The President is Dead: Lessons to be Learnt

The President is dead! After a long and turbulent journey of ill health, Nigeria’s President Malam Umaru Musa Yar’Adua died on May 5, 2010. Until his death, Malam Umaru had not been seen in public since 23rd November 2009. That last day was when he flew to Saudi Arabia, where at that point, he was meant to perform the lesser Hajj as well as see his doctors.

However a few days after his arrival to Saudi, story leaked that Malam Umaru had been checked into a hospital. That was the beginning of Nigeria’s bewildering political expedition. The events that followed 23rd November were the most bizarre, confusing, shocking, disrespectful and pitiful in the contemporary history of Nigeria’s democracy.

Section 144 of the 1998 constitution stipulates that the President makes a written submission to the National Assembly informing them of his absence from duty. Before Malam Umaru left for Saudi no such letter was sent. That was the basis upon which all the intrigues and evil drama were scripted and played out. A constitutional crisis broke out.

Some called for Umaru to be impeached, others resisted. Some called for the Vice President to be automatically sworn in as substantive President, other kicked against it. The plot thickened with clandestine meetings held in the most unexpected places and destinations within and outside the country. The rumour mills frantically churned out unsubstantiated stories.

No one however is under any illusion that Nigeria is a complex country to rule. Neither is the notion of the non-shortage of talents disputed. So Nigeria does sometimes get to have visionary leaders.

Apparently Umaru was one of them. Some say his presidency held great potentials for the transformation of Nigeria but the success of his programmes and policies never came to fruition as he was continually hindered by ill health. Nonetheless Yaradua did make some measured gains. The main one being the Amnesty Programme of the Niger Delta which brought relative calm to the region that produces Nigeria’s cash.

In my interview with Nigeria’s new President Goodluck Jonathan (he was Acting President then) some 2 weeks ago in Washington DC, he admitted that the months that followed Umaru’s sick leave were the most challenging of his political career.

Goodluck Jonathan was not the only senior politician who owned up to the difficult and turbulent times Nigeria faced. The country’s then foreign minister Ojo Maduekwe told the BBC that Nigeria they might not have followed the right ways of tackling some of the issues that confronted the country. He too admitted that things were not going well for Nigeria.

Nigeria escaped being torn into shreds following a 1 minute BBC interview with ailing Umaru Yaradua. That interview effectively became the much needed “Section 144” of Nigeria’s constitution. Goodluck Jonathan became the Acting President. The action relatively doused political tension.

Journalism and journalists faced the greatest challenge in the country's recent history as information was outrightly denied, dubiously fabricated, maliciously manipulated and un-ingeniously managed. Special Media Advisers and PR Guru's misled Nigerians. The worst of the culprits were said to be those charged with the responsibility of managing President Umaru ‘Yaradua’s publicity.

All publicity surrounding President Umaru backfired as they were most unprofessionally handled. In the end the whole issue turned into a PR disaster, indeed a catastrophe. The victim was of course the bed-ridden, helpless man – the President.

But on Wednesday 5th May, He whom in whose hands Umaru’s life was, brought to a final end the suffering of the helpless President. Immediately after it happened, text messages flew across the world: The President is dead!

Veteran politician, former Lagos governor, AKA Baba Kekere, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, is quoted as having said that “the death of Yar’Adua is sad and I hope it will teach all of us a good lesson. He is a good man but unfortunately his political associates used his illness to play on the intelligence of Nigerians”.

Umaru’s remains was laid to rest in his own town, Kastina. The last 6 months must not be swept under the carpet. Some people should not only hold down their heads in absolute shame, but they must be disgusted with themselves for their outrages and unforgiving immature behavior.

I personally see everything surrounding late President Umaru’s illness and death as a personal tragedy. Personal tragedy for him in the sense that a “good, quiet, humble, unassuming” fellow had been turned into a political pawn by some mean, selfish individuals. At one point Umaru had even become a “hate-figure”.

Clearly, any decent human being will be engaged in deep reflection over all the unfortunate incidents that happened from 23rd November 2009 to 6th May 2010. Lessons must be learnt.

PDP: Dog Eat Dog Politics

Tragedy appears to be set to befall Nigeria’s ruling party, PDP. Vanguard, a local newspaper describes what is happening to PDP as “the story of a party perpetually steeped in crises and how the presidential aspiration of not a few is fuelling the present shambolism in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP”.

It goes on to make rather unsettling predictions on the party: the unfolding scenario in the polity especially in the family of this self acclaimed largest party in Africa is turning out to be a case of dog eat dog. The PDP Umbrella is once again threatened by the possibility of being shredded.

Last week, crisis in the party deepened following the suspension from the PDP of members of a splinter group, the Peoples Democratic Party Reform Forum, spearheaded by former Senate Presidents, Ken Nnamani, Adolphus Wabara, ex-Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili.

The PDP Reform Forum says it aims to return the party to its founding ideals; re-engineer the party to make it more people-oriented (Peoples Democracy); be more creative in the generation of party funds; streamlining existing parallel structures in PDP states. But the million dollar question is, if these objectives will rid the party of internal monopoly and bullying why should ears of the Reform members be pulled?

Well, the answer is not that simple. The issue goes back to that same “case of dog eat dog”. If you are Nigerian you may understand it… But simply put it is a dirty power tussle characterized by shocking intrigues with no public interest at the heart of the jostlers.

As 2011 polls near, the questionable biggest party in Africa is heading for the rocks. Voters will decide if enough is enough and tear to shreds the alleged wet blanket the PDP has thrown over Nigeria since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1998.

Much A Do About Nothing?

Nigeria's Senate today approved 38 nominees for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan's new cabinet. The list does not include portfolios. That means re-appointed ministers may not necessarily return to their old jobs.

The Nigerian cabinet has more than 40 members, including ministers, ministers of state (junior ministers) and ministers in the presidency. A further list is expected to be sent for Senate approval to complete Jonathan's new team.

Jonathan dissolved the 42-member Cabinet on March 17, about a month after the National Assembly empowered him to become acting president in Yar'Adua's absence. It was seen as an effort to purge top officials loyal to Yar'Adua, though some were included in the new cabinet.

Unlike some thought, the Senate did not drop even a "fly" from the list that was sent to them. Initially there were rumours that some ministers would be dropped given the roles they played in the Yaradua/Goodluck push-and-shove political saga that had engulfed Nigeria since November last year.

Fiery ex-information minister Dora Akunyili was one of the couple that was said to face axing by the senior law makers. One Senator from North West Nigeria argued that she was “certainly not returning as minister.”

Another was ex-planning minister and an ex-Senator Sanusi Daggash, but whom his distinguished colleagues felt he had betrayed and disrespected them by slashing their budget when he was minister. The story was that they would teach him a lesson for what he did.

All the 38 FEC Club members were given the green! The approval did not come to some as a surprise though. After a loud hiss, one Abuja based "siddon-looker" told me, "rubbish, who told you they were going to drop any one on the list?" I asked him why. He replied, "Jamilah, I am shocked. You should know Nigeria better than that!"

I didn't exactly understand what he was insinuating, but what came across very strongly was the lack of excitement and disappointment over the whole ministerial appointment issue. From the look of things, it is an anti-climax to this man.

I hope it won't be for Nigerians.

Nigeria Will Shine

“Despite frantic moves by the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, to beat Acting President Goodluck Jonathan into political line over the composition of the new Executive Council of the Federation, EXCOF, the party appears to be losing out…

…Investigations reveal that the last visit by PDP National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, to Aso Rock…was to discuss with Jonathan on the need for the new EXCOF to have PDP outlook, a position which the governors are also canvassing. Jonathan’s men were, however, said to have rejected the idea…”

Above is how Vanguard a Nigerian daily reports the political horse-trading and wrangling that surrounds the appointment of a cabinet in Nigeria.

Being a minister in Nigeria is a highly profitable job – it opens doors to many things. Interests run deep and getting one's name on a potential ministerial list can be a do or die affair! Appointment to ministerial position in Nigeria is hardly about performance. It appears to be hardly about competence too.

Some may disagree, but before you do just that, let’s look at a dictionary definition of the word “competence”.

Competence is described as the acquisition of knowledge skills and abilities at a level of expertise sufficient to be able to perform in an appropriate work setting. So if for an example one was to be appointed to the position of a minister, the appointee must possess the required level of skills and expertise to perform the designated duties as effectively and efficiently as possible. Such an appointment will yield desired results. People's live will be touched.

At the moment one of the questions flying about as Mr Goodluck puts together a team that will run the affairs of Nigeria before the general elections early next year is: will the new team comprise of competent people who will bring about some significant improvement in the lives of Nigerians within such a limited period?

We scratch our heads. The reason being that the names that have so far made it to the list appear to be wives, cousins, nephews, friends, loyalists, ex-this, ex-that, etc. These people, argue pundits, will effectively constitute the “traditional square-pegs-in-round holes” sing-along FEC-attendees. The only glimmer of hope say some critics is one Goldman Sachs of London guy!

But don’t despair as Ayi Kwei Armah said in his book “The Beautiful Ones are Not Yet Born” it is from the depth of the manure that life springs forth. Much as I am pessimistic about the future of my country, I still believe that “one day go be one day”

....and Nigeria will shine.

Fret No More - President Wilson Was Ill Too!

"The patient is progressing most satisfactorily, so far, and I have good reasons to hope for a most beneficial result. It has been a big undertaking. . . . “

Sorry, this is not a line from Nigeria’s minister of information or indeed that of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s doctor. The line above was written by President Woodrow Wilson’s doctor way back when the President inner caucus tried pulling the wool over the eyes of Americans over their leader’s health.

It was almost certain that President Yar’Adua’s supporters would use the argument that Nigeria was not the first in the world to experience a very ill President; one who had been away from his duties for a prolonged period. They may have a point.

The health of a one-time US president was also under wraps and it was only recently that newly revealed documents show how Wilson's inner circle, including physician Grayson, right, tried to conceal his poor health, which preceded a major stroke in 1919. The 28th president was debilitated for the rest of his term, says Washington Post.

But that was way away in 1919 - the beginning of the last century. When there was no BBC sick-chambers-emanated interview with Mr Wilson.

Today in the cutting-edge age of technology, with the internet and mobile phones invading people’s privacy and providing second-by-second account of global events, taking a cue from the inner circle of ex-President Wilson may perhaps not be such a brilliant thing to do.

There’s fretting, there’s tossing and there turning. Yes, restlessness means the political juggernauts of Nigeria are having sleepless nights. Text messages won’t stop flying about from across the continents asking the question, “Have you seen who has seen him?”

Guest what people, the answer is, well, mmm, take a wild guess. There was a secrecy vow at the Villa which forbids aids to yap away “State secret”. So you may probably be fighting a lost battle.

But what about the beeb? Weren’t they there when the black box was lost in the middle of the Red Se until they found it in February 2010...and then boom! Section 144!

So, fret no more, I am sure the beeb will find this one again!

My Blog on BBC's Superpower Season

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/superpower/

The Politics of Yar'Adua's Illness

BBC reports that Nigeria’s Information Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili says she is fed up with the “lies” told by some presidential aides about the health of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. She also says the president’s return last week has “actually exaggerated uncertainty, confusion, anxiety, fear and concern, not just by Nigerians but by the international community”.

Unlike what some journalists in Nigeria claim is a “bombshell” I actually don’t see her latest utterances as such. This is not the first time Professor Akunyili has poked her index finger at some “few” individuals whom she claims are holding Nigeria to ransom over the Presidents health. On February 5th she attempted to present a memo to the Executive Council of the Federation, EXCOF, with the hope of forcing a change in the official position on the President’s health which was that “he was still in a position to lead Nigeria”.

Since then the whole world witnessed the political wrangling and debacle which led to the emergence of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.

From this latest pronouncement, and for some reason I suspect, Dora is not all spewing brimstone and fire. The Info boss uses some nice words to describe the President: “he is peace loving” and the rule of law he preaches” is from his heart”.

The culprits says the ex-drug buster were some “people around him that are gaining from the confusion; people around him that are doing to him today what 100 million political enemies cannot do to him”, she said, adding: “He has done a lot for this country and suddenly, a few people are rubbishing it. They stole him into this country in the night”.

On that note though, not many Nigerians’ view would differ from Dora’s. Some sympathetic to Akunyili say she’s vomiting all this grammar because of apparent “frustration at her inaccessibility to information on the President’s health status, she said: “You manage information if you have information. We did not have information that our President was travelling to Saudi Arabia until we read it in the news, and when he was in Saudi Arabia we hardly got information. “We never had a comprehensive channel of getting information that we are sure of and most of the information sometimes, they don’t add up and it gets very disturbing. When they don’t add up, you feel very awkward reporting such information".

Understandable perhaps given that her job really is to "sell the government to the people". If there really is no commodity to sell, well, what then does she do?

Hmmm...tough nut to crack!

But her detractors are suspicious. They say “no, no, no, this is all a pan“dora”s box”, and somewhere underneath lurks something that would emerge for Dora when all is said and done with the health drama.

We are as contributors and analysts, privy to Nigeria's colourful democracy. This is all to do with “the politics of Yar’Adua’s illness” as the Professor herself admits. The questions here though are: at whose expense are politicians playing politics with the President’s health; where should it all end?; who will decide when it should end?; who will pay the ultimate price of playing politics with the President’s health?