APC
may pretend that it does not care a hoot about Atiku's earthquake and
volcanic decampment from its fold. The truth is that APC is quaking and
bellyaching about the loss of such a strategic material. Since I commenced my column, there has been quite some flurry of
reactions from members of the public, through some social media
interactions, especially on Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter, and through
SMS. Some of the postings are hilarious, comical and inane. Yet, some
others are very critical, dead serious, educative and entertaining. I
have, therefore, decided to take time out of my unenviably crowded
schedule to share some of these postings.
The earthquake of Atiku’s decampment from APC
APC may pretend that it does not care a hoot about Atiku’s
earthquake and volcanic decampment from its fold. That surely will be
the self-denying attitude of the proverbial ostrich. The truth is that
APC is quaking and bellyaching about the loss of such a strategic
material. Atiku is not just an ordinary politician. He is a
generalissimo, effervescent, incandescent, voluminous and a
battle-tested former Vice-President of Nigeria.
Atiku has an incredibly large cult followers across the length and
breadth of Nigeria. Very gregarious, he has the colour, panache and
limitless financial war chest such that will give APC a bloody nose and a
swollen face. Atiku is urbane and cosmopolitan without losing his
provincial roots. APC will sooner than later see the ripples generated
by Atiku’s decampment in the weeks ahead. Read the likely reactions of
this government and its agents as captured by a brilliant but humourous
political analysis:
•EFCC discovers N10 billion arms deal in Atiku’s bedroom
•CBN reveals the owner of N25bn in a secret account in one of the commercial banks owned by Atiku
•Osborne House, agents confirm that $43m discovered belongs to Atiku
•Boko Haram suspect reveals how Atiku gave him $20m to deliver to Shekau
•DSS confirms training of Boko Haram terrorists in Atiku’s school
•Atiku fingered in Buhari’s sickness – Tinubu
•Why Atiku spoiled all the roads in South East – Amaechi.
•Army discovered how Atiku is funding Niger Delta militants – Lai Mohammad.
•Atiku bribed me to poison Buhari – El-Rufai.
•Why Atiku provided private jet for IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu – IG
•How Atiku’s action aided RECESSION – Finance minister
•N300bn found inside Atiku’s bedroom – Jersey Sandra
•Atiku never paid TAX in the last 18 years – FIRS
•Pension fund traced to Atiku’s foreign account – Maina
•How Atiku sabotaged Lagos-Kano rail line – Minister
•How Atiku’s seizure of Shiroro Dam brought hardship to Nigerians – Minister of Power
•High cost of living caused by Atiku’s Abuja mansion – FCT minister
•Atiku’s absence caused Nwoye/APC’s failure in Anambra gubernatorial election – INEC scribe
•Atiku ordered the reinstatement of APO 6 DCP Ibrahim Danjuma into Nigeria Police – PSC
•Atiku fingered in the high cost of foodstuff in the country – Agric minister
The unprecedented level of patience shown to Buhari – the economist
Nigerians have never shown such level of patience and tolerance
towards any of their past leaders for his record and strange policies as
that shown to their current leader, Muhammadu Buhari – a former
military dictator now self-confessed democrat who said he came to fight
corruption.
Buhari, 75, is being plagued with failures across every single
sector in the economy, the like as has never been seen before. Less than
a year into office, the economy plummeted into recession, an economy,
which had till then grown at an average rate of 7% in previous years
(2011-2014). The nation’s currency lost 70% of its value, unemployment
rose from 6.5% to 26%, commodity prices tripled across many quarters and
the state-regulated premium motor spirit prices were hiked by 67%
without practically anybody batting an eye.
There have been stern opposition to his policies, however, and to
his very personality as well, notably in the South East and South South
regions in the country, as they are called, where he both received less
than 5% of the votes cast at the last presidential election and where
he has always been sternly unpopular for his history of bigotry against
the people, perceived incompetence and dictatorial tendencies. But in
many other regions across the country the people have rather resolved to
suffer patiently, drawing up excuses for him at will, blaming everyone,
including his hundreds of political appointees, anything and anybody
but never the man himself.
Buhari’s party, the APC, promised Nigerians unprecedented sweeping
changes in government and the eviction of all corrupt individuals.
One possible explanation for this could be his party’s hope
narrative in the 2015 general election, where citizens were promised an
unprecedented crackdown on corruption and the abolition of all
government waste by a man whose financial worth they declared to have
been less than N30 million ($150,000 then), a historical low for a
former top official in the country and most especially a former leader.
In a country plagued by acute corruption problems and with the
unremitted crude oil revenue scandal of 2014 still fresh in the people’s
minds, many were eager for an abrupt change, the like as never been
seen before. He was seen an Army general, already experienced in
government, with a great strength of will, tough to take on the nation’s
cabal of hardened criminals. He promised to appoint only technocrats to
head the country’s departments and to see out the lingering Boko Haram
insurgency from the warfront. For a nation lacking basic amenities such
as power supply in spite of its huge energy resources and with the
lingering insurgency crises, the choice seemed easy to many – the
general with integrity was the man for the country.
Talk was cheap then but now reality has taken its course. His
earliest opponents pointed out to his track record and not to his
speech, noting that the last time Nigeria fell into dismal failure,
currency woes and commodity shortages was when he seized power as a
military general in 1983 and stating that the facts of that record
contradicted the poems of his image brokers.
Many, however, just wanted “change” as it was then called and so
voted the General and sat to wait for the sung promises. But from the
onset of his government, the course was as his critics had predefined:
Incompetency, bigotry and dictatorial tendencies plaguing the country.
He ignored the newly-born genocide in the middle belt of the
country perpetuated by the Fulani herdsmen of his kindred against the
Christian communities in Benue, Plateau and later on Kaduna. He breached
the Central Bank’s 2007 Act of independence, telling it to suspend
forex disbursements to steel importers and other manufacturing sectors
in a bid to defend the naira, a disastrous action, which kick-started a
spiral of recession.
He took three months to appoint his Chief of Staff, six months to
appoint a cabinet and now 23 months and yet counting to appoint heads of
agencies and board members he was so eager to fire upon his assumption
into office and rose import duties on the most basic of commodities in a
bid to raise government revenue.
And as for the corruption fight, the facts on ground do not show
any one at all. Apart from a few officials harassed or imprisoned
without court order, the country is yet to witness the first victim of
the said campaign at the court stands.
Government waste is on the rise, officials publicly caught in graft
acts were swiftly excused, the 2016 budget year passed without
implementation and, most worrisome, the Central Bank’s foreign reserves
were being shared among unknown bureau de change operators at variable
rates to the detriment of critical manufacturing, business and banking
sectors.
The government continues to praise itself but the people seem to be
increasingly tired of the paraded self-righteousness. The President’s
recent illness was greeted with cheers by many. Many are just tired of
the government. But the remarkable level of patience shown so far has
been unprecedented and many a times the general reactions towards acts
of constitutional violations was one of calmness or insensitivity.
If the “Change” narrative of the 2015 election and the songs of man
of integrity are to account for this, then Nigerians may have just
certified themselves on the world map as a nation easy to fool with
propaganda. An adult should be judged on his track record not on his
tongue.
Is this Buhari’s Nigeria?!!
#North gets 11 judges recommended as Appeal Court Justices, South gets two?
#Recommended 13 Justices for Court of Appeal
#Priority List
1. Hon. Justice P. A. Mahmoud – Benue
2. Hon. Justice F. Ojo – Kwara
3. Hon. Justice I. G. Abundaga -Nasarawa
4. Hon. Justice M. B. Idris – Niger
5. Hon. Justice A. M. Talba – Adamawa
6. Hon. Kadi M. M. Alkali – Adamawa
7. Hon. Justice A. I. Adenyangtso – Taraba
8. Hon. Justice A. S. Umar – Kebbi
9. Hon. Justice O. Z. Senchi – Kebbi
10. Hon. Justice A. M. Lamido – Sokoto
11. Hon. Justice B. B. Aliyu – Zamfara
12. Hon. Justice E. Tobi – Delta
13. Hon. Justice G.O. Kolawole – Osun.
#Reserved List
1. Hon. Justice O. Itodo – Benue
2. Hon. Justice M. A. Abdul Gafar – Kwara
3. Hon. Justice D. D. Adeck – Nasarawa
4. Hon. Justice D. G. Mann – Plateau
5. Hon. Justice D. G. Goji – Adamawa
6. Hon. Kadi U. B. Umar – Adamawa
7. Hon. Justice Y. A. Bashir – Taraba
8. Hon. Justice Z. B. Abubakar – Kebbi
9. Hon. Justice I. M. Sani – Kaduna
10. Hon. Justice F. L. Adamu – Kano
11. Hon. Justice I. B. Ahmed – Katsina:
12. Hon. Justice M. Y u ftsha’u – Zamfara
13. Hon. Justice P. O. Affen – Bayelsa
14. Hon. Justice O. A. Ipaye – Osun
#Priority list:
North -11
South – 2
#Reserve list:
North:12
South: 2.
Breaking news;
Nigerian political party clubs transfer window is open!
*APC United signs Obanikoro for an unknown fee. The former Real Eko
striker was central to PDP Rovers runners-up position in Lagos
Gubernatorial Cup!
**PDP to sign Atiku on free transfer as APC United refuses to renew his contract based on personal terms.
This mercurial Yola Wolves midfield maestro is known for his
skills. A veteran of many Presidential Champions League semi-finals, he
is known to have nearly won the Presidential Cup before OBJ edged him
out in the penalty shootout.
***Rumour has it that Mama Taraba is on her way to PDP Rovers for a
record signing, just as former PDP Rovers National Chairman’s wife
signed a 4-year deal with APC United with an undisclosed amount. This
Mpabbe of Nigerian political parties club has very promising raw talent.
God bless Nigeria.
About the Author:
Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome is a lawyer and human rights activist,
holding the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He is known for his
work as a constitutional lawyer.
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