One of the boundaries that I erected for myself when I elected to make a weekly appearance on this page was never to engage in responding directly to the crass absurdities that go on daily in the name of governance in the land of my birth. Not that the temptation to vault those boundaries doesn’t come knocking each morning when I go online to browse the home-published dailies.
But I’ve always succeeded in not letting the temptation to over come me. If you ask me why I’m succumbing this time to the devil’s beckoning, my response will be that I haven’t. The urge to do this piece gripped me as I listened to a BBC news programme on National Public Radio while I drove home from work Tuesday last week.
I hardly was bothered by the headlines in the four different Lagos-based newspapers that the BBC programme anchorman read out on the air that announced that Mr. Yar’Ardua, the man Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo hand-picked to succeed him as president was suddenly flown to a German hospital for medical attention. Instead, my sensibilities were pricked when Mr. Yar’Adua who they got on the telephone responded to their question on how long his hospital stay abroad would last said: “It takes three to four days”. My reaction then was: “It takes three to four days” to cure the flu, which he was reported in the newspapers to be suffering from, or to undergo and recuperate from the dialysis procedure, which he is rumoured to undergo routinely? When did the flu begin to pose the kind of serious threat to the life of a middle-aged man and warrant his being flown abroad for medical attention? Everyone has been left guessing.
It’s only in a place called Nigeria that an aspirant to the highest office in the land leaves everyone guessing about the state of his health. One of the several interesting things about this absurdity is that no one seems to be willing to raise the right questions about the man’s health. Rather than insist that it’s improper for this individual to play hide and seek with the state of his health, and demand that he must publicly disclose his medical records, many have engaged themselves with the absurd task of speculating why Obasanjo anointed someone who might soon die to succeed him. Assuming that one such speculation that it’s Obasanjo’s deliberate ploy to upstage himself at the expense of responsive governance, isn’t it amazing therefore that the world is now faced with Nigeria as the only country where the presidency has officially been turned into a hospice, with no one bothering to rightly decry it? Many people are amazed by the stupendous tolerance for the abuse of public trust by officials in Nigerian society. It’s common place when you raise concern about unconscionable disregard for responsiveness by public officials in Nigeria to hear people deflect your agony with: “At least they are paying salaries”, or “at least I can talk to my mother on the telephone from anywhere today”. You then wonder, because regular payment of salaries and efficient telecommunication are and have been taken for granted in decent societies longer before now!
Nigeria’s reputation as a place where steel could float in water never wanes. Only a few weeks ago the people of Guinea fought their ailing ruler who they insist is unfit to remain in office on account of his poor health, to a standstill in pitched street demonstrations. If the newspapers are right in their speculation, what ails Mr. Yar’ Adua—failing kidneys that require routine dialysis—is similar to that which ails the man in Conakry. Yet, here we are in Nigeria, a country that many claim to be more sophisticated than Guinea, while Obasanjo is about to hoist up somebody who is brazenly short on details over the state of his health as president! Na waah for Nigeria!
What quality of public service would someone who is burdened with routine dialysis render? The only rational inference is that governance Nigerian-style is akin to leisure. The hardest part of what Mr. Yar’Adua is gearing up for sequel to his anointment is the mere campaign junkets, that, if we must believe him, gave him the catarrh, which precipitated the quick rush to a hospital in far away Germany. Another reasonable inference is that no one is bothered about asking the hard questions about Mr. Yar’Adua’s health because it’s not normative for anyone to become president on the strength of votes cast in Nigeria’s elections. The one person who could have broken that pattern was stopped from becoming president—the election he apparently won was annulled and he was detained until he died. As the late Fela once sang: “No wonder things are rotten” in Nigeria! Na waah for Nigeria!
E. C. Ejiogu, Ph.D., teaches sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park. He’s President/CEO of Ikenga Associates, a security, strategic, and public health consultancy that specializes in political and social risks assessment for corporations, individuals, and NGOs that operate in Africa, Asia, and Mideast. He can be reached at eejiogu@socy.umd.edu
This was written for the writer’s weekly column in BusinessDay when Mr. Obasanjo had just hand-picked Yar’Adua.
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ANTI-ANTIPARASITE
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... @ANTIPARASITE You are not the only Christian on this forum & don't think you are doing any service to Christianity by insulting prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his followers; because you can never find in the history of this whole world, a single Muslim who visit the same insult to [Isa A.S.] Jesus Christ (May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be with him); and it will never happen till the last day. Because of this on behalf of all Muslims I say: May the Almighty ALLAH that Muhammad (SAW) and we Muslims believe in, continue to torment you (inward & outward) in this world and the next. May HE also make the PARASITE that you hate (because you are ANTI-PARASITE) to descend on you & destroy you alive. May HE also makes you find no peace in your life & all those who share with you these unacceptable & provocative ideologies. THESE ALL BECAUSE YOU HURT THE FEELINGS OF ALL MUSLIMS ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH BY YOUR PROVOCATIVE COMMENTS ON THE PERSON OF OUR HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW). |
ANTI-ANTIPARASITE
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... @ANTIPARASITE You are not the only Christian on this forum & don't think you are doing any service to Christianity by insulting prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his followers; because you can never find in the history of this whole world, a single Muslim who visit the same insult to [Isa A.S.] Jesus Christ (May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be with him); and it will never happen till the last day. Because of this on behalf of all Muslims I say: May the Almighty ALLAH that Muhammad (SAW) and we Muslims believe in, continue to torment you (inward & outward) in this world and the next. May HE also make the PARASITE that you hate (because you are ANTI-PARASITE) to descend on you & destroy you alive. May HE also makes you find no peace in your life & all those who share with you these unacceptable & provocative ideologies. THESE ALL BECAUSE YOU HURT THE FEELINGS OF ALL MUSLIMS ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH BY YOUR PROVOCATIVE COMMENTS ON THE PERSON OF OUR HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW). |
ANTI-ANTIPARASITE
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... @ANTIPARASITE You are not the only Christian on this forum & don't think you are doing any service to Christianity by insulting prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his followers; because you can never find in the history of this whole world, a single Muslim who visit the same insult to [Isa A.S.] Jesus Christ (May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be with him); and it will never happen till the last day. Because of this on behalf of all Muslims I say: May the Almighty ALLAH that Muhammad (SAW) and we Muslims believe in, continue to torment you (inward & outward) in this world and the next. May HE also make the PARASITE that you hate (because you are ANTI-PARASITE) to descend on you & destroy you alive. May HE also makes you find no peace in your life & all those who share with you these unacceptable & provocative ideologies. THESE ALL BECAUSE YOU HURT THE FEELINGS OF ALL MUSLIMS ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH BY YOUR PROVOCATIVE COMMENTS ON THE PERSON OF OUR HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW). |
ANTI-ANTIPARASITE
said:
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... @ANTIPARASITE You are not the only Christian on this forum & don't think you are doing any service to Christianity by insulting prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his followers; because you can never find in the history of this whole world, a single Muslim who visit the same insult to [Isa A.S.] Jesus Christ (May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be with him); and it will never happen till the last day. Because of this on behalf of all Muslims I say: May the Almighty ALLAH that Muhammad (SAW) and we Muslims believe in, continue to torment you (inward & outward) in this world and the next. May HE also make the PARASITE that you hate (because you are ANTI-PARASITE) to descend on you & destroy you alive. May HE also makes you find no peace in your life & all those who share with you these unacceptable & provocative ideologies. THESE ALL BECAUSE YOU HURT THE FEELINGS OF ALL MUSLIMS ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH BY YOUR PROVOCATIVE COMMENTS ON THE PERSON OF OUR HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW). |
Century
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... God is able to heal Mr President and what Nigerians should do, especially through this medium, is to pray fervently for his healing and not to dissipate their energies spewing out/posting hateful comments regarding his condition. They are mere mortals, if they must be reminded and must leave judgement to God. Our duty, as Nigerians, is to pray for his well being because he is our President. It is well Mr President. |
OMO EKUN
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... Good news!!!!! from Nigeria?????? Don't wait for it, it will never come. if you want the definition of a failed nation, go to Sahara Reporter and read the news. Pessimist? yes I am. Any way, Mallam Umoru, yaya jiki? Yayi sauki ko? Allah ba ka lafiya. Amin. |
Elmango Meat
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... Our foreign reserves is plummeting. On Corruption Perception index; Nigeria is several slots behind Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. Kidnapping is on the ascendancy. It is an Irony of fate that in the same week, two of the so called priviledged members of Nigeria's political class heavy weights have to scamper abroad for health related issues. What a twist. Unfortunately, Majority of Nigerians cannot afford even adulterated Chloroquine due to the delinquency of our past leaders and the complete neglect over the years of health sector. Where is the good news? |
Man Chris
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... @-Floriana, I know you are a normal guy and I always enjoy your contribution. Your sacarsm, if that is what its is called, and always amusing. Keep it up. |
Toyin Ade
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... @ -Floriana: Have you forgotten that Abacha also has vision 2010.May I ask you where that vision is now??? It is not enough to talk,what is more important is corresponding actions to actualise the goals.Have you seen a football team winning a match by staying in the dressing room???Talk is cheap and everybody can talk but not everybody put their words into action.The difference b/w an achiever and failure is just their attitude to taking actions at the right time. Your Yar'Adua used 2 yrs to write it plans,what was he doing when he was campaigning for election???? -Floriana, use your skull to think rightly and stop defending individuals that are failing. |
7point Agenda {frankfurt city}
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... My people Umoru has every right to rule Nigeria from his sick bed..inshort even from his coffin since Ibori n Anakonda can fix it.most of us talk abt change when none of our family members r among the looters,and for us in the Diaspora since we r not facing a direct impact of this colossal abuse in all human endeavour by Umoru n those Ritualists called politicians we sit comfortably in our different homes with our heaters on just talking about a change we personally dont believe in cos we r never sure how it may come..tell mi how is can come to happen when many of the people writting on this forum never visited naija for the past 10 yrs,my people itz really time we put our money were our mouth is. i will be home this yr again,my question is,is there anything we the people from the Diaspora can organise together to create an empact in the political arena,we all hv tested good governance here n know that nigerians r in a double hell n we cant keep standing by the side n look. |
-Floriana
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... I shudder when I imagine the level of ignorance of some of these people in the diaspora. When has being sick become a taboo for a mortal man? Can Ejiogu the author, swear by the god he worships that he has never been sick? Did he resign from his job when he had fever or cough? For God's sake why will anyone ask for the president to quit because of his state of health. Nigerians at home and some abroad appreciate what president yaradua is doing for the nation. They appreciate the sacrifices he has made to make our future better. He has not only devise policies but also define vision 20.20.20 that if he is allowed to complete his terms will see to Nigeria becoming the giant we truly are. President FDR of America ruled from a wheel chair and brought America out of reccession. Ours cannot afford to be different. God bless Nigeria. |
Toyin Ade
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... Do you want to know about the state of a nation??? Take a critical look at the leader of such nation,I mean the head of government.American is gradually coming out of recession because their President is agile and proactive in taking prompt decisions.He walks his talk.If Yar'Adua were to be Obama,he would have been impeached before he clocks 6 months in office.I don't know why some people are against criticising this moribund and indolent President who ought to have been booted out more than two years ago. A nation whose President is sick & is not agile will be a sick nation as well and it is obvious that Nigeria is a very sick country.Everything is in shmbles & pathetic state.Yar'Adua is defintely a wrong person to be the President at this critical perion in which we are. |
Orye
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... The writer suggested that Nigerians should emulate the Guineans by protesting and fighting Yaradua to a standstill? I hope the writer does realise that this call for chaos and arms is not necessarily a silver bullet? I am sure that he must note that after the Guineans fought their civillian President to a standstill, they are today now being ruled by a much more vicious military cabal that has been shooting scores of them dead on the streets of conakry with impunity whilst the western govts and other African states stand by! So all I want to say is that be very careful what you wish for. It certainly aint black and white as suggested in your article above! |
karem
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... the issue is yar adua is leveraging on nigeria. he is a manipulator. he is using our commonwealth to take care of his health. why cant yar adua build or equip one of the teaching/university hospitals in nigeria and receive his treatment there. going saudi arabia is one way he can use to siphon/loot our commonwealth. guys wise up. the malam is not stupid OUR PRESIDENT IS ON LIFE-SUPPORT |
F okwukwe
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... I pray that Ya'adua will recover quickly. No matter what his regime is all about, we must all his mandate to be over, but as for Second term, no way. |
Adeniyi Fadahunsi
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... Yar'dua can you please tell Nigerians why you are doing this to yourself and to Nigeria as a country?. I can not fathom the fact that a man would in the name of power, greed and politics trade his children for political gains and yet clinch unto power even when his health says otherwise. YAr'dua! Yar'dua!! Yar'dua!!! if care is not taken, your end is near and Turai will go on frolicking with younger boys who are better "woman managers" than you. |
Toyin Ade
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... @ British Nigerian: Your suggestion makes sence.If diaporans and young Nigerians can forgo our tribal inclination and give our support to Nuhu Ribadu and raise fund.If we really mean it,those corrupt old horses and spent overused,recycled and corrupt politicians will have no option than to back off and run away for their life. Ribadu knows the many rogues among them;I bet you many of them will run away from Nigeria should Ribadu becomes the President or Vice President to Buhari. |
Nzeman
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... How much is Yar'Adua costing Nigeria? Someone should be please give us the cost of all these life support, Flights to Germany and Saudi Arabia with the retinue of staff and aids, and the expatriate doctors attending to him 24/7, and then the opportunity costs of misgovernance or lack of governance. Why don't this man leave Nigeria alone for other capable hands to deal with its problems? The crooks around him are warming up to have him take a 2nd term when he is not fit to even complete one term. |
AK Boy
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... @Barbara bates. You've said it all, the time to act is NOW if we must get the right successor for Yar'Adua. This is no time to cry over a spiled milk but to make provision for another. To all Nigerians, this is the call to stand and defend your right. It is our responsibility. We have been colonized for too long by the ruling elites and I'm advocating for CHANGE. THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW. |
Omonbendel
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... @Eclub..... this is the first time, I am seeing you deviate from your norms. Did Ibori take you off is Payroll? Na wa for human beings o. I am hoping you open eyes and heart and build your conscience from this point on... |
governor-in-waiting
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... The chilling fact is that the PDP is already toying with the idea of fielding this man, Yar'Adua, for a second term! This goes to show that the party has no interest of the nation at heart. The PDP is a conglomeration of traitors and, at the least, unpatriotic individuals that should be arrested and tried for treason. There is also this ridiculous and ludicrous move at some quarters to plant Turai, the president's wife, as president should Yar'Adua not make it to the end of his first term! What an inglorious move! These people never fail to amaze me! Where on earth is that in the Constitution? Goodluck Jonathan is only an errand boy as things show and, as long as he receives his salary as VP and lives in the VP's mansion, he is okay. Wonders shall never end! |
British Nigerian
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... @ Barbara Bates. You asked "Who can potentially be the next head of state". The answer is Nuru Ribadu. Politician will quake in their Agbada if this man runs for president. He investigated and knows how many of them became rich overnight. It's not the small bribes that policemen collect from motorist at checkpoint that has Nigerian parmanently in distress...It's the absurd amounts looted by the elites. One Sanator call loot the equivalent of a local governments alloctation in Nigeria...And we have over 1,500 in both Houses of Assembly. Obama started he's campaign without money...but got the support and daily donations of the masses. It might take diasporas to initially encourage and support him. Nelson Mandela was accused of all sorts...but he became president. Obama wasn't even given a change...but he became president. Obasanjo was in jail accused of practically notice...but he too would have become a Nigerian President. |
Toyin Ade
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... In any employment,when an employee is sick;such a person is given sick leave to take care of himself.And if the sickness has gone beyond the allowed sick leave,such a person may be retired or given redudancy because of ill-health.This President,Yar'Adua deserves redudancy because he lacks good health to lead Nigeria.He lack physical stamina to navigate the complex governance of Nigeria.The man should spare us all the agony he is placing on all Nigerians because of his selfishness.An honourable man that loves his country would have resigned and allow a very capable person to take over from him. Yar'Adua is a very selfish man and he deserves no pity because he hates his fellow citizens.Is he happy with all the suffering and agony that Nigerians are going through every day because of lack of positive governance???? Nigerians have endured Yar'Adua enough.He should just resign and go,ha na by force e won rule us!!!! |
Igbo man
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... My brother, well said. We need action, we need awareness. Our people at home and abroad must be sensitize on the need for electing and vehemently rejecting imposition of useless candidates. |
eclub
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... @ Barbara Bates You are exactly right. Nigerians, we are not matured yet. Ofcourse the entire focus NOW at the ending of 2009, and the beginning of 2010, in this glorious age of mass media/communication is featuring the Best individuals suitable for government. A place such as SR should be engaged in exposing and espousing these people to the people. Instead we are engaged in revisionist history, or talking about Abiola's election. That is now for the history books. If we don't start featuring people who are good, but have no money --- then, individuals with money will overun everybody come election season. Yar'Adua's health is important only in the sense that we wish him well; we wish him God's speed. In most of the discussions on this forum, we forget Nigeria has an Assembly; if it's decided that yar'Adua is not able to carry out his duties as President/Commander in Chief, then a case should be made that he be impeached. It's upto his accusers to begin the process. |
Mike Dengene
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... I believe as Nigerians and Christians as some of us profess even Moslems, we must all pray for speedy recovery of our President. It is really a shame that people are joking about his health, we must all sit back and remember that rain does not fall only on one man's house.There is a story of a Mortuary attendant who always threw dead bodies anyhow and said they were dead, not long after his own father died and was put in same mortuary, that ended his job as a mortuary attendent as he never entered one thereafter.We must pray for his safe and speedy recovery at all times.All our Pastors in Nigeria are meant to hold special prayesr for his healing and also our Imams and also Traditional Worshippers.He is our President no matter our differences and we must be compassionate and stop discussing his health as most of us are even not as health |
Salman
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... Sir, whatever Yar'Adua is a human being as such he deserves our prayers for good health. What we cannot take is the noise about his second terms ambition is ludicrous! May almighty Allah give him perfect health for him to finish the incumbent mandate. |
Bode Oladuja
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... You are stating the obvious man. For the sake of the man asking for the person won the election & later died in prison, It was Ch. MKO Abiola. |
RUKKYL
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... YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT WHO WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT. THAT IS, IF THERE IS STILL A COUNTRY CALLED NIGERIA IN 2011.BECAUSE YARADUA IS A VERY SICK PILOT THAT WILL CRASH NIGERIA BEFORE THE END OF HIS TENURE. AFTER ALL, HE HAS NOTHING TO LOOSE, HE IS A DYING MAN. HE CAN DIE ANYTIME. A DEAD MAN DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING ABOVE HIS GRAVE. |
Joe Man
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... All those guys who are on the street campagning for his 2nd term should be rounded up and put behind the bars for treason. This man needs rest and some mad people are opening their dirty mouths about 2nd term for him. If Guinea had said to their equally sicky ruler that enough is enough,are we not giant of Africa for nothing? Let Yaradua go home and attend to his health matters. |
Barbara Bates
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... Please specify who you are talking about "The one person who could have broken that pattern was stopped from becoming president—the election he apparently won was annulled and he was detained until he died". Several people have died in unlawful detention in Nigeria. We cannot bring them back, unfortunately. Who then will succeed when Yaradua dies from his sickness? Perhaps we should be scrutinising the next potential head of state NOW and if the potential successor is also a mess we should be making sure the person is exposed NOW. Who do we actually want to be the next head of state in Nigeria? We should be looking for and sponsoring the best candidate NOW. Bring forward the next election date and select the best candidate by merit not inheritance. |
Exilee
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... Always remember very old idiomatic expression: "As you make your bed, so you must lie in it." We all Nigerians deserve what we get. We should quit whining and forcefully demand better. |
Lenon
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... Its a shame that the so called house of senate,house of representatives and all other elective officers,most especially the committee of elected governors dear not speak about the president,s health. What sort of non sense that Nigerians dont even know the state of yar adua,s health.It’s only in a place called Nigeria that an aspirant to the highest office in the land leaves everyone guessing about the state of his health.Mr Yar’adua failing kidneys requires routine dialysis and that,s the reason he travels every now and then. |
phemmiec
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... This is a well-written piece, by a seasoned individual. A sickly president cannot but produced a sickly economy. As the adage goes, "you cannot give what you dont have." |
