Whoever says Nigeria is not progressing should be tied to a broomstick. And shot dead with a water-gun. We are moving. Backwards, of course. That explains why we have a president who celebrates our pains. General Olusegun Obasanjo told us on national TV that we would “continue to suffer,” unless he jacks oil pump price to high heavens. Then, he had the guts to blame the Warri conflict on oil bunkerers. Shu-o?!
An inquisitive child once asked his father: ‘What’s a politician?’ And the man said: ‘A politician is a human machine with a wagging tongue.’ Just then, a politician rushing by to address a meeting was asked by a reporter: ‘Sir, what do you think about the political situation, now?’ The man replied: ‘Don’t bother me now! I’ve got to talk. This is not time to think.’ Well, maybe we should not be too surprised about Obasanjo’s utterances. He’s a politician, now. So, unlike a mirror, which reflects without talking, he talks without reflecting. Or does he?
Obj and his men know why the Niger Delta people are fighting. If they say they don’t, it’s either they want a third term or they need to go back to school. The arguments are certainly not new. They are fighting because the oil companies are still low on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The people want the good things of life to compensate for their backyards destroyed by oil exploration. They want good roads, jobs, good drinking water, etc. I’m sure Obasanjo has not just arrived from Mars. Neither has Atiku Abubakar, the VP.
Indeed, it’s so annoying, when the leaders try to hide behind their fingers in matters so glaring. I was particularly vexed, when the VP ordered the Niger Delta youths to end the fight to avoid impeding regional development – “through foreign investment, revenue and jobs.” Let’s face it. The only people who benefit from the said investments are the few ‘in and near’ the seat of power. They get all the revenues. If the common people were getting jobs from the oil companies, would they be asking for jobs? If the revenues were used to improve the spots the oil is dug from, who would quarrel? Yet, we spend $12 billion of the supposedly scarce funds on ECOWAS peace keeping / monitoring. As if you can keep or monitor peace where there’s none. If it’s that easy, let Obj and Atiku ‘monitor’ and ‘keep’ the one at home, abi?
Rather, like they did to Odi and Benue, they sent soldiers to Warri. They even contemplated bringing in the US Marines – an indication they can’t handle things. But like the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said: after that, what next? ACF conceded that: “An order will be restored. Then what?” Perhaps, as usual, they would sit by, watch and wait for the next round of pillage. “It will require new thinking, originality, great patience and tenacity and above all, fairness that can engender trust on the part of all…”, ACF said. But, no one can accuse Atiku and his boss of being in possession of ’contrabands’ called originality and fairness.
For now, I accuse the duo of partisan interest in the oil over the people. Nigerians, God and the CDHR (Committee for Defence of Human Rights) are my witnesses. As CDHR puts it: “…the government’s main concern in the Niger-Delta crisis is the protection of the oil investments in the area through military forces, including foreign soldiers”.
I also accuse them of generating undue heat from Aso Rock – with their utterances. And, it appears, there’s only one good explanation for Obj/Atiku’s attitude towards crises, since they got to Aso Rock. Perhaps, like Audu Ogbeh, they are so disturbed about the population explosion. And the only way to control it is to ignore the suffering citizens. When those who survive the hunger, genocide and state-induced accidents (through bad roads) agitate, send in the forces to clear them out. Very neat. And, an ingenious population control method.
…And Atiku’s pretence
I know. Those positioning Atiku for 2007 would ever paint how caring he is. Already, struggling with words last week, Garba Shehu (VP’s Special Adviser – Media) said: “For him (Atiku), the most important thing for now is to support the President to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians. It would amount to unnecessary diversion for anyone to try to drag the administration into an early race for 2007…” Was that a denial? Shehu must be a stranger here. Hence, should be told that many Nigerians have died waiting for those “dividends.”
In 1999, a few months after they were voted into office, the campaign for Obasanjo/ Atiku joint ticket started. Who funded it? Atiku. Why was it no one saw it as being too early? Anyway, we know that the same people who engineer the noise in the dark recesses emerge in public to “dissociate” themselves from their ideas. My former boss at the Daily Times, Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo (now Atiku’s Special Assistant – Public Communication and Media) quoted the VP thus: “…One of the things Mr. President and I have agreed is that the next four years is (sic) crucial for the administration to work assiduously not only to meet the aspirations of Nigerians, but also to leave concrete legacies behind.”
But why the pretense, when almost everyone knows that he’s been sponsoring those clamouring for his 2007 candidacy? In any case, has Atiku told Nigerians what he discussed with James Ibori of Delta State on August 1? Tongues are till wagging, you know. They also wag about the privatisation and COJA deals. We gleaned that he is considering Ibori for his vice. True? False?
Imagine Atiku talking about meeting aspiration of Nigerians. Next, he would be talking about time extension. Of course, as we all know now, four years, even if in ten terms, would still not be “sufficient time” to provide “bread and butter” dividends to the masses. If Atiku (with his oga) could not lay any “concrete” foundation in the first term, how can they build the so-called “legacy” on anything?
In fact, I believe Aminu Masari, House speaker, when he said the present crop of leaders lack the courage to tackle the problems of this country. But then, isn’t he one of them?
· First published in Saturday Sun of Sept 06, 2003
- First published in Saturday Sun of Sept 06, 2003
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