Obasanjo, Danjuma & Nigeria

Obasanjo, Danjuma & Nigeria

By Mas Damisa

Both men are characters one could define in the superlatives, depending on if you are for or against them. They are strong and bold and they are both soldiers who needs no introduction. Both are retired Generals of the Nigerian Army and while one was head of state in uniform and president in agbada, another was Chief of army staff and minister of defense; both also served in the same regime. The two elder statesmen spoke in Lagos on the same day, at the same town and on different subjects. I don’t need to reiterate the fact that they are also friends-even if now estranged.
General T.Y. Danjuma spoke at a business lecture of the Lagos Country Club on Thursday 28 October on the topic: “The Nigeria of my dream.” On the same day at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, General Olusegun Obasanjo told the story of his origin at a book launch. Public lectures and book lunch are events in the public domain for which-+ reactions and comments are normal expectation. Since the country is more important than the individual, let’s first take a look at Danjuma’s lecture. The kernel of Danjuma’s speech was his acknowledgement of corruption as having assumed an oceanic proportion in Nigeria; the impunity by which perpetrators get away with it and the fact that there has been no restitution of prosecuted cases. He warned that the nation might be consumed by corruption if it is not checked.
That corruption is walking menacingly and destroying everything on its trail is a fact the blind, the deaf and dumb will acknowledge. That we have been handling it with kid-gloves is another fact only few can deny. If corruption must be defeated, me thinks that it will take more than just ‘one right man at the top’ to do so. I suppose we need several men from below to deal decisively with corruption as we are all affected. Danjuma also said that we have added no value to the crude oil we sell to the world and that is equally true. No one can add or subtract anything from the truth. He even made a more poignant and factual statement about Nigerians. He said “the average Nigerian is docile. They are very forgiving of those in authority. People don’t ask questions. May be it is because of poverty.” For a man who is reputed to be one of the richest Nigerians and who is held in awe for his integrity, he no doubt feel for the common man to be able to identify with him. Those close to him attest to it that he is generous and magnanimous, except that he suffers fools gladly. These are the aspects of his lecture with which I agree, and they constitute the bulk of what he said on that day. And, now, to the aspect of his speech with which I disagree.
General Danjuma was not happy about the criticism of the 1999 Abdulsalam Constitution just because it was produced by the military; and pointed to the military created states which legally exist today, and added that “we cannot accept democratic rule while rejecting the fundamental laws upon which it is founded”. He however accepts the fact that 1999 constitution “requires radical reconstruction.” The fact is that whatever is bad and regardless of who did, it is bad. The criticism of the Abdulsalam constitution is not so much against its military authors but that it is unsuitable for the plurality of Nigeria; which is why it requires ‘radical reconstruction’, in the words of Danjuma. The pity is that those elected to administer the constitution were elected under military decrees and before it came into effect. Therefore, the 1999 Abdulsalam constitution lacks the input of democrats and is devoid of approval by democratic means - which is why it is not working.
The states – all of them – were created by military regimes and were never validated by referendum, and to that extent they are arbitrary and artificial creations devoid of democratic values. Nigerians tolerates the states not because they like them but because “the average Nigerian is docile. They are very forgiving of those in authority. People don’t ask questions. May be it is because of poverty”. It must be added that some of the states are homogenous, especially in the South West and South East, not so in the other four zones. Moreover, a Federal Union is supposed to be created by Federating Units. Evolving units then volunteer and apply to join the Unions. But the reverse is the case in Nigeria, which makes it more arbitrary and inorganic and which is why disharmony thrives in most of the states. While privileged military elites like Danjuma feels that the constitution needs radical reconstruction; the vast silent majority of the civil populace believes in total restructuring of the country and its constitution. In effect, ‘radical reconstruction’ and ‘total restructuring’ are questions of semantics whose bottom-line is the unsuitability of the 1999 Abdulsalam Constitution and subsequent amazements. In simple paraphrase, what Nigeria needs is not one right man at the top, but radical restructuring. While we concede to the military their pride, we cannot allow it to stand in the way of needed changes to the polity-even if now we lack the courage to enforce our will.
I am distressed to have to comment on the person of the age and status of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo more so, when it has to do with his paternity. But since he is a public figure and the issue is in public domain, he cannot escape commentaries. It should be recalled that Obasanjo’s paternity came into dispute some three years ago, when a newspaper published a photograph of an ex-policeman of Igbo origin who looked every inch like Olusegun Obasanjo. We need not go into the details of the story under the photograph anymore, for a book titled “Baba’s story: Nigeria is 50” has told his own version of his origin. Why am I distressed, you ask? If you must know, then here is why. The man in question is around 75 years of age and he was our head of state and president for a cumulative period of about 12 years during which time he helped to shape our country’s destiny for good or ill. He is probably the richest Ex-President in Africa and one of the most influential statesmen in the continent. If his origin was questionable, why did we have to wait all this while until recently?
You and I should be worried that our ex-president was found or alleged to have had a dubious origin and he kept mute for three long years as if to reiterate the fact that silence means consent. Haba, Baba Iyabo! A biography is a mirror of someone’s life history and is usually written by those who know him well enough. But Baba’s story was written by a Ghanaian, Abyna-Ansa Adjei. Where are the indomitable Owu’s; the wise Egbas, the suave people of Abeokuta or even any Yoruba author? Ex-President John Kuffor of Ghana was also there at the launch. What of our other ex-heads of state: why didn’t they honour their colleague at the auspicious event? Among the many governors Obasanjo helped to make, only Alhaji Saminu Turaki ex-governor of Jigawa State was at his side during the launch. Are the rest such ingrates that they forgot how they became governors? Why did they spurn their benefactor?
Rather than honouring or appreciating our elders, we leave that obligation to foreigners to do it on our behalf, why? Even Saminu Turaki, going by the account given some years back by Alh. Sani Zorro, a former President of Nigerian Union of Journalists attested to the fact that Saminu Turaki is a Nigerien and not a Nigerian. That being the case, it means there was no Nigerian ex-leader at the book launch. The absence of the Olowu of Owu and Governor Gbenga Daniel made a loud noise. Well, as for me the matter is closed by Baba’s story. My worry is some mischievous elements who averred that the book, its launch and the conspicuous absence of some people, keeps the paternal controversy raging. I think the man deserves a respite, don’t you?