I understand it is sweet to dream of the democracies in both South Africa and South Korea that led to President's being removed and jailed. But dreaming of that happening in contemporary Nigeria could be Malaria dream. Here's why

1. Both South Africa and South Korea have had functioning democracies for decades. Here, the soldiers only went back to the barracks in 99. Some might still argue the soldiers are very much around (winks)

2. Both countries are not deeply divided by religion. In South Africa Christianity makes up about 70 percent of the population so there's a Christian president on a back-to-back basis. In south Korea 57 percent of the population are not affiliated to any religion. Christianity and Bhudism makes up the rest. So S. Korea will most likely be getting a non-affiliated President on a rolling basis. In Nigeria were we have a Predominately Christian South and a majorly Muslim North, the presidency keeps alternating between both religions. So for a Christian Jonathan to go to jail a Muslim Buhari would have to put him there or for a Muslim Yar'Adua to be jailed (Had he lived and peace be unto him) a Christian Jonathan had to put him there. Do the math and see how difficult it could be here with how protective we are of people of same faith

3. Both South Africa and South Korea are above the 60 percent mark in general literacy level. Our literacy level here is less than a fraction

4. Zuma was removed by his own party the ANC. Ms Park was voted out in the Assembly where her party held the majority. Here, even if the president openly beheads hundreds of people himself, his party will defend him

5. In both South Africa and South Korea every region contributes to the national purse significantly. In Nigeria, everyone is waiting for Niger Delta's petrodollars.

6. In South Africa and South Korea, the minister for information will certainly not announce a list of looters while making it appear as though he actually wanted to do a roll call of the opposition party

7. In those countries they have stronger institutions. In Nigeria we have strong men and weak institutions

8. Both countries have hosted the FIFA world cup. Korea/Japan 02, South Africa 10. Nigeria is yet to host the world, or let me just say, Nigeria is yet to be able to host the World Cup

9. South Korea had a female President. We are at least 30 years away from our first female president.

10. In both South Africa and South Korea combined, there are fewer tribes and ethnicities compared to Nigeria

11. Lest we forget, even Zuma's predecessor was forced out of office when his hands were seen in the pot of banga soup.

12. Both countries have middle classes. We don't.

In summary, what could make a President lose seat anywhere else makes a Nigerian President, whether past or present, stronger. Let's face these realities first

Written by Julius Bokoru



Cc lalasticlala, mynd44, seun

Splendid article and very true to the point

Op one thing you fail to mention is tribalism, that is the worst of it, a northerner we tell you if we impeach Buhari his vice Yoruba will now become president the same applied to other regions just imagine how difficult Goodluck find it to become president after the death of Yardua. Nigeria are not main to be together if you ask me because we see others as enemy just for instance south Africa you mention have Zuma as president who is from Zulu tribe the biggest tribe in South Africa yet he was forced to step down by his party that have Zulu majority and succeeded by his vice from Venda tribe one of the smallest tribe in South Africa, an average south africa dont know the tribe of who is there presidents only what they want are good governance to all citizen. This cannot happen in Nigeria

Nigerian Masses have been hypnotised....as simple as APC

If you dare impeach him, majority of the poor masses in the north will die in vain due to anger, violence and hatred.
Op you don't understand, tribalism is killing us.

Even the Yoruba will definitely fight the innocent igbos and accused them of Impeaching buhari.

Guy this country is in big mess.

It is NOT easy to impeach a President in any country. Pls stop oversimplifying issues. It should NOT be easy to impeach a sitting President.
What most countries are doing lately is making Presidents pay for their crimes after they leave office.

ok 're you a learner ?


do you not see useful idiots defending buhari from dawn till dusk here on nairaland ?1

SternProphet:
It is NOT easy to impeach a President in any country. Pls stop oversimplifying issues. It should NOT be easy to impeach a sitting President.
What most countries are doing lately is making Presidents pay for their crimes after they leave office.

Modified.... Mynd44

@op you have raised some important points but there is a key difference between all prosperous democratic nations and Nigeria, our TAX to GDP ratios. Nigeria has a low tax to gdp ratio of 6% whereas South Africa's is 26% and South Korea's is 33%.

What this implies is that Nigerians pay the least amount of taxes proportional to our income. He who pays the piper dictates the tune. If Nigerians paid more in taxes, we would naturally hold our leaders to account. Why we do not care much about government stealing is because it is oil money and not contributed by the masses. Nothing unifies a nation like taxes. Issues of tribalism, religious difference take a back seat when our contributed money is being stolen.


Take for instance, a thief goes to the market to steal the goods of the market people at night but is unfortunately caught. What do you think will happen to the thief? Yet when our leaders steal our oil money no one seems to care because in reality, we don't feel we own the oil. Misuse our money and the situation becomes a different matter.