SOBOWALE: Buhari Should Beware Of His Friends

By Dele Sobowale

“Some great misfortune to portend; no enemy can match a friend.”

Jonathan Swift, 1667-1745, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, p 161.

All Nigerian Heads of governments had been ruined more by their friends than their political enemies. The first and constant prayer of every President or Governor should be “God save me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies.”

Buhari, like every national leader in the world, is faced with multiple problems, inextricably intertwined and mutually reinforcing, which no Nigerian leader had ever been called upon to face. Indeed, the future existence of the country has never been so much in doubt. One thousand geniuses working 24/7 will be hard pressed to find solutions which are totally satisfactory and painless to the monster problems created. To that extent, Buhari continues to enjoy my sympathies and fervent prayers. His successes or failures will be shared by all of us. So, there is no political or personal advantage to be gained by wishing his government less than well.

WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME SHIP

“Being in a ship is like being in jail – with a chance of being drowned.”

Dr Samuel Johnson, 1708-1784.  The metaphor of being in a maritime vehicle is the most apt right now. While former economic, political or social upheavals have resulted in some of our leaders escaping abroad to bide their time until it is safe to return, this time COROVID-19 has locked all of us in. Even those who were outside at the break of CORO find themselves in countries ravaged by the pandemic. They want to return home after suffering unusual lockdowns abroad. Hitherto, a relative arriving from abroad was well sought on arrival in Nigeria. Not anymore. Today, they end up in compulsory isolation by government and few family members are eager for their visits. Prominent Nigerians who died at home since the world locked us out would have spent fortunes in hospitals abroad only for their carcasses to be sent to Nigeria for internment. In this boat, piloted by Captain Buhari, and we will either survive or die. One thing is certain. The vast majority will survive. The ship under Buhari will berth somewhere in 2023. Where we set anchor depends on all of us – APC, PDP or independents.

 Unfortunately, for Buhari, given his tendency to depend on those known to him, the dangers are very high that his “friends” might undermine him more than his political adversaries or independent critics. It is frequently the “friends” of the President who are likely to get involved in the shady deals which invariably destroy the FG’s legacies.

TWO BOOKS OF REVELATIONS

  I have published two books on governance in Nigeria. The first was PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED and the second, published last year, was titled IBRAHIM B BABANGIDA 1985-1992: LETTING A THOUSAND FLOWERS BLOOM. The first covered various aspects of the President Obasanjo’s government from 1999 to 2007. The second was mainly about the IBB regime from 1985 to 1992 only. The book deliberately ended in 1992 in order to avoid the sentiments attaching to the annulment of the 1993 June 12, 1993 election. I strongly believe that history will not be as prejudiced as we have been with Babangida – who was Nigeria’s greatest law-giver till date. His government passed more laws and created more institutions in 1990 and 1992 alone than all the national leaders since then.

 This, however, article is not designed to praise IBB and to condemn Obasanjo. The objective is to warn Buhari about close friends and associates judging from how they worked to undermine the best legacies of two of his predecessors.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION PDP-STYLE.

“Promises, like pie crusts [or biscuits] are made to be broken.”

Jonathan Swift, 1667-1745. VBQ. Newly-elected President Obasanjo was interviewed a day after he was declared winner of the 1999 Presidential election by CNN. Asked what will be his top priority, he answered without hesitation: “We will eradicate poverty and fight corruption to a standstill.” He probably meant it. But, the following Sunday in my column, the observation was made that “Obasanjo can only fight corruption to a standstill by turning against the corrupt politicians who constituted the bulk of the People Democratic Party, PDP. Most probably Obasanjo will end by further entrenching corruption and deepening poverty.” Even the most charitable of Obasanjo’s friends must admit that he failed on his two legacy projects. The obvious question is: what lesson can Buhari learn from this failure?

 The book PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED is replete with examples of how OBJ’s friends did more to undermine his good intentions than anything done by the political opposition. Starting with his highly publicised POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME, PAP, to the rape of NITEL and the Petroleum Development Trust Fund, PDTF, illegal use of Duty Waivers and selling oil block at give-away price, all the reader will discover are the finger-prints of Obasanjo’s associates and top party members. The audited account of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, will draw tears from a statute carved in marble. Once in office, OBJ became a pawn in the hands of his friends who knew how to manipulate him and get away with murder.

IBB AND STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMME, SAP.

“Rural development is, indeed, the true and lasting foundation for national development. “ IBRAHIM B BABANGIDA 1985-1992: LETTING A THOUSAND FLOWERS BLOOM, P 33.

 Babangida’s Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, was actually a great success only after he “stepped aside”. While in office, his legacy project aimed at reforming the economy and integrating rural/agricultural development, yielded modest results. His departure, with many of his friends left his successors – Abacha and Abdulsalami with great templates to develop SAP, which to me was the most carefully designed socio-economic programme ever in Nigeria’s history. It was introduced to Nigeria at the same time with Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore etc. While it was a roaring success in the Far East, it was only a partial success here. Only part of the reason for the lacklustre performance of SAP here can be attributed to the vehement opposition – Labour, Socialists, ASUU, the illiterate masses, most of the media and politicians. Chapter 11 of the book points to the major culprits. They were mostly “Friends” of the IBB regime. They included leading bankers and the captains of the Organised Private Sector, OPS. It was Nigeria’s pillars of society – MONs, OONs, OFRs, CONs – who individually and collectively held us back and gave SAP a bad name. Again the question is: what lesson can Buhari learn from all these?

“Better a declared enemy than a doubtful ally.”

Napoleon Bonaparte, 1769-1821, VBQ p 48.

 Contrary to what the President might think of them, the PDP don’t constitute his worst enemies. In a democracy, the minority will have its say and the majority its way. Rightly or wrongly, the critics are performing their patriotic duties as long as they operate within the law. Doubtful allies in very high positions on the other hand are those who work under the protection of the government while subverting its good intentions. They earn the trust of the President, live above suspicion, only to destroy what the government intends to do. Two recent examples will illustrate the point I am making here.

 Late Malam Abba Kyari, mat his soul rest in perpetual peace, had already tested positive for COROVID-19 and was being  treated in a private hospital in Lagos before the Presidential Task Force, PTF, announced guidelines forbidding patients from being treated by private hospitals. To me, his presence in Lagos can be excused for that reason. However, he was still there when the Minister of Information declared as follows: 1. that nobody who died from COROVID-19 will have his corpse released to the family for burial 2.that nobody who died of COROVID-19 will be transported out of the place of death. At the same forum, the PTF had laid down the rules about social distancing and maximum number of people in a crowd. Nigerians have read about the stern measures being taken to discipline other violators. Most have grudgingly complied. Then, the “Friends” of Buhari, including the announcer went out of their way to openly violate the regulations – with impunity. The Presidency apologised.

“Controversy over attendees at Tinubu CSO’s burial.”

PUNCH, Thursday, 30 April 2020.

 The story, coming after Malam Abba Kyari’s and the FG’s apology, has once again revealed how a President (and, in this case Governor) striving to hold the nation in check for the good of all the people of Nigeria can easily be embarrassed by their “friends” and/or political associates. Once again, it is someone well-connected with government who is involved. The violations of publicly announced rules include the following. First, contrary to what Lai Mohammed told us, the body was released to the family for burial. Second, he was buried in his house. Third, there was a crowd of more than 50 people. Fourth, as usual, the police played a dubious role. According to them, they were turning back the crowd instead of arresting people for violating lockdown. Nobody can give the number of people who attended a burial which should never have taken place in a housing estate.  The entire episode has APC impunity written all over it at a time when the President’s credibility is paramount in the wars facing us on account of COROVID-19.

  Again, there is a lesson to learn in the two incidents. Leaders, especially Buhari’s friends, instead of openly flouting rules should be setting good examples for others. The people of Nigeria need to trust Buhari because he is now our only unifying force. The states are divided – even when the same political party rules very close states. The Northern states which hitherto were more united than the south are being torn apart by how to deal with almajiris and beggars. Suddenly, each state is forcefully evicting indigenes of other states. Social harmony, which is the bedrock of economic development is now lacking. Yet, without strong economic growth in the near future COROVID-19 might go and leave us more divided than before. COROVID-19 to us might be a blessing in disguise. Buhari should consolidate on the relative unity to move the nation through the storms.

THOSE SETTING BAD EXAMPLES AND UNDERMINING GOVERNMENT.

“Kyari burial attendees test negative, discharged.”

PUNCH, MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 p 13.

 The story went on to list some of the attendees “including the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; …”

“When gold rusts what would iron do?” When pillars of government flout the law openly; they undermine the president. Buhari should ensure this is the last time this happens during his tenure. Sacred cows ruin governments all the time.

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