ON OBJ and GEJ: Views from Abroad

 

"Even if the revolution succeeds, who will run the system?  Angels? Is it not the same Nigerians who believe in “turn by turn (Nig. Ltd)”?" Samuel Esin

If a revolution succeeds, it will require Nigerians, not Angels, to run the system. Nigeria has capable individuals that can turn things around for good. The reason it appears as if Nigeria has no one capable of running the system is because the country keep recycling the same people (referred to as leaders) that have contributed to the present quagmire in and for the system.

When Obasanjo first surfaced in the politics of Nigeria during the civil war, I was under 20 years old. Now I am in my 60s and Obasanjo is still detecting for Nigeria.

When Babangida first involved in a coup that overthrew Gowon, I was not quite 25 years old. Now, Babangida is still struggling for power and the country is worshipping him and fighting for his emergence as the next President of the country.

When Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was the Chairman of Nigerian Port Authority, I was not quite 20 years of age. Today, at more than 80 years old, he is still a determining factor in the country's politics, causing all sorts of confusion, raising suspicions, and seeing enemies where there are none.

We should also bear in mind that the group of people that are now influencing the political and economic affairs of Nigeria are direct products of colonialism. The colonial mentality is what makes them see things in terms of North versus South and East versus West, instead of Nigeria for the people and Nigerians for nationalism.

If Nigeria wants to move forward, individuals such as OBJ need to fade away so that fresh ideas and progressive thoughts can have the opportunity to germinate and grow. If "Angels" are those required to run the system, yes, Nigeria has them, in abundance; all they need is for the "devils" to get out of the way.

Ikpafak Thompson Essien

Portland, Oregon

Tom Umoh posted a write up about “moral right”. What “moral right”? Forget the question. It does not solve the problems of millions of hungry Nigerians and unemployed youth who are still waiting for the dividends of our representative democracy.

How about a revolution as often suggested by Dr. Tom Mbeke-Ekanem and Dr.  E. S. Etuk, the award winning author?

Forget it also, says a friend in London, who told me this morning that our ethnic issues and concerns are inherent obstacles to any thought of a successful revolution.  Even if the revolution succeeds, who will run the system?  Angels? Is it not the same Nigerians who believe in “turn by turn (Nig. Ltd)”?

I printed a copy of the letter of OBJ’s letter that is now the subject of national discourse. When I went back to retrieve it, a family member had taken it with her for reading during her doctor’s appointment.

 A few days later, when I asked for the letter, the family member said that her personal physician, an American, who is very current on Africa and Nigeria, had the letter and had asked her to tell our leaders to quit feuding in public and clean up the mess.

As the friend in London said this morning, the truth is that corruption is embedded in the very institutions that are expected to protect and strengthen our nascent democracy. And that some of them have compromised. So, who will bell the cat?

The future of Nigeria lies in leaders of our public institutions, the political leadership, the media, and judiciary, rather than in our institutions alone.

In America, it does not matter who is involved, the US Congress, Justice Department, FBI, the media, and others will wade in, regardless of what the President thinks, if it is perceived that a crime has been committed.

We were beginning to see this in Nigeria when EFCC first came on the scene. Under OBJ we saw a gradual return of sanity during his eight year rule, including the assault on 419 kingpins. There was fear. 

The way forward for Nigeria is to empower institutions like EFCC, ICPC, and Justice Department to develop efficiency and strength as well as the flexibility to fight corruption without undue or political interference. This, however, should be with the unbiased oversight of the Nigerian National Assembly.

Ultimately, these institutions will gain a reputation that reinforces the efforts to perfect our own democracy while ridding the system of corrupt public officials, particularly those without credibility.

It is a shame that instead of understanding the implications of OBJ’s letter and how it can be used creatively to address the issues of our time for the survival of our fledgling democracy, members of the Nigerian Diaspora have been falling over themselves pointing accusing fingers and focusing on inappropriate areas

.

To GEJ’s credit, he appears to be placing more effort on service quality rather than image making, hence his apparent refusal to interfere where other leaders had tended to overextend the influence of the state in settling domestic issues. But, first, we need institutions that will refuse to be compromised no matter who is involved.

By Samuel E.

New York