OBJ

Obasanjo's 'stone age' life style prevents him from using the modern day technology to communicate with Nigerians. He has to let the people know every inch of his policies, not those information that would jeopardize the security of Nigeria.

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I personally sympathize with the President, looking at some of his pictures, he is aging very fast. I hope he is going to enjoy the 30 million Naira ($250,000) a month, he makes from his farm in Otta, after 2007. Unfortunately, he is not seeking Nigerian sympathy. Obasanjo should allow Nigerians to empathize with his situations. All the wrinkles, bald head, watery eyes, especially the picture with Dariye insert, even in his 'sheik's' picture, should be giving Nigerians some concerns. His heart must be heavy with Nigerian issues. It is not a teasing matter. If I may ask, what happened to his pounded yam, with egunsi soup and bush meat to match? God have mercy! Pictures do not lie, not even in Nigeria where there is no makeup for the public officials.

Reflecting on the activities of some of the governors, Obasanjo could not hide his disgust about the immoral acts of some governors, ironically, the reactions of Nigerians to his administration's stand on the issues in Plateau and Anambra States. We agree with the President that people lurch in lies and deceit without recourse to the truth of the matter. Obasanjo cannot blame Nigerians because he keeps state matters 'too close' to himself, even away from his advisers and Ministers.

His questions posed to Nigerians in his November 27, 2004, monthly live radio should be of great concern to Nigerians. If I may repeat:

"Is it ethically wise and right for a governor to establish an airline when he is in office?... Is it ethically right for a governor to establish radio and television stations while in office?... Is it wise when a governor is interrogated and released only on bail, for the State Assembly of that governor to say it is not their business?... There is a great, great, great issue of morality in Anambra which people don't look at".

These are legitimate questions Nigerians are asking the President to share with the populace. He cannot fight Nigeria ills by keeping them very close to him without getting the compassion of Nigerians both at home and abroad. He has the modern technology at his disposal; unfortunately, he is not using them to the fullest. Nigeria is copying American system without utilizing its weapon of public communication. It is like a snake passing through a rock without a mark.

According to the President

"There is a great case of morality in Plateau. There is a great, great case of morality in Anambra, which people do not look at. As long as a country continues to put truth in disfavour, as it becomes our greatest dilemma today, we will be wallowing in lies, deceit, shame, disgrace and underdevelopment."

Talking about some governors, who have been indicted for one violation of the law on corruption or the other, we believe that it is the duty of the various State Houses of Assembly to check the excesses of their chief executives. Unfortunately that is not happening in Nigeria where the State Assemblies become stooges of the executive. The Houses of Assembly do not realize their current Constitutional roles in the current political arena. Instead they jingle to the wishes and caprice of the State. The State Assemblies that are supposed to act as check to the executive jingles to the wishes and caprices of the executive.

The President criticism of some governors hiding under the cover of Constitutional immunity to perpetuate crime is nothing to worry about. Nigerians agree with the President's assertion that "even if they are not brought to book now, they will still face the music after their tenure." But Obasanjo's administration should make sure the Judiciary is strong enough to prosecute them. The immunity as stated in the Constitution is to safeguard the public officials while still in office. It should be re-written, but strong enough to prosecute them after their terms.

I know some good public officials would be foaming while reading this piece, but what we are saying is that we want the names of the bad eggs and the black sheep of the family published, so that the innocent ones can walk peacefully. Most Nigerians in Diaspora have gone through that during the Nigeria dark days under the Military regimes. The good Nigerians kept their heads above the water and maintained their dignities in the community they lived. They gradually exposed the bad ones among them, and the bad eggs went underworld.

We realize that most of the elected officials are in the public service for themselves and not to serve the people. In as much as they could make themselves and cronies comfortable, they could care less of the majority suffering masses. One thing that the Nigerian Labor Union has to its side is to mortgage the working class emotions and to successfully organize very effective and powerful strike against Nigerian government.

Recently Hon. Minister of State for Finance, Mrs. Esther Hajia Nenadi Usman accused Governors, in a blanket statement of using the allocations for their personal gains. In her words:

"Four days to seven days after the FAAC (Federation Account Allocation Commit-tee) meeting, the exchange rate goes up, that means that they (governors) are using the money to buy up dollars. Make telephone calls to any of the states, ask after the governor and you would be told he has gone abroad. Not only the governors, even the commissioners of finance,"

We asked the Minister of State to name names, (see May 24, 2004 piece captioned: Why the Search for Real Idiots continues; Hon. Minister. Esther Hajia Nenadi Usman Should name the Fraudulent Governors"). At that time some Governors, like Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, asked the Minister to name names. Abia State Governor claimed that he has the names of the Governors with foreign accounts. He is too timorous, like others, including the President, to name names. The Nigerian press of 'Cash and Carry' could not dig into all these pieces and publish the list. Who is going to do this if the public watch dog, the Nigerian Media, REFUSED to live up to their professional morality, which is part of what Obasanjo is talking about?

Foreign investors could be very skeptical coming to Nigeria. Nigerians themselves are scared to conduct businesses with Nigerian Public Officials. Some Nigerians, in good faith, decide to help their home governments, to discover that their governments take advantage of their munificence. Before you know it, their documents are in the hands of the governmnet cronies. Where is the morality in public service?

If the Nigerian President is not willing to communicate with his people, who is going to do that? The Nigerian Union of Journalists should try as much as possible to live up to their profession call. Enough of these crocodile tears from the President.

It is about time President Obasanjo makes some thunderous 'noise' about what is happening in his administration. There is nothing wrong for a press conference on a daily basis for the world to know what is going on in the Nigerian young democracy. A monthly radio program of 'President Explains' is not good enough to get his message across to the public.

Nigerians would appreciate the on-going reforms, especially the war against corruption. Shockingly, most Nigerians are of the opinion that the current administration breeds the largest set of Nigerian corrupt public officials. How the President defends that is a challenge to his administration. Obasanjo should speak out, so that Nigerians could commiserate with his circumstances and stop shedding crocodile tears. We had too much rain this year (2004) already.

On other reforms in the government, as the economic reform program progresses, the next focus should be the political arena. Nigerians cannot wait to witness the government reform in the political arena. Regardless, Nigerians should not agree for a five-year one-term for any public officials. The State Legislature, and Local Government Councils should be part time; the reform should respect the independent of the Legislature from the Executive; and encourage staggered election for continuity so that not all the elected officials rotate off at the same time, among others.

Definitely, if Nigeria is going to survive at all, there must be a change of approach to Nigerian politics with a complete change in peoples' mindset in public service. Nigerians in Diaspora could not be part of what is happening in the Nigerian politics to match the money politics in the country. De-emphasizing money politics would be a good thing for Nigeria.

Nigerians need candid crystal clear tears from Obasanjo's administration.