The Nation Newspaper

Category: Dayo Sobowale

  • Politics, leaders and stability

    It  was US former  President Barak  Obama who  famously  said  that ‘ Africa  does not need strong leaders, but strong  institutions ‘. It is now history  how that remark  played out during the Obama Administration and the Arab Spring  of 2011 springing  from the Cairo Speech  that earned Obama a Nobel Prize  at the beginning of his presidency in 2009. The  trio of western leaders,namely Obama, Sarkozy of France and David  Cameron  of Britain literally  toppled strong Arab leaders in Egypt, Tunisia, and Muammar  Gadaffi in Libya and the  political  turbulence or  storm  has not subsided  till today. Definitely  Africa  and the developing world need  not only strong and upright  leaders but they  need strong institutions  as well.

    Political developments in Nigeria involving the primaries  of Nigeria’s many and  especially two major parties, namely APC  and PDP clearly  show that Nigeria does not need any  prompting or advice from any quarters  on the way and manner its institutions, especially the political  ones should  function. Nigerian  political  parties also have found a matured way  to organize political  representation and participation  as  the successful  primaries all over  the nation have shown.  This  is  in spite of some protests  and many hiccups.

    I say  this with all sense of  seriousness  and patriotism and I will illustrate this vividly  with political  developments in Nigeria and other parts of the world  in the last  one  week.

    This  week  the National  Assembly  resumed after a long break and the session, albeit  a closed one was peaceful  and businesslike. Which  is highly commendable considering the  hostile atmosphere  in which  the legislators went on break. Indeed I predicted that the resumption would be like what happened in the Western region House of Assembly culminating in the 1962 AG  Crisis  but  that has not happened. Instead the two parties and the legislative leadership sheathed their swords as it were in the overall  interest  of the nation and preserved the much  needed stability of the Nigerian nation and I say  again  that  I  admire such rare leadership  maturity  in the Nigerian legislature. Especially  the peaceful  manner it  has resumed  and taken on  its  legislative function  of  considering important  bills from the presidency.  It  showed  again  that the fracture in our separation of power presidential system  that  I highlighted  last  week  has  been  repaired  with  the sense of patriotism  and political  sagacity  of our  legislators  on their resumption  at  NASS  this  week  and Nigerians definitely  gave a huge sigh  of relief  at  the salutary  and peace  oriented development  in Abuja.

    Again one  must  commend the leadership  of the NASS especially the Senate President  and Speaker. Beleaguered as they were before the break, they  have shown that they  are both wily seasoned politicians who  can be compared  to the proverbial cat  with nine lives. They have my grudging  admiration  on their  good    grasp of the Nigerian political  terrain as  well  as their survival  instincts and durable tenacity  of office.

    Aside  from  the legislature  we need to  look at  the parties  and the primaries just  concluded  as well  as the good, the bad  and the ugly  sides of  the entire political  process.  Just  look at the reactions. First  the First  Lady, a lady  after  my heart for her bluntness  and outspokenness, took the APC Chairman to the cleaners for what  she called the impunity  that characterized  APC primaries  under  his Chairmanship. This was a lady that criticized her husband’s appointments  that some of the people being appointed never were around when the president was campaigning for power. The APC  must  take her  criticism  seriously. Just  as it must  deal with the request  of some governors and leaders that the APC chairman should  resign.  That  really is a major  issue  for the party  to tackle before the presidential  elections. This  is because it  is dangerous for the Chairman of a ruling party to be using belligerent language  which  is disruptive on the eve of a  major  election when what is needed to  catch votes and buy over undecided voters  is persuasion and  the  brilliant    display    and flaunting  of  a record of achievements.

    Let  me state clearly  that the endorsement  of the Nigerian political  class  here  today  is not a carte blanche  for the prevailing political  culture  of rigging  that has become a way of life in our  political  system.  We  still  have our shortcomings in our political  organization, planning  and institutions. But definitely this past week we  must  commend  our selves  and aim higher in terms of political  transparency  and observance  of loftier political  values and aspirations.  For  now  as Nigerians  are wont to say when pleased  with  themselves, I say  –  we have tried!

    To  buttress  this sovereign  self praise  let  us look at events in other parts of the world this last  week. Look  at  the US legislature after the Brett Kavanaugh  Supreme  Court confirmation success of the Republican Party  and President  Donald  Trump  who called  those who  opposed the nomination – evil  people.  One liberal  critic  of the Kavanaugh confirmation cried shrilly  that the four  horses of calumny, namely  fear, intimidation,  bigotry and  smear  are  dominating  US democracy  and politics  in the Trump era  and this must be stopped  by the Democrats in  turning out to vote in the November 6  mid term  elections into the House of Reps, some governorships  and  some senate  seats. Politics  in the Trump era  in the US  has become  a do  or die  war  situation  with the parties, leadership and legislature polarized along  values like gay rights  and  abortion as the Kavanaugh Supreme Court  debacle  has shown. Even  women  are now  at arms against past  lovers and molesters  in  way that  has  made any  discussion literally impossible just  as homophobia  and gay  rights  preceded  the Me  too sexual  assault  issue  that  almost  derailed Kavanaugh  confirmation.  Yet  in far  away Brazil the leading  presidential  candidate in the ongoing presidential election boldly said  he would prefer his son to die in an accident  instead of being a gay  man and said loudly  too  that pedophiles  and homosexuals are the same. Such intolerance ! the Americans will  say  but one man’s food is another man’s poison. Once  again  long live the Federal  Republic  of Nigeria.

     

     

  • Elections, manipulations and democracy

    It  is the season for primaries in Nigeria and politicians are  busy seeking  to get their champions and nominees into party, state and federal  offices in a mood that  shows that power  is sweet  and  any one who  has tasted it,  is  ready  to die to retain it. In  both the ruling and former ruling parties in  Nigeria the race is on  and charges of rigging and assault on democracies are  being thrown like brickbats.

    Especially  by those who  have lost  when what really happened is  that they have been outfoxed in a common game of election manipulation  common  at every level of the Nigerian political system.

    This  election malady or tomfoolery is  however  not peculiar  to Nigeria and is indeed  a global  phenomenon. Today  then,  we  look at some recent elections  at  various  levels  and take a position on their quality or lack of it  in promoting the cause or  the death of the prevailing  ideology  that most nations proclaim  as  their flagstaff  of  governance, namely  democracy.

    In  Lagos  State the incumbent  governor  lost  his  bid  to get the nomination of his party for  a second  term as governorship  candidate in the 2019 guber elections of the state. This was after he had accused the state party leadership of attempting to disenfranchise him  and  calling his  opponent  a fake dollar  spender  and patient of a rehab  center in the state. This  too  was preceded by a statement from the Jagaban  that the non election of the incumbent at the primaries would not prevent the party  from delivering the state to the nation’s  incumbent president as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential  elections .  More  interestingly, the National Working Committee  of the APC sent  to midwife  the election  was reported  by  Channels TV and other media  houses of making a u turn  in announcing the results it objected to a day earlier. Most  importantly  the defeated incumbent  governor conceded defeat graciously  and  congratulated his successful  opponent  and the party  and the state reverted peacefully  to the state of politics and business  as usual in  the preparation for  the state and presidential  elections of 2019.

    In  one fell swoop  the APC  in Lagos  state weathered  a challenge to its leadership  successfully. To  me it was a victory for party supremacy more than anything. It  also threw up  the story of the flexible  reed  that bent in the direction of the storm and survived it while the Iroko that stood against the storm  was  violently uprooted. What  the party needs to do is to formalize its record and membership  register and  monitor performance of its elected officers long before the primaries to call them to order if and when they derail. Unfortunately the opposition will still make a meal of the defeat of the incumbent governor  but  the  vulture will  have less to feed on,  now that the wounded party has recuperated fast and smartly.

    At the federal  level  the absence  of  both  the Speaker  of  the House  of  Representatives and the President  of the Senate at Nigeria’s Independence  celebrations  in Abuja and the reason given for the absence, attract  our attention  in terms of today’s topic. The  senate  president through his spokesman said  that  his principal  was  busy  with the party primaries  at home in Ilorin  and could not attend  the national  celebrations. Which  really  was not  the truth or  even  a tenth  of it. The  reason as all Nigerians know  is that both  the nation’s  president and the senate president are at logger  heads over the 2019 presidential election. Indeed after defecting from the president’s party APC to the PDP, the senate president had since declared his ambition to contest against the president claiming he  would be a better president to implement the change campaign that brought both to power in the 2015 election.

    Indeed, the  absence  of the senate president at the Independence Celebrations show that all is not well  with Nigeria’s presidential system of government based on the separation of powers. It  was reported that the Chief  Justice of Nigeria was present at the ceremony in Abuja. That is still  two thirds of our tripartite separation  of powers  and is still  not healthy  as expected and the Legislature plainly is involved in a struggle  for power  with  the executive.  That  makes the legislature isolated  and vulnerable as the judiciary which should adjudicate in  any disagreement between the  executive and the  legislature  was very  much present at the October 1 Independence celebrations this year. Obviously  the role of the judiciary is as important as the two arms of government  in any presidential  system  and  that  takes us to the debacle  in  the US over  the  confirmation of Supreme  Court  judge Brett Kavanaugh  by the US  senate.

    In  some ways the tussle  between the US senate and the US presidency over the confirmation of a Supreme  Court nominee of President Donald Trump has  some underlying  issues  similar to  the disagreement between the presidency  and the senate in Nigeria. Whilst  the Nigerian  senate president  gave  the excuse of his  party’s primaries as excuse for not being at Abuja  for Independence celebrations  the delay being    manipulated  by  the Democrats  in the Senate is being driven  by their eye on the November 6 Mid  term elections in the US. The  Republicans, Trump’s  party  has  a slim majority in the senate  and wants the Supreme Court’s  judge’s appointment confirmed before November in case it loses its majority and the Democrats  take control of both the House of  Representatives and the senate in the November elections. That  explains why the debate  has become both  cultural and  ideological  and so  bitter that security  arrangements are being firmed up for the Senators in the Judicial  Committee.

    What  is also interesting in the  snag between  the US president  and Congress on this matter is that the US president  has turned the debate into a gender war by saying that the future is bleak for young men in the US as they  can be accused by anybody on sexual  assault and would be deemed guilty before  any trial. Just  as the judge whose offence happened 36  years ago when he was 17  and his accuser 15.

    Whereas the law in the US and most  English speaking nations of the world says one is  presumed innocent when accused,  until proven guilty. Surprisingly  even  when  the judge  exploded in fury and indignation at his condemnation  without trial  as well  as the destruction  of his good  name and family, his opponents    derided him  and seized on that as  a  sign  of temper unbefitting of a Supreme  Court  judge.  Anyway, I  think  the Republicans will ram the nomination through and if not,  find a  substitute  before the November election. Which  also  promises to  be  an  all  American do or die affair  in terms of the  divergent cultural  values polarizing the entire US in this highly  volatile and interesting Donald  Trump  presidency. Once  again  long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

     

     

  • Globalism, sovereignty and Independence

    United  States’President  Donald Trump’s  speech  at  the UN this week and today’s  primaries of the ruling  party of Nigeria, the APC  in Lagos state  occupy  our thoughts  today. Indeed the topic of the day came out of  Trump’s speech  which  I believe is the most important diplomatic  doctrine of our time regardless of your perception  of  the  mannerisms of the contentious US president. With regard to Lagos APC primaries to select the governorship  candidate, the issues  at  stake are important in terms of choice, competition and independent  performance for not only the incumbent  governor who has accepted  the challenge of  his co contestants but  also  for the hold and grip of Jagaban  Bola  Ahmed Tinubu  on  the  direction and  control  of  Lagos  state  politics.

    Basically  Donald  Trump  after blowing the Trumpet of his Administration on the world stage  as he addressed  the UN General Assembly  changed  US foreign policy from one of rampant intervention in other  nations affairs  to a  new one that  rejects globalism  and believes in sovereignty, patriotism and independence. It is a new foreign policy akin to the Monroe Doctrine which  forbids historically  foreign intervention in South America. The new Trump Doctrine of America First in foreign  relations asked  the world leaders to put their house in order first  as sovereign nations in order to be truly  independent. America  he asserted  rejects globalism  and the  global  control  and governance of independent nations by international  institutions.  He  highlighted  nations like Saudi Arabia, a monarchy  as doing quite well  for their  nation in his estimation. The US rejects the International Criminal Court as lacking in international jurisdiction  and legitimacy  and he cautioned that those  nations that receive US aid  will  no longer be allowed to bite the finger that feeds them. He condemned Iran and its leaders  in no uncertain terms as sponsors of terrorism, applauded N Korea  hitherto  a  pariah of the international  community for its denuclearization pursuit  after  a  new détente with the US following  the historic meeting of the two leaders in Singapore  this year.  In all,  the US president turned world politics as we have known it so far  totally upside  down.

    My duty  here  is not about his polemics  and personality,  for which I am  sure  the  world leaders  who  formed his audience  gave a grudging if unintentional applause on his  introductory  self  praise,  which  even  he found encouraging and admitted he  did not  expect. My duty is to dissect his massive and important  speech in terms of content and direction of world  peace and  I  will  do that  in due course.

    Before  doing that however  let  me bring on board today’s  Lagos APC guber  primaries involving three candidates including the Lagos state sitting Governor Ambode.  The  direct primaries is a reflection of true democracy in  terms of  a  widening of political  participation in the choice of the governor of the state. It is an  opportunity for Lagosians  to judge  the performance of the governor  and reward him  with reelection or    first,  with a renewed  candidature, if they judge  he has lived up to the campaign promises  that  brought him  to power.  It is also an opportunity for his fellow aspirants to prove they have the where withal  to be better  or to do things differently  from what the incumbent  can claim  to have achieved since he was  elected  as governor. With  regard  to the party ruling caucus led by the Jagaban, the caucus  should  be applauded for making the competition open and  direct.

    It  has  returned power to the people with  the direct  primaries. It should  now sit back and be an  objective referee  to  make sure the contestants and the competition follow the rules and laws  of the party  governing the primaries. The  leadership  of the party in the state  must act like Shakespeare’s Caesar’s  wife  whose  conduct  must  be above  reproach.  In addition since the primaries are now direct the party must realize  that its  former  power of selection and endorsement  is now diluted  and on a permanent  basis since  once  the people  have tasted power  they are not likely  to  lose sight  of it ever  again.

    Which  again  is good for democracy and makes the choice of the people accountable  to those who  elected him or her rather  than  to any person, structure or institution.  That is the price  of transparency  and accountability  that the leadership  of the APC  has set  afoot, and I pray  they  have a peaceful and people  oriented primaries today  to see the  emergence  of  a proven  independent candidate for governor of the state.

    At  the UN,  Donald Trump  asked  the nations of the world to choose a future of patriotism, peace  and prosperity  and  asked  nations to make their nations great in terms of peace and prosperity  so that their people will  not migrate to other more prosperous  nations. It is here  that I  pick  issues with  the US president  as  an African  and a Nigerian. What he has said at the UN  could  have been said to African  and developing nations in the sixties  when another US President Dwight  Ike  Eisenhower (1953 – 1961) directed that colonial  nations  should  offload  their colonies and give them independence  at all  costs  because the US was  footing the bill on the reconstruction and rebuilding  Europe  after  the  massive destruction  of  World  War 11. With  hindsight  and  with  the help or disaster of globalization  Democratisation,  Marketisation,  and IMF conditionalities, one  can  say that Trump’s  new doctrine  that member states of the UN  should paddle their own canoes  economically so that their nationals and citizens are safe and protected  at home  and do not flee poverty and insecurity on the high  seas and the Mediterranean    to Europe especially  to look  for a better life,  is a step  in the right  direction  and  in the interest  of world  peace  and  development.

    In  addition in saying that the US  will  no  longer tell  other nations and  people of the world how to work, live or  worship Trump  is  showing the international  community  that the US  now knows  that its  freedom  ends where other nations’  noses begin.

    That  is good for mutually  beneficial, dignifiying  and respectful international  relations. Very  much  unlike his predecessors  who invaded Iraq on false premise  and gave the Cairo Speech  that launched the Arab Street  protests that brought  down dictatorships in the Middle East only  to create ISIS, Boko  Haram, global  migration and the destruction of Syria. Surely, Donald Trump’s  new foreign policy  makes sovereignty, independence  and Patriotism more palatable  and dignifying to developing and African nations like Nigeria than the policies of his predecessors. Once  again  long live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

     

     

  • Elections, eligibility and power

    Acquisition of power is the ultimate  goal  of  politicians  and global leaders in all aspects of human endeavor.  In  my first course on political    science  at  UNIFE,  I  was  told  that  politics  is

    ubiquitous, a strange word for a fresh  undergraduate then.  Today I  want  to show that it has taken almost    a lifetime  for me to understand  the import of that  simple  definition, both contextually  and conceptually.

    I  will  do this with the examples of the issues  of the day on the day’s topic. I want to take on election issues both  at home and abroad in terms of eligibility of politicians and power seekers  for  power to lord  authority  over their fellow  citizens  and examine their claims and credentials in their quest  for power. We  shall  also  look  at  the way and manner that those  who  control  elections  as well  as those pick  the powerful  seeking authority,  go  about  their  delicate  and very powerful  role. Which  of course    must  be    in  accordance with the political  culture of each environment  and  bearing in mind the crucial fact  that  this must  be done within the ambits of  the rule  of  law in  each  society; and  also  noting quite importantly that  the law flows  from the tradition  and customs of all

    societies and nations  globally .

    Given  our  paradigm  we  look  at  events in  Pakistan, Nigeria, and  the US      and  see what  happened  or is about to happen  in selected situations  in these  places  and how  they tally with our stated objectives in this piece. In simple  terms in Pakistan a former PM  was  shut out of an election,  jailed  for  corruption and released  after  the elections when  he  was no threat  to those in power  in that nation.  In  Nigeria an election    for governorship  is taking place in  Osun    state    in which one of the candidates  took  an examination  for eligibility  to contest alright, but  had f9  in English    the single  paper  he  sat  for out of the eight  papers  he was expected to write.

    In  the US a lady  professor sprang  out from a University to    charge  that a candidate  for the highest  office of Supreme Court  judge of  the US tried  to strip  her  naked 36  years  ago  and cannot be trusted with the authority  of a judge  of the US Supreme  court. In  Lagos Nigeria  the reelection of the incumbent governor of the state appeared  to  be in jeopardy  as his  godfather shifted  his anointment  to a fresh  candidate.

    These  issues  primarily  show how  politics  has been  described  as  not  only  ubiquitous    and at play  anywhere  but  as the art or science of who gets  what, when  and how  in every  political  system.

    Starting  with  Pakistan  the former PM is Nawaz Sharif,  a leader  I admire  so  much  for  his courage  and political  durability. He has  been PM several  times  and does not fear  for his life in the struggle  for power  and authority in his nation Pakistan. He  had boarded  a plane  before  from  London  to  Islamabad,  capital  of Pakistan  knowing  he would be executed by the military  regime of General  Pavez  Musharaff. His  plane  was not  however  allowed to land as it was diverted  to  Jedda  in  Saudi  Arabia  whose  leaders mediated  to  save his life. Recently  he was jailed  for  corruption on the eve of the last general  elections which his party  lost  but he appealed  and was released  from a 10  year  jail  term  after  the elections and pending the determination of the case which  obviously was politically  motivated  by the army  in control of  Pakistani politics which has become fed up  with his unrelenting criticism  of security  matters in Pakistan.

    Nawaz Sharif  is  a man  ready  to die for his  principles  together with his  daughter both of who  left from prison  to bury  his wife who died of cancer in London  and returned to prison voluntarily  before  being freed  on court  orders for wrong imprisonment  on the charges against  them.  Really  I see and  salute  a powerful  man  with the heart  of a lion  in Nawaz Sharif  of Pakistan.

    In  the  Osun State guber  elections today  the PDP  candidate  was to see the Police on charges of false examination  claims  but  the Presidency  has stopped the Police from going further. Which  really is a violation  of  the rule of law because  the Police  was  acting on a court  order which  queried  the qualification of the PDP candidate  for  the election.  According  to  WAEC  this  candidate had f9 in  English  language, a disgrace  to any educated Yoruba man especially in a state  like Osun  from the former  Western Region which  use  to  set  the pace in educational qualifications and achievements for the rest  of  Nigeria. The  presidency  should  have weathered the  storm  of possible  accusation  of  political victimization  and  stood  aloof since the presidency has a candidate from the ruling party in the elections of today  in Osun  State.

    The law  should have been  allowed  to take its course  as  the  court order  was very  clear  and in the public  interest no  matter how close  the election  was. This  is  a candidate    who should  not be in the race. Stopping the Police  at this point  is like closing the stable  doors after the horses  have  bolted. The  PDP  candidate simply  has no eligibility for this election  as  the court  was trying  to  show  through Police  action  under  the Rule  of Law.

    In  the US  the desperate attempt  to stop  the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s candidate as a Supreme  Court judge is happening  because of  a’ clash  of civilization ‘between  the liberal  and conservative  divide of modern US  Society. These  are the anti abortion  vs pro abortion  and the gay rights  community and their opponents. The liberals  want to  stop  Trump  and  his people from  getting a majority on the bench  if this candidate sails through now  and would  rather wait  till  the mid term elections in November  when  they  expect  the liberals  would  have more seats than the  conservatives in the US legislature. But  the accuser  has refused to  testify  and  we wait  to  see  how an event  that happened 36  years  would  derail  the confirmation of this US judge to the Supreme Court.

    However the  spectacle  of a massive  American cultural  war  exploding  right before our eyes  is something  worth  beholding. We  round  up  with  the  political  suspense  in Lagos APC coming primaries  where  the fate of the incumbent  governor  is hanging in the balance in terms  of reelection. The  currency  of  political accountability  and performance  as well  as  loyalty and respect seem  to  have changed  in the succession equation  as we knew  it  at least  as at the last  election in  the  state. How  this will affect the fortunes of the party in the state remains  to  be seen.

    Incumbents  do always  have their  loyalists and beneficiaries  and the present  governor  cannot  be  an  exception.  The  next few days will  determine whether we  shall  see  a transition of power or a re juggling of it in Lagos APC.  Once  again long live  the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Leadership, competition  and succession

    Any  political  party  that gains power in any political  system must admit that it has,  like Macbeth’s wife  murdered  sleep  and would    sleep  no more  in terms of  living  with  abiding  if  not extravagant public interest and  curiousity  in its  fortunes  and misfortunes,  as the case may  be.

    Such  is the fate  of Nigeria’s ruling party the APC  whose  candidate  won the presidential election in 2015  and is  seeking reelection in the 2019  elections.

    Today  I want  to  dwell  on the succession problem of the  party  in Lagos State which  the party controls  dominantly  but in which  there  has been  some serious brouhaha  over an automatic ticket  for  the incumbent governor  who  hails  from the party. The  threat  to automatic self succession for Governor Ambode as the APC candidate for the 2019  state  guber elections in Lagos State  occupy  our  thoughts today. We  shall  look  at the issues involved in this politics of succession in Nigeria’s  commercial  capital  where politics in Nigeria  has its roots in colonial  politics leading to Nigeria’s independence  in 1960.

    Especially  now that  the National  Leader of the party in Lagos Jagaban  Ahmed Bola  Tinubu  is  in the midst of speculation about a clash  with the governor  which has given rise to collection of  forms  by two  APC  guber  aspirants known  to be close  to  the  strongman  of  Lagos politics  for  the past  two decades.’

    It  is necessary  here  to  acknowledge  the importance  of  Lagos State as a key  element  of  Nigerian  and indeed  world  politics and that  makes the  state  elections  and campaigns  as important as any of the major  cities  or states  of the world including London and New York or  Delhi or  Kuala  Lumpur. Indeed  we shall  take a look at  some  succession issues on  competitive    platforms with a-bi-partisan’s flavour  in the US,  and  Malaysia  on a comparative politics  level. We  shall  ponder on how  and why Hillary  Clinton was not able to succeed  Barak  Obama  as  envisaged widely  at election time and how  and why a rank  outsider bamboozled  the Republican  party  to  win the party  primaries  hands down in spite of the opposition of traditional  party leaders. In  Malaysia  we shall  look  at the return of Mahathir Mohammad, the 92 year old  PM of  Malaysia  in an  election that saw him switch  sides  to his opposition while in government  years  back, when  he abandoned  his ambitious  protégé  then  and jailed  him  for  sodomy  and compare that with the politics  of succession going on in  Lagos State right now.

    I  want  to admit  again  the fact  that  I  read a statement  by the Jagaban  defending the governance record of both former  Governor Fashola, his successor  and that of  the present incumbent governor of the state. That  statement  was explicit  that the rumors  of a rift amongst  the three  political  leaders  was the handiwork or imagination of mischief makers  looking to destroy the amity  amongst the three. That was overtaken by news or  was it fake news  that even the President has waded in to mediate. Nevertheless  all  these are  in the public domain making comments on the  matter  pertinent  and necessary. Undoubtedly  the APC  and  its forerunner political  platforms  have been  good  for  Lagos State  and its citizens  in terms of provision of infrastructure and  social  development.  The  social facilities and roads, overhead bridges and night  lightings  making Lagos  State  safe to drive at night  are there for all  to see.  A major  snag  was the overzealousness  of    some  LASTMA  personnel and traffic revenue seeking VIOs  who  were  reined in and disappeared.

    Another blight was the ugly  sight of refuse that almost caused a pestilence recently  and seems to  be abating . In  terms of performance then  the APC  can claim  to have delivered  in  Lagos State. It  is natural  for  colleagues of the incumbent governor  in the oligarchy  leading the party  in the state  to want part of the action thinking they  would be better. That is a legitimate  ambition that could be ironed  out without descent  into violent confrontation.

    Similarly  if the governor feels he is on top of the competition  and  governance in  line with  the party  policies  then he has the right  to  a claim  of automatic  ticket  for reelection.

    Also  it  is the duty of the Jagaban  to lend  a listening ear  to all  claims. After  all he did it in the past  and sailed successfully  through  the mine field of succession  that  saw a Christian  governor emerge  to  save Lagos  for the party. As expected  he can put  his foot down as  a tested  pragmatist  and guide  the aspirants  on the best way  forward for the party so  that the APC  does not throw away  the baby  with the bath  tub in this explosive family  succession  politics. As  usual  in the game of politics  and the quest  for power or reelection, a  lot  of guile and  diplomacy  may  be necessary.  Which  may not be obvious to those blinded by malice  and partisanship in the present charged atmosphere and I wish  the leaders  the very  best in the explosive exercise.

    Needless  to say  succession  battles  can  be mischievous,  with intended  and unintended  consequences . In  the case of  Obama  and Hillary as successor  I  saw  some mischief  in the manner Obama’s Vice President  Joe  Biden  was pressured  to quit the  Democratic Party    Nomination race  for Hillary . The Vice  President then insisted that whoever  gets the Party’s  nomination  must  campaign on the Obama legacy  which  with the help  of hindsight was more of a political  burden  than  a lift  at least on foreign policy and the economy.  The  rest  is history. In  the  case of the cold war between  the Republican  Party  hierarchy  and  Donald  Trump  on his way  to  getting the presidential  nomination,  it  was Hillary from the opposite  side who gave Trump  the acceptability  that his party  was withholding.

    When  asked during the debates what she admired  about  Trump, Hillary  mentioned his well  brought up and organized family. That  boosted Trump’s  ego  and prestige  and was the last  straw  he needed  to take over the party for  a successful election and  he grabbed it with both  hands  and,  again, the rest  is history. Which  boils  down to the fact that elections and succession  battles are not over till they  are over.

    Occasionally they  may  look  like a potential  marathon    race and  end  up  unexpectedly  as sprints. Like  OBJ  said  at  the time Awo  lost  to Shehu Shagari  in that famous  election,  the best  man  does  not always win  the race.

    In  the politics of  succession  in any  polity, including Lagos State  APC, the maxim  – every body  for himself  God  for us all, or the devil take the hindmost,  is always  and    invariably  at play. Once again  long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Loans, security and theTrojan Horse

    A statement  from a media aide in the Nigerian  presidency spelt out details of loans request  by the Nigerian president  to  the  Chinese president  for finance to develop  a power plant in Mambilla Plateau  in the North East  and for the resuscitation of the Chad Basin for  economic usage  and exploitation  that could limit the high level  of poverty  and social upheavals  that have characterized that environment  for sometime.  This development  and the tweet  of the US President Donald Trump  that  the Op Ed  article  in the New  York Times this week  purportedly written  by  a Trump Administration official  undermining the White  House  is  a  security  breach, form  the cornerstone of  today’s  discussion. Both  reflect  real and potential  changes  for good or bad in any democracy especially with regard  to future  control  of the  socio  -economic, security  and political    architecture  as  well  as the cultural  values  of  both the US  and indeed Western civilization.

    And in Nigeria’s  case  the development portends  genuine fears  about  a looming Chinese colonization  of not only Nigeria but the entire  continent  of Africa. Let  me assure  you  that  I am  not an alarmist  and I am not exaggerating  either, and, indeed,    to prove  that is my task on this page today.

    Let  me start  with  the Nigerian leader President  Muhammadu Buhari’s request  for  the loan  in the most  respectful  if not cap in hand manner. Which  shows  a desperation  which  confirms his identification  of the importance of this Chinese loan. Let me state that I do  not doubt  his judgement  as well  as his integrity  or its  pedigree  in asking  for  this Chinese loan.

    After all this was a former Nigerian military  ruler  who    before  he was overthrown,  wisely  rejected the IMF loan which  his successors accepted    and that  led  to  the  repayment  cost  of that  loan ruining our economy disastrously  with  the  adoption of  the infamous  IMF  conditionalities  that  has crippled  not only our economy  but  that of  all  nations in the developing world  that took  the loan. For  now according  to Chinese officials Nigeria is the biggest construction market  for China in Africa, its third biggest trading partner  and a vast  market  for Chinese investment in market.

    The  Chinese  are  noted  for being shrewd  business men but  no matter  how you praise  the quality of the Chinese rice they  do not give free  lunch. That  is their attitude  on  business  especially loans. They  know  repayment will  be a burden  now  and more so  in the future and they  are  bidding  their time. They  may  not ask for security  as conventional  bankers do  but  they  will  negotiate repayment  terms  and as with  sovereign nations on debts,  there could be loss of  independence and sovereignty  once repayment arrangements are not as envisaged or agreed  at  point  of disbursement  of the loans. There is the story of an Asian nation’s president who  got the Chinese to build  an  airport in  his hometown as election promise.  When  repayment  got awry  the Chinese  took over the airport  as a strategic transport location for    promotion of  Chinese  security interests in that environment.

    It    was part  of the Chinese  Belt  and  Silk  Road  Project  to link  China with  Europe  and Asia  but that  nation lost  part of its territory and sovereignty as well. If  that  is not another  form  of colonialism  I    wonder  what  it is.  Once  again  Nigeria should be cautious  with  Chinese  loans as the Chinese don’t give free lunch.

    In  addition  the Chinese are  atheists  and have no  respect  for religious freedom  and indeed  have literally incarcerated the minority  Muslim Urghurs in China  and have built  incarceration camps that  are  to disorient  this Muslim  minority  from  their religious  beliefs  and instill  communist  and state loyalty  and patriotism  in them.

    That  is the ideology  of Communist  China which  is a command democracy  that  is also  militaristic  and brooks no disputes  with  the Chinese government  controlled  in a one party state by the Chinese Communist  Party. Which  itself is a powerful minority  in China. The  saying that evil  communications corrupt good manners  is very apt  here  and we should be careful  with  the use  of Chinese loans to build  our strategic  infrastructure  for economic  development. The  cost  of repayment  may be colossal  or prohibitive in future.

    In  the case of the letter ripping  the US Administration of Donald Trump  apart  my  sympathy  is with the beleaguered  US  president. The  writer  of the article claimed  to be  working within the Cabinet or White  House to undermine  Trump  so he does not mislead America. The  writer is  said  to be anonymous  but  the US  president  has tweeted  that it is the duty of the New York Times to fish  him out and name him in  the security interest  of  the US.  That  to  me is a valid  point.  Or  is free  expression  above security  interest  of a state? I  doubt.  But  that  seems to be the norm  in the US.

    Indeed given  the names given the US president in media hostile to him, it is as if he was elected  to be disgraced and described  in the vilest  terms and that  cannot  be right even  in freedom drunk US  where anyway  it is  almost  a crime to  be black.

    It  is apparent  that  American  society in Trump Era is  a combative and hostile  divide between  those who  lost  the last Presidential  election narrowly  and those who  won. The  Democrats  who lost see nothing good in the new president  and the media on their  side  too see nothing good in the new American  president. They have questioned his election and legitimacy and are now on the highway  to see him  impeached. He  too has dug in and is using tweeter  to fight in an  unprecedented, one man  riot squad  manner. But  in  lodging an anonymous letter in his cabinet  in this manner, the New York Times in my view  violated the ethics of responsible journalism which  it can only  redeem by fishing out the Trojan Horse  in the

    Trump  cabinet  and those  who put  it  there. Trump  can  very well  be the worst  or most stupid president the US ever  had.

    That is no justification for publishing an anonymous letter that is aimed at destroying the government  of the US, which  the Trump  presidency is,  as the executive arm of government  in the US presidential system  based on separation  of powers. What  the New York  Times published on the Trump  Administration is a clear  lesson on sedition. Once  again  long live the Federal  Republic  of Nigeria.

     

     

  • Democracy and the politics of exclusion and confrontation

    There  is no doubt  that in Nigeria the battle line is drawn  between those who  want  to  replace President Muhammadu Buhari  as Nigeria’s president and his die hard supporters who believe he is the god sent leader t  to  turn Nigeria round, no  matter  the odds. It is not just politics as usual  this time around. It  is a do or die situation because the stakes  are  so high there  may be at least  10 formidable Nigerians  in the opposition PDP  lining  up to  get  their party nomination to unseat  the Nigerian president.  That competition in the opposing  camp to the president  is  potentially  fiercer than the  coming  presidential  election  itself. It  is a clash  of the titans of Nigerian  politics over the years. You  may  call it a fight  in which everyone is for himself  and may the devil  take the hind most.  Such  is the nature and mood of Nigeria’s politics  today that has provoked the topic of the day.

    But  such  politics of exclusion  and confrontation  is not peculiar  to  Nigeria  and it is our  intention today  to  trace its roots and  see why  the  human virtues  of tolerance, accommodation  and mutual  respect are fast abandoning the realm of politics in most nations of the  world  today.

    It  is necessary  to highlight  some events to illustrate  the high level  of tension  and potential  violence  in world  politics today.

    Let  us  for  now, if possible  ignore Syria, Iraq  and Yemen which  are the hot theaters  of war and destruction  nowadays  such that people  are wondering how if  ever  Syria will  be repaired  and reconstructed  and yet  the war  has not  ended. We  shall  look  at the social  issues  that  are at the bottom  of  many  provocative reactions in most  nations today. Religion  has always been the leading issue  in this  regard  and  spawned  9/11 , Al Quada, Boko Haram  and ISIS. But  cultural  issues  are  causing  more  tension nowadays.  Issues  like  gay  right,  migration  and  feminism.

    That  was what happened in Germany  this week  when  the news spread  that  two Arab  immigrants  have killed a German trying to protect  a lady  from them. That  was dangerously  followed  by the observations of some non  rightist  Germans that  they are concerned that  any one  who  opposes  immigration  in  Europe  is branded racist  and  that makes it difficult to  make comments and people are worried of being excluded  and silenced  on a major  issue  in their nation. That  means  that  in the EU  some  silent  majority  is just  waiting to explode  some day  no matter  the excuses  and advice from  German Chancellor Angela Merkel  on the matter.

    Similarly  in  Nigeria  it was  difficult  to talk  about Boko  Haram openly  because  of Muslim  sensitivities  and the general  belief that  Islam  is  a religion of  peace. Yet  Boko Haram  and  ISIS claim an  Islamic mandate  for their  terrorism and  bloodletting. Till  now  the Nigerian  army has not been able  to suppress Boko Haram  because of this  religious  affinity of those even in the army to take on Muslim enemies. It  is a daunting task  that needs great dispassionate  intelligence  and collaboration from all  the security oufits in Nigeria  to  achieve  in the interest  of  the  Nigerian nation.

    Really it is the duty of the Nigerian  government to fight and defeat the enemies  of  the nation no  matter  their origin or affiliation. The  matter  of killings  by so called armed  herdsmen follow  this manner of  handling the Boko  Haram  insurgency. For now most  Nigerians believe that Myetti Allah  is being treated  with kid gloves  because  it is a Northern  organization  and the president is both Muslim and Fulani  like the herdsmen. The  fact  that the President once  publicly lamented that if he did not go to school  he would be a Fulani  herdsman  has  not  helped  matters. It  is my candid  belief  that  the president  must  show  all  Nigerians  that nobody  is above  the law where the security of all Nigerians in all parts of Nigeria are  concerned.

    Similarly  I  hold  the strong view    that  democracy in Nigeria must    be seen  as capable  of lifting  Nigerians out  of poverty and  not  a sure way  to die  in dirt, squalor  sickness  and insecurity. Democracy  should  not be seen  as creating  an emergency and exclusive  class of rich citizens whose  main  business is that they went into politics  and  made  money,  and  a lot of it too.  Democracy  should not  be seen  as  an  elevator  that  makes retired  military  officers automatic  governors after elections  and automatic senators  after governorships.  That  is the trend now copied by civilian governors  who  now live in the  state  houses and legislature  for 16  years  and get  so stupendously  rich  that  they become a state  within a state  in terms  of political  power  and influence.

    They  have  now  become  such  a  serious  threat  in our  democracy  to  any meaningful  political  participation  and competition  by  other Nigerians  equally,  if  not better qualified,  but lacking  their  huge  financial  muscle  fattened by years  of looking after  public  funds  and getting fat  at it.

    Right  now in Nigeria the show down  between  the Senate President and the presidency is overshadowing  even  the primaries  to choose a presidential  candidate  for  the  opposition  party. The senate president  has declared his intention  to be president  but he just defected  to  the  PDP  and that may  polarize  even  the PDP leadership.  Has the opposition  the discipline to prune down aspirants to even two  to face  the primaries  for presidential candidate  election?  Can the senate president  suppress his ambition for the highest  office of the land in his new  and old party? And  will  the senate president  be in office till  the primaries for  PDP  are  held?  These  are  the questions  begging for answers as we approach the 2019  elections  and  you  must  admit  like the Chinese  are  famous  for  saying    that  we live  in very interesting  times  indeed here in Nigeria. Once again, long live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Democracies, leaders and performance

    Confidence in ability to deliver as promised is a mark  of leadership in any political  system. Especially those called  democracies in which power is periodically renewable  ritually  at elections. A leader  who delivers as promised  can beat his chest on  a platform of credibility and indulge  in claims of  capability  to deliver, which  would be hard  to fault. That really is the basis for seeking reelection and continuation of tenure according to constitutional limits. Leadership performance  and its  attendant claim  on a qualification to lead  in  any democracy  is the kernel of our discussion  today.

    It  is not difficult  to see the catalyst  for  today’s topic given US President Donald  Trump’s  chest beating statement  this week that if he is impeached the US Stock  Market  will  crash  and Americans will  be poor. In a week  when two  of his closest  aides were ripped  apart in the courts for tax fraud and financial  sharp practices  one would have thought the noose of  impeachment was tying fast  around the American president’s neck. That  boast  however  was not the boast  of a drowning leader. It  was not  an empty boast either. It  was a boast rooted in American  political  culture  that once a president delivers the economy  in positive terms the  markets would rally  and  become bullish. And  before Trump  made his now famous boast  the markets were said to be on their longest bullish run in 10  years. This    is  in  spite  of  the travails of the US president in calling  the media fake  news, shouting there was no Russian meddling in his election, and calling the Mueller Probe into Russian  hacking of the 2016  election  that brought him into office, a witch  hunt.

    Donald  Trump’s  bravado  may be called over confidence  or hubris by those who  don’t see eye  to eye  with him but  that  is their business  and not our concern  here.  Which is that a leader who performs by recognizable and acceptable standards  deserve  accolades and approbation in  any  political  system  and if and when they seek  reelection they  should  be rewarded  with  power  to continue in  office  for  sheer  salutary  reasons.  Today therefore  the ebullient  and tweeter  crazy US president provides a yard stick  to compare leaders  who  perform in the democracies we shall  consider today  namely Nigeria, China  and Russia. The  choice of these nations is  based on their leadership  styles  and the fact that these are leaders who  have tasted  power  and are familiar  with its uses and abuse  and  over the years  have built  a reputation  as insiders in the corridors of power. Which  is something the boastful  but economically successful  US  president  cannot claim  or boast  about.

    Nigeria’s President Muhammadu  Buhari  is a tested  leader  who  has ruled Nigeria  both  as a military  leader  and  as  an elected democratic  president. China’s President Xi  Ping is a leader  who has consolidated  power in China such that  his thoughts and vision like  those  of  Mao  and Deng  have been  inserted in the Chinese constitution  as part  of the Ideology  of the ruling Communist Party of  China.  Russia’s President Vladmir  Putin is a leader  who has been in and out of power as PM and President  and is respected by Russians because he is trying hard to stand up to the US  and EU  and is  reviving  nostalgic memories  of the old and mammoth  Soviet Union  that  stood up  to America’s  might  during the Cold  War which  he has reinvented  in a new  way in  invading  Ukraine  and seizing Crimea  and foraging into Syria. We  shall  now  examine  how and  if  in terms of leadership  performance these leaders can  boast in their respective nations that in spite of whatever  constraints they  have faced, they  can claim like Donald  Trump  that in their absence their economies    will collapse. Certainly  the leaders of China and Russia can  claim  to  be indispensable to  their  nations economic  development  without  much  controversy.

    That  leaves  us with Nigeria  where  the president  has just returned from vacation  and graced the Muslim Sallah festivities in his  town  and trekked  home thereafter  prompting the presidency to state  that  the trek  meant  he is fit  for his  office  and therefore  for reelection.  Which  to  me is an  understatement that  misses  the point  and the importance  of  re election.

    Certainly  the president looked fresh. What  was important  however was his  stated  resolve  to  prosecute  the war  on corruption which was the cornerstone of his  election in 2015  with    more vigour.   And  it  is  his  progress  on that account  that  should make him  know  if he can  boast  that without him  the Nigerian economy  will  collapse. To  some extent  he  may boast  like Trump but  largely  he cannot  even  as the  2019  presidential  elections draw  so  dangerously  close.  This is because  economic  matters in Nigeria  have been  submerged under  a big flood  of insecurity, uncertainty  and  a  serious clash between  the Nigerian government, [ the  executive ] and the Nigerian legislature  led  by the Senate President  Bukola  Saraki  who  has defected from  the ruling party and had  gone on to  say  he would make a better president than  the incumbent  president. Yet  the incumbent president was the first  to congratulate  this Senate  President  at the outset  of the Administration  when  the foundations of the present defections from the ruling party  were laid. Did the president  get it wrong that time? He  certainly  did and such inability to read    correctly  the manouvres  and stratagem  of a political  opponent is a serious lapse  that has  boomeranged  into a huge challenge to the reelection prospect  of Nigeria’s president.  Certainly  the president cannot boast  of being indispensable to  the Nigerian economy  when  he cannot  put his house , the ruling  party in order.

    He  literally  went  to  sleep  with fire on his thatched  roof  when he  congratulated the Senate President on his dubious election in the Senate. Even  as  his party members seethed  with rage    then  at the  obvious  senate  ambush  which  has now boomeranged  into defections  and a direct  challenge to  the reelection  prospect  of the president by a leader  who  has benefitted  most from being treated  with  kid  gloves by an unwary  or overconfident president earlier on. Once  again  long live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Power struggle, corruption and democracy

    There is no doubt  that  a serious power  struggle is going on in Nigeria between  the legislature and the executive in Nigeria’s volatile  presidential  system  of democracy. It has become  a do  or die affair even though either side claims to be fighting for  or upholding the rule of law  but there  is more than meets the eye in either claim. Undoubtedly  it has  become   such   a dangerous development  that any  meeting of the legislature is  bound    to be  prone to violence from within, as opposed to the violence from without recently when armed masked men prevented law makers from entering the National  Assembly, which in itself  was  a coup  against  not only the legislature   but  Nigeria’s  democracy. Yet  in this dangerous power struggle   one cannot but recall  the statement of  late Anthony Enahoro, Action Group  legislator   who proposed self government for  Nigeria in the colonial days and proclaimed that  ‘this is the beginning of a chain  of events, the end  of which  no  one knows’.  Certainly one can say the same for this   approaching  political  tornado  heading  in the direction of NASS, Abuja    in the  show down  between  the Nigerian government  and the Senate over   the    looming  removal  of the Senate  President    and  his   refusal  to quit,  as  well as    the maintenance  of the rule of law.

    Inevitably  too one can  recall  the AG crisis of 1962   in  the Western Region House of  Assembly   Ibadan  which  led to the treason trial  and jailing of Chief  Obafemi Awolowo  and his release  by the Gowon  regime in time for him to be Minister Of Finance  during  our civil  war. The  rest is now history  but  the rumblings  in NASS in  Abuja  and at  Aso  Villa   nowadays  show striking  similarities to  the crisis in Ibadan  that  consumed the rest  of  Nigeria.  It   was  a   crisis    that   has railroaded our elusive   search  for  real  democratic  dividends  as we saw   instead  mirages of unfulfilled  promises  from Nigerian  politicians in search  of the el  dorado   to provide  food,   shelter   and  security for  Nigerians    but ended   up   mostly   lining only the purses  and   pockets  of their close,  friends, relatives  and cronies.  It   is  a  sad,    ominous   and disturbing   spectacle, this struggle  for  power  from  within the same   ruling  party  that  has now become a national  concern  to all peace loving Nigerians. It  is an ill wind that  bodes  no  good  and   I  pray  fervently  that  sanity  will  prevail  in the coming weeks or days. For  now I urge  all  politicians and our leaders to remember  the Chinese  saying  that says –  count  no  man  lucky,   until  he is  dead. All   the same   it    is with  this in mind  that I discuss  today’s topic    on  our     titanic   separation of powers’     power struggle   this week   with   illustrations      from  Brazil     and  Turkey    to  show  the consequences  of the  use  and abuse  of  power in these democracies and the lessons therefrom.

    Starting with Brazil the news was that  Brazil’s  former  President Lula da Silva  has been  nominated  and registered as the  presidential  candidate    for his party  at  Brazil’s  next election  this year,  even though  he  is in prison  serving time after  being jailed  for  corruption some time   ago. In  Turkey  President Tayyip  Erdogan  has  called  tariffs against  his nation by US President Donad Trump an ‘economic   coup‘ even  though  he  has refused  to release  an    American   pastor  that  the US president  has asked him  to release or face the consequence,   regardless  of  the fact  that  both  nations  are allies in  the  North  Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO.  I want  to highlight events  in  both Brazil  and Turkey  to  drive home  the import  of the Chinese proverb  that  says – count no man lucky  until  he is dead –  in the case  of  Brazil’s Lula   and   in  Erdogan’s     case to show that  internal  vindictiveness  and retaliation over  a failed coup  can lead to unexpected  and disruptive  economic chaos  for  a leader  whose selling point  in successive elections  he had won in  Turkey  had  been  on the mantra  or claim  of building  a buoyant economy. Again,  count  no man  lucky  till  he is gone  is  our  rallying cry in  this piece.

    Also ,    in the case of Brazil’s Lula  he was a very  successful  socialist president   –  2003  – 2011-  who  led  a workers party to  win elections  in  2002   in  Brazil  and served two  terms,  ending  up anointing  his Chief of Staff  Dilmar  Roussef   as his successor . Lula  was so  popular  and loved   by  Brazilians  for  bringing the    FIFA  World Cup   and     Rio  Olympics   to  Brazil  in   2014  and  2016  respectively. But  he launched an anti  Corruption campaign called  Operation Car  Wash  based on corruption in   Petrobas   Brazil’s oil   giant   like   our NNPC. Eventually  he  too was accused of taking an apartment as a bribe  or kickback  for a contract  and was jailed  in  2017.  At  the  height  of his trial  which he alleged  was political his successor   Dilmar    a woman  made him   her Chief  of Staff to shield him from  prosecution but that has not saved him. Today  even though he has been  again nominated for the presidential  election, he  too knows that as  a convicted person  he cannot  stand  and has realistically  nominated someone else to replace  him. Certainly  in Lula’s case in Brazil as elsewhere  in   any  democracy    in  this wide world, no  condition is permanent.

    Again  with  Turkey’s strongman President  Erdogan   it  is as if  he has become a modern Sultan  of  Turkey  in the mold  of past  Sultans of  the old Ottoman Empire  -which   once  ruled Europe,-   of which  modern  Turkey  is indeed but its carcass. Erdogan  has  used  the failure  of a coup last year  to purge Turkey of his political  opponents. He  has  asked the US to extradite  and old ally, a Muslim cleric living in the US to  face trial  in Turkey  for masterminding the  coup  for which  he has sacked and jailed  thousands of   civil  servants,  and  military  personnel.  But   the US has  refused  insisting the cleric has been a  law  abiding  US resident .  He  has  even  threatened nations having Turkish  schools  for Turks  abroad  like Nigeria  to close  such schools  because  of the coup  and was  roundly   ignored. So  between   Lula   and Erdogan  it is a case of  a fall  from grace to grass  for  one and   a case  of  blinding   and    arrogant  use   of    power  for the other. Yet  for both  you can still  say  loud   and clear  –  count no man  lucky till  he is dead. Once   again  long live the Federal Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Leaders, chameleons and the enemy within

    In  the US,  the debate  is on to determine  the political  correctness  or  otherwise of a sitting  American  President  calling the media ‘Public  Enemy‘ after  branding them ‘Fake  News‘  with no apologies, till  today.

    In  Britain the former  Foreign Secretary  Boris Johnson  has  been  asked to apologise  for calling Muslim women wearing the veil  ‘letter  boxes ‘and ‘armed  robbers‘.  It  appears  therefore  that we are  globally  in a season of name calling,  on  very  important,  sensitive political  and socio – cultural  issues  and  I cannot  resist  the temptation to join  the fray  from  the  Nigerian  end   and  the entrance to this is not difficult  to discern.

    It  is the invasion of the National  Assembly  this week  by   armed  DSS operatives  some of whom   had  their  faces covered   and the subsequent  firing, with immediate  effect of the Director  General  of the organization,  by the acting President of Nigeria, Prof  Yemi Osinbajo. Let  me  state  clearly  that  the sack  of the DSS DG  was  the face saving   elixir  that  brought life to  a Nigerian  leadership that had sunk  to its nadir in terms  of credibility and  sincerity  in the eyes  of the Nigerian  populace. It  reminded me starkly  of   late  Murtala Muhammed, Nigeria’s head  of state in a different era, who in state  addresses announcing such issues  historically said – ‘This  administration will  not    tolerate  indiscipline, this administration  will  not condone  abuse  of  office‘  That  was  the sort  of  decisiveness  the Acting  President  displayed  on the sacking of  the  DSS  boss  last  week   and  even  though he   mentioned   the  defence  of the rule of law     for his action, he  could have added  or used  the same  words  as   the   late  Murtala Muhammed    who  was later  assassinated  by  his military  colleagues.

    Quite   interestingly   the  invasion  of  the National Assembly  last week  ended on the national  media with  the’ triumphant’  entry  of the  Senate  President, Dr.  Bukola  Saraki into the  premises. To  me that was a very  pyrrhic    victory    for  the Senate  President and his supporters    after  the very  correct sacking of the DSS boss  by the acting president. But  then the whole  saga has been played  around  the inordinate  ambition  of  one  man  who  betrayed  his party in getting into  the  office of the Senate  President  and who  has since, quite recently defected  from that party   but  has  proceeded  to  hold  an office  based on legislative  majority  which  he lost  on defecting. It  is a  clear case  of eating one’s cake  and still   having it,   which  is not only illegal  but morally inexcusable.  But  then  this  leader  has been  the chameleon  of  Nigeria’s politics  for some  time.

    In  the   case  of his exploits  in the APC   he  has  been  the Trojan  horse and the enemy  within from  day  one. Or  else, how can  we explain the way  he became  the Senate President with the vote of the opposition   and  how  he has  held on against  all odds against  a party in power  before  finally    showing his hands   by declaring for the opposition and shutting the Senate to  avert  a vote to defeat  him. Really, one must give the devil  his due  and  there  is no denying the grim fact that, in or out of power,  Dr  Bukola    Saraki   has become the will – o’ the – wisp  or   Jack O ‘Lantern   of  Nigeria’s  politics today.  Surely  the  saga of his ambition  is still  unfolding   and  one cannot  help  wandering   when,  and how  his leadership    acrobatics  of clinging to power,  like a cat with  nine  lives,  will  end.

    Let  me now go  back   to  two  examples  on name calling  that  I mentioned earlier namely the  US  and  Britain  for some brief comments. First, US President Donald  Trump,  like  Shakespeare’s Macbeth  murdered sleep  and  ‘will  sleep no more ‘when  he branded  the media  against  him  – fake news  – which   is  nasty   assault  on their credibility. Which  is their  main  selling point  and major  source of revenue and sustenance as economic   and commercial   propositions. Their  reaction is bound  to be nastier  and that is what  is happening  and that explains why  they  attempted to make one of them  in the White House, the Press  Secretary  to denounce the label of   Public Enemy  that her boss  has put like an albatross on the neck of the US media.

    Of  course  the lady  did not take the bait. But  to me both the US media  and the US president  are doing their jobs except  for the vitriol  of vocabulary which  has become abusive and  utterly subjective, which  really  is the   vice  that either  party  should  learn  to    avoid  and avert. But  then  that is the nature of US politics in the very  unusual  Donald  Trump  era  and presidency.

    In  Britain   I  think  Boris  Johnson’s  description of Muslim  women as’ letter  boxes’  and’ armed  robbers ‘should  be seen  in the appropriate contexts even  though the descriptions are basically  abusive.  The  letter  box refers obviously to the slit in the veils which is functional  to  see  and move about. The armed  robbery  is to depict the fact  that armed  robbers  are hooded  to cover  their identity  as they break  the law. The  abuse does  not detract  from the fact that women in veil  in an open society  like Britain  have missed  the bus of cultural integration in a multicultural  society  and need to brace up  or ship out. That  is what  the former  Mayor of  London  was hinting at and the humor  was lost on those accusing  him of  Islamophobia   and  perhaps  misogyny   which  are the fashionable  vocabulary  against  men in the ‘Women  At    Arms‘  environment  that  Western  civilization  has become in recent  times. Once again long  live  the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.