganda of the government. It will go the way of OFN, Green revolution, Mammser and so on. Every time I watch the propaganda advert on the NTA I am convinced its brain washing. We are asked to support the 7-point agenda of Mr President. Yes we we would have loved to. But the advert leaves no address, no contact details be it telephone, email. How can the citizens play a part if they don't know where to go, who to call or what to do? A programme that is touted as crucial to the success of the administration should have a website of its own. Not in this case. Everything happens on the television. This administration is just marking time; it lacks the political will to carry through its agenda. Next two years will not be any different from the previous two years. Bet.

Onaolapo Adedeji

So it's anotherJune 12
So it was another June 12 and time to remember the day we had the most free and fair election. The day all Nigerians spoke with one voice. The day that should, probably, have been our own Obama moment. The day hope for a better Nigeria was at its highest peak. But what happened? The military cabal in their own wisdom decided to dash the great hope by annulling the election, and consequently plunged the nation into chaos. We have lived with the consequence of that stupid action since then..The struggle that followed claimed so many lives and maimed several others. Many of them unknown and unsung heroes. The arrow head of the struggle, MKO Abiola also lost his life. So also his wife, Kudirat Abiola. All laid their lives for a truly democratic Nigeria. But sixteen years on, what really has changed? The guy who mouthed that Abiola was not the messiah the country needed had a second chance of leading the country (this time again not his will). He did his first term, because he wanted a second term he compromised and let go those who looted the treasury. He got the second term. But instead of using the opportunity to shop for and groom his successor, the greedy man wanted a 3rd term. When that ambition failed he told the nation he never wanted a 3rd term. But he failed to rein in his sycophants. So because he had to leave he simply hand picked an unwilling successor - Mallam 7-Point Agenda. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.

Onaolapo Adedeji
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Thanks a great deal for your daily contributions. Your efforts can jolly well pass for your own quota towards rebuilding our dear nation. We just must not rest on our oars until our beloved country can hold its head high in the comity of nations. Here is a country destined for greatness but it behoves on you plus me (minus the saboteurs) to make it come to pass. The innocent citizens of this country toil days and nights to make ends meet - not for them an iota of welfare programmme from any government. They cannot help thinking that governments exist to inflict pains on them. We must not watch this go on forever. We must speak up. Thanks everyone.

Onaolapo Adedeji