OBASANJO’S STATEMENTS AND THE STATE OF THE NATION – THE NEED FOR THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY

By Zik Gbemre

Hate him or love him; one thing that is sure as the sunset which we cannot deny, is the fact that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, can best be described as part of a “special breed” of past political leaders whose track, record and wealth of political experience has placed him on a separate path amongst his peers. Perhaps, this is the reason the retired general has always lent his voice regarding the affairs of the happenings in the country; without fear or favour and regardless of what anybody thinks of him. And whether we like what he has to say or not, especially when it concerns the present administration, it is imperative for the President Goodluck Jonathan led government to take Obasanjo statements seriously; embracing that which will benefit the Nigerian masses particularly.

Like he has been known to have always done in the past on several occasions, former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently said the country is currently facing economic problems due to the failure of the Goodluck Jonathan administration to plan for a rainy day. He told Iyalodes and eminent women leaders   from the South-West, who recently visited him at his   Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, that the nation’s reserves which as of 2007 stood at $67bn had been depleted by the Federal Government. The former President was responding to a call by the delegation led by the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson, and the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo,   to   lend his voice to the socio-economic crisis rocking the country. Stressing that the country did not deserve the situation it currently finds itself, Obasanjo vowed that he would not keep quiet until the right things were done.

This will not be the first time the former President has come out publicly to criticize the current administration. We would recall that Obasanjo had in an 18-page open letter to Jonathan in December 2013, accused   Jonathan of promoting deceit, corruption and mutual distrust ahead of national interest. He said in the letter titled “BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE” that in spite of his previous letters which were neither acknowledged nor responded to, he was again constrained to warn the President that dangers were lurking in the corner should he fail to heed his advice. At the public presentation of a book by a former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other–Related Offences Commission, Justice Mustapha Akanbi(retd.) in Novemeber 2014,   Obasanjo again   accused Jonathan and the National Assembly of promoting corruption and poor governance in the country. He also upbraided the President by describing him as an incompetent leader during the public presentation of his three-part autobiography: MY WATCH on December 9, 2014. He rated the Jonathan administration as colossal failure, grounded by ineptitude.

Looking at his recent statement, in his words, Obasanjo said: “When I was leaving office about eight years ago, I left a very huge reserve after we had paid all our debts. Almost $25bn we kept in what they called Excess Crude Account, it was the excess from the budget we were saving as reserve for a rainy day. When we left in May 2007, the reserve was said to have risen to $35bn. But today, that reserve has been depleted. After paying our debts which were about $40bn,   including debt forgiveness, the   remaining (debt) was not more than $3bn. Our reserves after we had paid off these debts amounted to about $45bn. As I said, they continued to rise till the end of 2007. I heard that the reserves increased to almost $67bn before the end of the year. Our reserves now, I learnt, stand at only $30bn.” Although he noted that the slump in oil price would naturally have a negative impact on a monolithic economy like Nigeria, Obasanjo said that “ anyone who is wise enough should know that since we depend on just one mineral resource and since we have no control over its pricing, we should be planning for this type of situation we currently find ourselves   and the way out of it.”

The former President lamented that our inability to have healthy reserves had brought us to “this economic quagmire.” He added, “A leader must be forward-looking and plan ahead. At the beginning of last year, the budget was based on $78 per barrel. That year, the Federal Government spent more on recurrent expenditure and a little on capital expenditure.” Obasanjo   also pointed out that the devaluation of the naira had unleashed other consequences on the economy. He said, “That (devaluation) is why the naira has been falling against the dollar. What would now happen? I learnt if you want to buy a dollar now, it’s about N192 or N195. What it means is this, what you had been buying for N150 to a dollar, now you need N192 or N195 to buy it. That is the real situation. Is there any remedy? There is but it does not come overnight because it means we have to give up all the bad things we had been doing.”

The Ogun State-born former Head of State also     berated   the leadership for robbing Nigeria of its God-ordained greatness. He said, ”God made Nigeria a great nation. Is it that those living here have no brain? Is it that the leaders are not thinking? Or that we don’t have the resources? When I was in the army, our slogan was, ‘There are no bad soldiers but bad officers.’ Wherever soldiers are not doing well, blame the officers. The same thing obtains in the family, communities, towns and the nation.” The former President, who also denied quarrelling with Jonathan, told the Iyalodes and eminent women leaders   that he was surprised to have read in a newspaper that some people in government were jittery on learning of their visit. “Is (it) that Jonathan and I are not in good terms?” He asked and immediately provided an answer himself. He said, “There is nothing as such. I have no grudges against Jonathan and I think Jonathan equally has no grudges against me. I’m not quarrelling with Jonathan but all I know is that whatever is good for Nigeria, that I’m ready to die for. “I emphasized that whatever is good for Nigeria, is what I’m ready to defend with my life. Whoever, I emphasize, whoever says he would not do anything good for Nigeria, even if he says he’s ready to go ‘koko bellow,’ I’m ready to square it up with such a person. “I say again, whoever that person may be, I want you to get that correctly. If this country is going to change for the better, it must start from the top and if it’s going to be otherwise, it must start from the top too.

“I have had some little experience about this country. I was a Head of State and   a President; so what is left? If I talk, I know what I’m talking about. Whoever wants, should listen to me and whoever feels otherwise, may turn a deaf ear. But when I’m talking, I’m talking with my understanding and intellect. I’m drawing from my experience and from what I’ve learnt with others and from other countries and fellow eminent citizens of the world that I relate with.” Obasanjo   frowned on the alleged impunity being perpetuated under the current administration, warning   leaders of the consequences of such actions. He said,   “God   put you in a position for a purpose and if you fail, you will give account to God. It was Prophet Samuel that God sent to anoint Saul to be a king. When he misbehaved, it was the same God that sent Prophet Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint another king. But when Samuel got to Jesse’s house, he was attracted by the physical and outward appearance of Eliab. But God told him, he was not looking at outward appearance whereas He was looking at the heart. We must not keep quiet concerning this nation.”

On the solution to   unemployment in the country, he advised the government to turn to agriculture instead of laying emphasis on oil and gas. He advised, “If we are going to solve unemployment problem, it is through agric business and not through oil and gas. We have no alternative. Agriculture is renewable because the land can be used over and over again, but, once you lift a barrel of oil, it is gone forever.’’ Obasanjo also advised the women and other Nigerians to vote for   candidates with good track records and not those making empty promises. Good governance starts with the selection and voting of good leaders. Don’t lose your votes. Ask questions. What are their track records? Pay less attention to what they are saying, look out for what they had done.” On his membership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obasanjo said, “I am still in the PDP , though not active. With the kind of people and behaviours I see in the party, I don’t think I can stand before God and defend them.”

As expected, Obasanjo’s comments and verdict on the current administration has elicited a lot of mixed reactions from different angles of the polity. While some condemned Obasanjo’s statements others disagreed with his stand or gave different views about the whole issues he raised. Many, who spoke were unanimous in accusing Obasanjo of laying the foundation that led to the current dire state of the economy. They, however, did not spare President Jonathan for allegedly encouraging profligacy in the present dispensation. According to various reports, those who spoke include a former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; ex-President General of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Peter Esele; Publicity Secretary of Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin and a former chieftain of defunct National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, Chief Ayo Opadokun.

Agreed that Obasanjo is no saint; as he was guilty of some of the things he has accused this administration of doing, during his times in office. But the undeniable fact is that the former president has made valid statements concerning this administration, which President Jonathan and his cabinet should take seriously. Moreso, rather than focus on the past on what happened or did not happen, it is important for us as a nation to focus on our present problems to see how best we can address them. We are not here to defend the former President or speak for or in favour of him, rather we are simply here to highlight some of the issues he raised, which we believe are the fundamental problems plaguing the nation that urgently needs to be addressed for the good of all. Our only interest here is to see that the right things are done for the good and interest of the common man.

Considering the political background and leadership positions occupied by Obasanjo in the history of Nigeria, especially from 1966 to date, he is worth giving a lending ear and listened to every time he speaks on the affairs concerning the country. With the current insecurity challenges; dwindling global oil price that is adversely affecting the Nigerian economy; pervasive levels of corruption and abuse of the rule of law, the present administration surely needs to be open-minded to absorb whatever criticisms that comes from relevant stakeholders. President Jonathan should not allow the sycophants around him to make him see Obasanjo as ‘the enemy’ or one whose statements and advice should not be taken seriously. The man who ‘praises you for underperforming’ should be seen as the enemy and not the one who constructively criticizes you.

Obasanjo does not know it all, but he is a factor that should be reckoned with in the socio-economic and political progress of this nation. And like we said earlier, hate him or love him, the truth is that Obasanjo will always remain a ‘strong pillar’ and a voice to reckon with whenever he expresses his thoughts concerning any issue in the polity. He simply cannot be ignored or undermined in Nigeria’s socio-economic and political dynamics. Obasanjo can be regarded as the “most experienced” politician in Nigeria in this present time. Perhaps, this is hinged on the fact that Obasanjo happens to have presided over this country as the number-one-citizen for three good times (1976 to 1976 as a Military Head of State; and 1999 to 2007 as a civilian President). This is a feat no Nigerian, both living and dead, has achieved. A man with such wealth of political experience will always have something meaningful to say that the current administration can work with.

Obasanjo also played a key role in ensuring a “united Nigeria”, particularly in the civil war. He ensured the Nigerian civil war ended on a peaceful note. We cannot deny also that Obasanjo has a vast international connection more than most of his peers in political circles. The former President has succeeded in achieving all his ambitions known to the public except his desire to become the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), which was given to Koffi Annan. However, Obasanjo was still able to play prominent roles in the Commonwealth of Nations.

One of the notable things that readily comes to mind whenever Obasanjo’s name is mentioned, is the fact that he continued with and consolidated the ‘room’ for the establishment of Global System of Mobile (GSM) Communications that have virtually replaced landlines and have expanded the country’s Telecommunication and Information Technology industry to meet up with world standards. Over a decade ago, this was a privilege enjoyed only by the upper class citizens of the country. But today, from farmers and the village locals to traders and commercial vehicle operators, everyone can afford to have and own a GSM Line/ Phone to communicate to loved ones and friends from any part of the country and the globe.

Another major achievement of former President Obasanjo, which has outlived his time in office and still very relevant today, was his being the only past leader that was able to establish (through the National Assembly), institutional structures/framework for the fight against corruption. Other past leaders like General Murtala Mohammed, General Mohammadu Buhari/Tunde Idiagbon regime tried their best to fight corruption and indiscipline in government circles, but the moment these governments and their regimes were over, so does the war against corruption. But Obasanjo came in as a civilian president, and established two anti-graft agencies-the Economic and Financial Crimes Corruption (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other related offences Commission (ICPC). So with this, even after Obasanjo left office years ago, the fight against corruption remained. The only problem is that the success or failure of these anti-graft agencies is largely dependent on the “willingness” of the government of the day and the cooperation of the judiciary, to honestly and holistically fight corruption without fear or favour.

One of the major problem we have in this country is that we are fond of sing-praising our political leaders for practically doing nothing. It is rather unfortunate that the culture of impunity and mediocrity has become the acceptable norm in this country. Even the Nigerian populace as “followers”, are not helping matters. It is only in Nigeria that ‘thieves and underperforming political leaders’ in political circles are praised, celebrated and exalted, rather than condemned and told the truth. For always having the courage, boldness and doggedness to say the truth and condemn that which is going wrong in the polity, we acknowledge and respect former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Amongst his crop of elder-statesmen, Obasanjo can be said to be the only one that has not been weary in condemning the government in areas where they are going wrong.

We only ask that the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan should seriously take to heart most of the things said by the former President and make needed amends where necessary in the interest of the general Nigerian populace. Let the right thing be done, this we urge.

Zik Gbemre, JP

National Coordinator,Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)