WE THOUGHT HE IS SLOW...

I was somewhat impressed when NTA aired a random opinion poll before President Yar’Adua’s speech on 29th May 2008 to mark this year’s “democracy day” General opinion about this former lecturer-turned-politician were majorly and impressively positive except for the fact that Nigerians are unanimously of the opinion that our embattled president is slow. Listening in-between the lines through his chat with the media I could see an intelligent and sly president. I take that for granted because afterall, he was a lecturer and not just a lecturer for that matter, a lecturer of analytical chemistry. It takes a smart head to hold that position and hold it well. I’m not surprised; he has done well so far in his new career.

That Yar’Adua is a “sme-sme” president is nothing but a delusion of the Nigerian populace fuelled and nurtured by the press. Babangida was a nice president until “Dele-Giwaism” and other atrocities started coming to light. That was a president that would put a knife at your neck and still hold the smile. He was indeed “nice”.

Recent revelations by Sahara Reporters reveal that our dear president may actually not be what/who he portrays himself to be afterall. It is tempting to speculate that the voice, though that of Jacob, the hands may be Esau’s considering the powers that enthroned Umaru in Aso-Rock but relationship with his predecessor and acclaimed god-father makes it crystal clear that Yar’Adua has attained political adulthood to be able to make up his mind contrary to speculations and fears before Obasanjo stepped down.

One characteristic of the president that tickled my fancy is his ability to stay cool and calm even when his roof is on fire. When rumours went round that he was dying in Germany and probably may not be able to address the nation on 29th May, Yar'adua’s demeanour when he eventually broke his silence did not show that of a man who was ruffled by public saying (Nothing less can be expected of a president anyway). He likes letting matters “cool off” before responding/reacting which I’d say is a virtue worthy of emulation because by then you’re in a better frame of mind to make “objective” decisions. Yar’Adua is off to Cairo to attend a meeting of the African union but one would wonder what thought would dominate his mind on his way to and during the meeting. Certainly, if he is not thinking of any of the plethora of controversies and issues calling for his neck at home, he would be thinking about Mugabe and his coronation as Zimbabwe’s new president and also about what to do concerning his “very close” friend, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, Nigeria’s Minister of Transport and recent allegation of her involvement in a N30billion scandal.

Investigations of the Obasanjo government took another turn when the National Assembly revealed massive withdrawals by Mrs Allsion-Madueke’s ministry late December 2007. Unsurprisingly, Mrs Madueke has been said to blame this revelation on an on-going plot to strip her of her current portfolio.

Behold some of Yar’Adua’s shady deals as uncovered by Sahara Reporters;

1. Obasanjo gave away import duties worth N1.6 trillion to political associates, businessmen, traditional and religious leaders as well as many female “friends”; there are revelations that Yar’Adua’s regime has given out concessions worth N85 billion to his business and political associates for the importation of cement and fertilizers in the last one year.

2. There’s a fresh PDP memo at the National Assembly calling for the extension of Yar’Adua tenure to 7 years – an official follow-up to senator Turaki’s campaign; a modified version of the third-term agenda you’d say.

3. Current minister o Agriculture, Alhaji Abba Ruma, is angling to become the next energy minister in a cabinet reshuffle due to be effected very soon. He is to re-invest “profits” from fertiliser concessions to play his role in the current PDP/Yar’Adua version of the third-term agenda.

4. Mrs Mdueke’s recent fashion transformation (to dress more like a Muslim woman) may not be unlinked with her “very close” relationship with the president.

5. In a sharp contrast to the case of former Minister of Health, Adenike Grange, and Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Yar’Adua is not keen to call in the EFCC to investigate the N30 billion scandal that has rocked the ministry of transport although reports say he is troubled by security reports that Mrs Madueke had purchased a multi-million naira house in Abuja in the name of her youngest son

6. Yar’Adua went against his transparency policy when according to Sahara reporters members of Adamawa state’s State Assembly were offered a mouth-watering N25m bribe each to drop their impeachment motion against the governor Mr Murtala Nyako.

7. A House of Representatives source also recently revealed that, contrary to his public posturing, Yar’adua did intervene in a failed effort to stop the impeachment of former Speaker, Patricia Etteh. His front was Dr. Aminu Shuaibu Safana, Yar’Adua’s former secretary when he was Katsina Sate governor, who slumped and died supporting Etteh during a rowdy legislative session. His death paved the way for Etteh’s eventual removal.

He may appear slow there is certainly more about this regime than meets the eyes.

These present revelations just leaves one wondering when the era of self-aggrandisement will end among African leaders.

Many opine that political office holders’ greed and selfishness which has been the bane of growth in Africa is actually an “African thing” but thank goodness for the likes of Nelson Mandela. The grandeur at his 90th birthday aired live by AIT is indescribable; it leaves me with the consolation that all hope is not lost in Africa.

Robert Mugabe and Nelson Mandela belong to the same generation (Mugabe is 84, Mandela is 90) It is actually a mater of choice whether this generation would choose to be agents of positive change or vice versa. I refuse to be heart-broken by our leaders’ lack of direction for Africa and Nigeria in particular. Rather, I will position myself to be that agent of change which the world has been waiting for.

What about you?