₦airaland Forum

For one who was already a practicing physician during the glorious Buhari-Idiagbon era, I felt proud to be a Nigerian during my vacations. I felt safe on Nigerian roads. I felt happy at seeing people queue up for their turns in public places. I felt confident that the police check-point ahead of me on the highway would not turn out to be an extortionist toll gate or even a daylight gang of uniformed official robbers. I felt confident about the sincerity of the Nigerian leadership irrespective of their religion or place of origin.
I practiced my profession with happiness and dignity realizing that at least there was a government in existence that would protect me, a government that would hold any misbehaving citizens accountable for their sins against the state or against fellow citizens or other residents of the geographical unit called Nigeria.

But then, Bang! Buhari and his no-nonsense deputy Idiagbon, were booted out. Nigerians had no say in either situation. And the darkness fell. And new anti-people and anti-civilization decrees were churned out. And the incarcerated looters were released from the cells where the unsmiling duo had safely held them; (granted a few relatively innocent politicians were also incarcerated). And hell was let loose on the nation as official corruption and sleaze were raised to unenviable heights. And the word “settlement” got introduced into our political lexicon. And our leadership began to wear corruption and unaccountability as badges of honor. And we have never recovered till this day. (Google the book: “Nation of Dead Patriots”.
Google also the book: “Konganoga Mauling the Polity”).

The results of the Bang occasioned by the overthrow of the Buhari-Idiagbon duo, are what we have, still plaguing the Nigerian political landscape till today.

The argument for a Buhari/Bakare ticket may be quite plausible.
Many of us have our fears about a perpetuation of the ills of our society by a PDP victory which is almost as good as assured in the light of what we know. There is bound to be a recycling of the same political and economic vampires who have for decades brought shame and destruction to the Nigerian polity. We have seen them back on the stage doing the same weird and naked dances that are characteristic of them. (See the book “Comedy of Naked Vampires”.

Much as I greatly respect our President Goodluck Jonathan, I have my doubts as to whether he would have the political and moral will to indiscriminately pick up these same vampires of the Nigerian society and place them where they belong, the same way as Buhari would do, (…perhaps less forcefully without Idiagbon of blessed memory).
When these same vampires are relentlessly campaigning for President Jonathan now, will he have the courage to move against them when he finally ascends ‘the throne’ this time on his own merit? There lies the fear of many people including my humble self.
And without a decisive move against the same fingers of the leprous hand (a.l.a Bola Ige of blessed memory), we will merely be back to the status quo, or even turn out worse!

But again, we must not forget that President Jonathan has not really had the full opportunity to manifest his full potentials considering the circumstances under which he came to the number one position. We all are aware of the stiff opposition that he faced and is still facing from the cabal. He certainly needs a place to stand before he can be expected to move the world. For now he may appear to be fairly slow in moving against the rot in the Nigerian society. But again we must remember the big constraints which he faced and may still be facing considering the circumstances of his ascension to power and the powerful forces that consistently impeded his ascension. If after the first six months of his possible coming to power on his own merit he still manifests the presumed tardiness, then there would have been no good excuses. For now he certainly needs all hands on deck in his party to be able to win the elections. Hence, perhaps he still needs the ‘vampires’, the good the bad and the ugly within the PDP. The free hand given to the INEC so far is a veritable departure of the ‘do or die” policy of the past and the high-handedness that characterized the political cum military juggernauts that we knew.

It may not be very fair to judge President Jonathan fully now for the failure of full scale war against corruption because of his current precarious position, even when we all would have appreciated a more aggressive action against the vampires many of who currently support and campaign for him.

As opposed to President Jonathan’s present position as a President and Head of State in a democratic set up, General Buhari was a military Head of State who ruled by decrees. His word during his era was law. Thus he could peremptorily order the incarceration of any offender or perceived offender. The courts had very little powers under those regimes. A President in a democracy could have his orders ousted by the law courts. There lies the difference.

General Buhari may be a necessary panacea for the battle against corruption in Nigeria but I also have my fears about the effect that his military background in a civilian setting may have on him in a democratic Nigeria after he had ruled by decrees.
We have witnessed the effect that this had on OBJ. Can we afford another of the same?, Military Heads of State coming into civilian governance after they had previously ruled by decrees! Again we saw OBJ and we saw Mubarak of Egypt. Can we therefore take that risk with Buhari?

Again even with Rev. Bakare by his side, and even in spite of one being very open-minded about the private religious rights of individuals, can we fully take a chance with one who was alleged to have made certain religiously-divisive and inflammatory statements in the past?
Those were allegations and to a good extent General Buhari has doused those fears by choice of a reverend minister as his running mate. It was certainly a very wise move.
Again, from the point of view of moral courage to rout corruption Ribadu would have been another very good candidate, the high profile support that he appeared to have been receiving of late from certain ‘unholy’ quarters notwithstanding.
A ‘clean slate’ in the candidacy of Professor Pat Utomi, unfortunately is reported to have withdrawn from the race.

Finally, from point of view of equity, I believe it is only right that the people of the South-South
Geo-political zone, just like the people of the South-East zone deserve a shot at the presidency. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. We must not forget that the goose that lays the golden egg must be petted, not killed. Again, we should not easily forget that Nigeria started as a tripod at independence: the North, the East and the West with the Mid West at a latter stage. At that time we practiced true federalism. The North thrived on ground-nuts and cotton, the East on Palm oil and the West on cocoa. We had the Commodity Boards. And we essentially thrived on the ‘Principle of Derivation’ as the basis of the Regions’ economic survival.
Today oil that comes mainly from the South-South is the mainstay of our economic survival. Then suddenly the groundnut pyramids disappeared. The palm trees and palm plantations have been allowed to go wild. And Cocoa-House has been dwarfed with hardly any more appreciable cocoa within its precincts. And so it has suited us to create many more states in one of the former three regions enough to dwarf the other former original two regions combined. And we know now that the ‘Principle of Derivation’ and ‘Resource Control’ have suddenly become taboos and anybody who preaches them until recently could face the Saro Wiwa experience.
Would a Buhari/Bakare presidency have the moral will to correct these military-induced aberrations which suddenly became rubber-stamped Acts of Parliament?

With time the oil reserves will dwindle or even run out. And the solid mineral reserves and agricultural potentials of other regions will soar. And it may once again suit us to revert to the principle of Resource Control and Derivation.

The above are some of the issues which people should remember and think about as they make their decision on this April’s presidential elections and the candidates that they will vote for as President whether it be the incumbent, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, or General Buhari, or Rev. Chris Okotie, or Mr. Ribadu or any of the other presidential candidates in no particular order of prominence.
This is assuming that the old foxes will not once again ‘fix’ the elections.

Nigeria is a thoroughly blessed country. Her attaining true greatness and remaining strong and therefore progressive is almost entirely dependent on the ability of her citizens to hoist a credible and impeccable leadership; a leadership that will care more for the legacy that it will bequeath rather than the weight of the fleeting local and offshore bank accounts which he or she will have to his or her name. We can make it if we really try.

May the same good God who has seen us this far continue to guide our people and give Nigeria the selfless leadership that will place the country well above self.

Dr Oliver Akamnonu
(Physician and Author. New York, USA. E-mail: ooakams@yahoo.com )

Zikkyy:
My view: I dont think a Ribadu presidency is sellable in the North. Ribadu can only win in the southwest (being ACN). I doubt he will be able to win Lagos free & fair. I think GEJ will take Lagos and do well in other SW states.

Doing that will hand PDP the presidency with a landslide cos Ribadu has no followership in the North.

[quote author=X-factoria link=topic=643600.msg8100284#msg8100284 date=1302516622]Simple: Mrs Uche Ekwunife of APGA won the ANAOCHA/NJIKOKA/DUNUKOFIA FED. CONSTITUENCY (the same area which result was disputed by Ngige) and both elections took place at the same time. It clearly indicates that APGA is more popular in that area than ACN.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201104112541871[/quote]It doesn't follow. People can vote for different parties at the same polling booth.

SMH! I weep for Nigeria

EzeUche:
People need to give Goodluck Jonathan the credit he so rightfully deserve. I am getting sick of those who continue to insult him, even though he provided credible elections for the people. What more do you want from the man?

ACN is gaining ground. APGA is gaining ground. CPC is gaining ground. LP is gaining ground. Yet, people continue to say such nonsense.

In essence we should be castigating Obasanjo and not Iwu for the flawed 2007 elections. Why was everyone shouting Iwu's name and now that it is good you are shouting the presidents name and not Jega as if it was the president that conducted the polls.

People dont have to have several ID's to make their points. . . Lets finish the Job on saturday. PDP out!can you imagine Anenih's wife as the minister of work?. Ten don't expect the Benin-Ore road to be fixedin another 4 years. Do you want Patricia Etteh as your special adviser on economic matters? God deliver Nigeria

Adamuhassa:
Jonathan promised to allow a free and fair elections and although he knew that his party PDP is unpopular, he kept to his promise even at the expense of partisan politics. That shows he can be trusted to do what he says he would do if voted in. I therefore enjoin all right thinking people to vote for GEJ. I think as between GEJ and Buhari, GEJ is the lesser evil.

Why? so that he will recycle those that lost. Bankole as minister of finance, Obasanjo-Bello as minister of petroleum and so on.I no dey for that one, Abdulsalam handed over to civilian and today He is regarded as a legend and still contributing to national development, I believe GEJ will do better on the sideline.

Talk about defending your votes!

The constitution of Nigeria guarantees freedom of association. Buhari cannot disobey a court order. Why are we only talking about the Yaradua cabal?Most of them are still in PDP added to the OBJ cabal notable among which is Anenih.

is AIT cursed?how many times will their studios get burnt?na wa o!

is AIT cursed?how many times will their studios get burnt?

only the final vote counts.

justwise:
ahahahahahahahan, abeg ooo, my backside is written Exit Only
I don't think that the £110 is for the child benefit alone, it may include some other little little benefits pple claim here, rent, council tax. . .etc

more like s.h.it only.

and NTA is busy advertising free o charge for GEJ. saw them today asking people what they thought about his campaign tour and dressing.pathetic.

Vigilante:
Yes we should. We are terrible, we are bad.  If the Pope were a Nigeria and you print in his convent, the Nigerian politician will still get hold of it before election day.

speak for yourself and stop generalising, you are terrible,you are bad.

courageous

iluvnaija:
COMMENTS LIKE ALL THESE HAS PUT US ALL WHERE WE ARE TODAY. COMPETENT PEOPLE LIKE OKOTIE, UTOMI AND DELE MOMODU ARE NOT VOTED FOR BUT INCOMPETENT DULLARD LIKE JOE AND CO GET VOTES.

I CRY FOR NIGERIA.

what makes dele competent?pleasedo not abuse your freedom of expression

[quote author=inspired_m link=topic=158762.msg8033502#msg8033502 date=1301679918]
Oga David In Abuja

Even If you ask me the License Plates of the 2 cars You Bought, I will Remember by Heart. 

One Silver Color Toyota Corolla

One Gold Color Honda Accord

Last Known Mileage >>>>>>>> 

80% Thread left on the Tires of the Cars When I Sold them  [/quote]you tried but the corolla wasn't silver. . . I enjoyed those tires until i got tired of them. . regretted changing them. we shall soon deal but the price is quite high. . will wait till after the elections(hopefully naira will appreciate)

sam79:
Nigeria is a country where thieves are kingmakers, celebrated, role models.
Nigeria has a dark future.

Just as your own future is dark

thank you sir,will get back to you. . .How do you keep track of your customers?didn't think you will remember me.

oga sir long time. . . please how much will it cost me to get a 2007 or 2008 toyota camry.

EzeUche:
You all need to stop whining. Buhari is only going to win states in the North. Stop acting like he has widespread support in the South.

and GEJ will only win in states in the south.

go to court

Beaf:
It looks like you guys have no intellectual points to back up your stoneage politics, so its time to offer voodoo and follishness instead. Chei!
One day be one day! Unu go tek laff kill pikin for NL o!

www.nairaland.com/attachments/180447_ROTFLMAO_gif3d0c775232c7f27cf80592785b9635b6

you forgot to say amen.

Hello house, I bought a glo modem which I unlocked and put an MTN sim in, my problem now is that it is always on edge and not hsdpa.seen wcdma and hsdpa twice or so.how can i change the software to make it compatible with MTN 3G?please help.

The constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria guarantees the freedom of association and if Abacha is corrupt he should have been convicted and ineligible to contest. Now dont tell me Buhari is also responsible for that.

which is which? First he said he was out of the country and was only aware of the debate that day, later he said he only wanted a wider platform where he can reach many people at once. . . Mr President why didnt you attend the NN24debate?- final answer please.

Disappointing. . . very disappointing. CPC,ANPP and ACN were right in pulling out of the debate afterall. He also claimed his principal is the only one that visited all the 36 states of the federation - if I had the presidential jet at my disposal, I will do that too.

And he  also admitted on the same channel that he asked for areas which questions might be asked during the NN24 debate.

Dr Okupe just foolishly admitted that he asked for areas which questions may be asked so his principal can prepare. In other words he asked for area of concentration. I'm sick of PDP.

Chris Okotie will floor GEJ any day. . . hence his exclusion. They probably don't want anyone to make the president look incompetent.