Yesterday's Cabals Are Still in Charge
20 December 2013 By Abiodun Giwa
Past Nigerian leaders from left: Buhari, Obasanjo, Abdulsalam, Babangida, Gowon, Shagari, Shonekan and current President Jonathan
Political development in Nigeria, where 5 of seven rebel governors along with 37 members of the House of Representatives of the ruling party have defected to the opposition indicates that the retired military leaders some of who have been called cabals 15 years ago could still be in the control of the political scene.
In a letter written by a former military and civilian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, on the state of the nation, he said that he had made a copy of the letter available for the Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalam and Haruna Danjuma.
The most serious issue that Obasanjo raised in his letter to Jonathan about alleged training of snipers and a plan to deal with some 1000 Nigerians on a hit list was based on an allegation. The mention of president’s association with an alleged scammer wanted by the American government as a proof of the president’s encouragement of corruption raises a cogent issue about the source of the wealth of all the military officers, including Obasanjo, who are now holding the Nigeria’s presidency to ransom. Some Nigerians are saying that these former military leaders, including Obasanjo, cannot claim to be better than anyone around Jonathan in term of illegal wealth acquisition.
People say that these former military leaders had been in control of the ruling party from inception. They installed Obasnajo and Obasanjo installed Yar’ Dua who died in office and made the incumbent president who was the vice president under Yar' Dua became president after the death of his boss.
One strident note in Obasanjo’s letter is what he termed the Jonathan’s promise to rule for one term and that a change in his decision to seek another term will be unacceptable to them who are the king makers.
Obasanjo said in his letter that because Jonathan had said Obasanjo was the architect of his becoming a president, he ‘Jonathan’ has to listen and follow his instructions for the good of Nigeria. He writs that he hears it being said within the presidency that the disaffected governors are his children and wonders if any of the PDP in elective office are not his political children.
Many Nigerians think that every Nigerian has the right to criticize the president, but it is arrogance for any set of Nigerians to arrogate it to themselves the exclusive wisdom to direct the affairs of the country from their homes based on their ill gotten wealth and advantageous position. Just as President Jonathan is not an angel, these men cannot claim to be holier than him based on Nigerians knowledge of the country's recent history leaders whose act in office, a reminder of the case of the riotous three in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The pardoner's Prologue and Tale,' who in their search for death came upon old florins of fine gold and unaware that would lead to their destruction.
Already, Nigeria has become almost unmanageable since the advent of Boko Haram in the north of the country. The country’s polity became further heated with the rise of the 7 governors who sought to create a new party within the ruling party followed by the eventual defection of five of them. The former military officers and their boys' migration to the opposition party is like a death knell to Jonathan’s presidency and democracy in the country. Obasanjo's sermon about the need to save the PDP is hogwash because of the party's foundation on a sandy ground and the same is happening with the emergence of the opposition party where they are all currently congregating not for any other reason than seize power and continue their looting of Nigeria.
It is still being discussed among Nigerians that some rich Nigerians may have been behind the emergence of Boko Haram to frustrate Jonathan’s presidency and take the presidency back to the north. Observers say Jonathan’s enemies are almost achieving their aim with the defection of 37 of the ruling party’s member of the House to the opposition. The opposition has already called for the president’s impeachment, meaning it is where they are heading.
People are saying that If Jonathan is impeached, Sambo, the vice president from the north will assume office and a northerner is certain to be the presidential candidate of the opposition party that the defectors from the ruling party are flocking and that the judgment day is nigh in Nigeria and that it is possible that these military bigwigs are trying to stop Jonathan from developing into Nigeria's God sent Jehu.
Obasanjo was a victim of Sanni Abacha’s incarceration during the heady days of Abacha’s regime. He was hand picked by a select of senior army officers as presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and Nigerians believed his election was rubber stamped by the military henchmen. He stepped out of office and became one of Nigeria’s richest men.
In a letter written by a former military and civilian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, on the state of the nation, he said that he had made a copy of the letter available for the Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalam and Haruna Danjuma.
The most serious issue that Obasanjo raised in his letter to Jonathan about alleged training of snipers and a plan to deal with some 1000 Nigerians on a hit list was based on an allegation. The mention of president’s association with an alleged scammer wanted by the American government as a proof of the president’s encouragement of corruption raises a cogent issue about the source of the wealth of all the military officers, including Obasanjo, who are now holding the Nigeria’s presidency to ransom. Some Nigerians are saying that these former military leaders, including Obasanjo, cannot claim to be better than anyone around Jonathan in term of illegal wealth acquisition.
People say that these former military leaders had been in control of the ruling party from inception. They installed Obasnajo and Obasanjo installed Yar’ Dua who died in office and made the incumbent president who was the vice president under Yar' Dua became president after the death of his boss.
One strident note in Obasanjo’s letter is what he termed the Jonathan’s promise to rule for one term and that a change in his decision to seek another term will be unacceptable to them who are the king makers.
Obasanjo said in his letter that because Jonathan had said Obasanjo was the architect of his becoming a president, he ‘Jonathan’ has to listen and follow his instructions for the good of Nigeria. He writs that he hears it being said within the presidency that the disaffected governors are his children and wonders if any of the PDP in elective office are not his political children.
Many Nigerians think that every Nigerian has the right to criticize the president, but it is arrogance for any set of Nigerians to arrogate it to themselves the exclusive wisdom to direct the affairs of the country from their homes based on their ill gotten wealth and advantageous position. Just as President Jonathan is not an angel, these men cannot claim to be holier than him based on Nigerians knowledge of the country's recent history leaders whose act in office, a reminder of the case of the riotous three in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The pardoner's Prologue and Tale,' who in their search for death came upon old florins of fine gold and unaware that would lead to their destruction.
Already, Nigeria has become almost unmanageable since the advent of Boko Haram in the north of the country. The country’s polity became further heated with the rise of the 7 governors who sought to create a new party within the ruling party followed by the eventual defection of five of them. The former military officers and their boys' migration to the opposition party is like a death knell to Jonathan’s presidency and democracy in the country. Obasanjo's sermon about the need to save the PDP is hogwash because of the party's foundation on a sandy ground and the same is happening with the emergence of the opposition party where they are all currently congregating not for any other reason than seize power and continue their looting of Nigeria.
It is still being discussed among Nigerians that some rich Nigerians may have been behind the emergence of Boko Haram to frustrate Jonathan’s presidency and take the presidency back to the north. Observers say Jonathan’s enemies are almost achieving their aim with the defection of 37 of the ruling party’s member of the House to the opposition. The opposition has already called for the president’s impeachment, meaning it is where they are heading.
People are saying that If Jonathan is impeached, Sambo, the vice president from the north will assume office and a northerner is certain to be the presidential candidate of the opposition party that the defectors from the ruling party are flocking and that the judgment day is nigh in Nigeria and that it is possible that these military bigwigs are trying to stop Jonathan from developing into Nigeria's God sent Jehu.
Obasanjo was a victim of Sanni Abacha’s incarceration during the heady days of Abacha’s regime. He was hand picked by a select of senior army officers as presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and Nigerians believed his election was rubber stamped by the military henchmen. He stepped out of office and became one of Nigeria’s richest men.
Widget is loading comments...
