Obasanjo vs. “Rogues & Armed Robbers”
Some weeks back, my article was based on statements allegedly made by former Head of State and Presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 general election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). Gen. Buhari had intimated that “dogs & baboons” may bleed if the not too distant 2015 elections are rigged.
This week we will reflect on statements by another former Head of State. This time, it was “Baba” as he is affectionately referred to in some circles. I am talking about no one other than Chief Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd). Obasanjo has been privileged to not only be a former military Head of State, but also a former civilian President. Some columnists also refer to him as OBJ. while using IBB for Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Don't' be confused; one has nothing to do with initials. We have even tried unsuccessfully to refer to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) as “GEJ”, but it is not catching on. No initials or acronyms have been devised for Gen. Buhari or Gen. Abdulsalam, but we all know that GOWON was changed to mean "Go on With One Nigeria", during and immediately after the Civil war. Maybe Muhamadu Buhari (MB) & Abdulsalam (AA) do not lend themselves easily to sexy initials?
Anyway, last year there was an exchange of words between IBB and OBJ and yes also commentaries from OBJ about his former VP's political ambition. Currently we are concerned about recent comments, mostly in the second quarter that have the potential to heat up the polity. When OBJ made his recent comment, he was not “laughing.” The ex-President said emphatically that “today rogues and armed robbers are in the States Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly.” He also added that the judiciary is now riddled with corruption. So, now we have thieving politicians and corrupt judges according to OBJ. This is a big surprise to most of us. Of course, I am being facetious.
In fact, there used to be a beer parlor debate about who is worse – the armed robber that kills one person while stealing N100,000 or a corrupt politician that loots the treasury of N1 million that was meant for a road project, which results in death of 100 road users from bad roads. If what OBJ is saying is correct, then that question is moot.
With the recent fracas over “Hon.” Farouk Lawal and the alleged $3m bribe, we wonder if the House Committee on Fuel Subsidy included rogues or armed robbers according to OBJ. In fact, we have a new word in Nigerian lexicon “faroukgate.”
However, have we forgotten Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bakole so soon? Should we also coin “bankolegate” or just “Housegate” because of the incessant scandals rocking the House of Representatives?
I do not recall any judges currently facing corruption charges from the EFCC, but I am aware of NASS members and former members of the executive branch being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency for pilfering from the public coffers. In other words, OBJ should be saying corrupt judges, armed robber executives and rogue legislators because the executive and legislators are both politicians. Okay, maybe what he was saying is that judges are politicians, since according to Aristotle “we are all political animals.”
The purpose of this week's column is not to indict judges or politicians but really to say that our former Heads of State should really think before talking about issues that are clearly going to heat up the polity. We should cue into the attitude of American ex-Presidents who restrain themselves from commenting on current issues. It is as though there is a silent code of ethics tied to their positions as former helmsmen/statesmen that prevents them from commenting on political issues that will heat up Americans and bring reproach to the dignity of the presidency.
Both Buhari and Obasanjo's statements were clearly politically motivated and achieved part of their intended aims. Maybe we should excuse them because of their military background which makes them “military democrats” and probably not gifted in the fine art of pure civilian democracy that is not tainted by past military baggage.
Nonetheless, we should all think before we talk as we have a collective responsibility to move this country forward for the betterment of all of us.
If my calculations are correct, we still have 3 living former Military Heads of State. Which one will say something “interesting” next? Maybe I should have tagged this “The Story of the 5 Generals”
Think about it.
Prof. Alex Osondu Atawa Akpodiete is an author, Computer Scientist, Educator, Consultant, retired lawyer, Political Analyst & Social commentator. He has lectured Law, Ethics and Security & Intelligence Studies at the University level here in Nigeria and US. He was also certified to teach Computer Science and Mathematics by the State of Florida USA. He currently divides his time between Nigeria and USA where he runs an international consulting firm. Contact him on 08138391661 or [email protected], & [email protected]. He is also on Facebook and you can follow him on Twitter.