Very grotesque about President Goodluck Jonathan is the big contradiction between his words and actions. He fancies himself as reformer, fighter of corruption and the man who will eventually bring a breath of fresh air to Nigerians, long suffocating under bad and corrupt leadership. However, since Jonathan took over about six years now, his body language and actions are incongruous to what he says he is.
If there was any hope left that Jonathan would be different from other past Nigerian leaders, it must have been shattered by his extension of centenary awards to some Nigerians, who pose as former Presidents and Heads of State, but are actually responsible for Nigeria’s present woes. It beats my comprehension how this president could honour people, who if we really mean business about building the Nigerian Nation, should be languishing in prison for their crime against their fatherland and its people.
How could we explain to a child living under fear in Maiduguri or the one in Otuoke, who goes to school on an empty stomach or to the parents of the 29 students killed by Boko Haram in Yobe that Nigeria’s former presidents and military dictators deserve to be flattered?
To start with, the centenary celebration is misplaced. First, the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 was a colonial selfish act, which was meant to benefit Britain alone. Are we therefore congratulating Britain for colonizing us or what? I beg to differ; Nigeria is not 100 but 53. There is a difference between a Protectorate and a Nation. At 53, the state of the nation is one that calls for sober reflection.
The balance sheet of 53 years of bad leadership are: grave insecurity, hunger, 80% youth unemployment, lack of basic infrastructure, lack of water and electricity, high rate of infant mortality, lack of vaccine against malaria, short life span and an almost empty treasury. It is absurd and an insult to Nigerians, especially those who have genuinely contributed to the country, that those who are indeed responsible for the pitiable state of Nigeria were honoured by Jonathan. What was he recognizing them for? Or did he, unknown to us, gather them on a podium to make mockery of them? How else could one explain the bestowing of awards on military dictators by democrats? Including one who annulled the freest presidential election this country has ever seen.
Also honoured was late General Sani Abacha, the great national plunderer, who led a regime of terror. Under his watch, an elected president and his wife were exterminated. Abacha and his evil crew held Nigeria hostage as they ruled by terror and as they looted the treasury empty. As I write, efforts are still being made by government, NGOs and the international community to recover billions of dollars he stashed away in western capitals. Mr. President, what were you thinking when you decided to honour such a man? Did your mind take flight?
If Jonathan conferred the awards on the former leaders in order to mend fences and boost his reelection bid, he should know that he has only done a disservice to himself and his reelection ambition. Nigerians, both at home and abroad are outraged by this presidential misbehaviour of conferring award to people, who deserve to be gathered at the market and jeered at by folks.
Mr. President, the Nigerian people see these people you gave the awards differently. There is no day that passes without the man, who toils each day in a bush farm in Otukpo to feed his family, cursing these past leaders. Normally, as citizen of the world’s seventh largest exporter of crude oil, he should have had a different life. However, the greed of our past leaders denied him that good life. It is also the reason why Nigeria is the only major exporter of oil, whose citizens need to live abroad on economic exile. If good leadership has been provided, Nigerians would have had a different life. They would not have needed to work as dish washers and tomato pickers abroad.
On a personal note, I feel saddened that the same man who twisted my destiny was honoured. The so called evil genius, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s bad and corrupt government actually forced me and millions of young Nigerians to leave our motherland in search of greener pastures abroad. The Naira was solid before he took over. Then a N100 BTA (Basic Travel Allowance) exchanged for 100 British Pounds. I remember vividly because my mum had travelled to the UK in 1985 before the Babangida coup and before he introduced his Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), which ultimately destroyed the economy. This is what happens when incompetent people seize power through the barrel of the gun.
Medals can’t erase or change history. They could be given to people like Babangida, Abacha, and Obasanjo, etc. Big Boulevards in Abuja and other capitals could be named after them. Nevertheless, at the end what counts is the place they occupy in the hearts and memory of Nigerians. And when the time comes for the rebuilding of this country, awards that were wrongly given will be withdrawn. Likewise boulevards that were wrongly named after undeserving people will be renamed after worthy Nigerians.
