December 2005
NigerianNews
Letter to the
Editor
PRESIDENT OBASANJO AND HIS DANGEROUS THIRD TERM BID.
December 2, 2005
Dear Editor
On May 29th 1999 Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo was sworn in as the President Of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria. That day marked an end to several years of various forms of
Military Dictatorships in Nigeria. President Obasanjo sworn to abide
and adhere by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of
Nigeria on that historic day.
Recently a lot of hype has been on within
the polity that Our Dear President will be going for the third term in
office .Though Mr. President himself has not confirmed or denied this
rumor going on. Although the recent move by Senate sub-committee which
proposed that Nigeria's presidents should be
allowed a third term in office also almost confirmed the
doubt of some people that OBJ
has a 'hidden agenda' The Lawmakers who are supposed to be truly
representative of the Public interest in Nigeria have failed
Nigerians in many ways as most of them have proved not to be a true
representative of the masses, but rather Legislating to steal or
legislating for the oligarchic elite. How could one explain the recent
move by the so called senate sub-committee which proposed third term
in office for 'Uncle sege'? On whose interest do they justify such
nasty proposal? There is no doubt that this action is for their
Personal egoistic reason because if the President could go for third
term, definitely those legislators will also be eligible for third
term. The likes of 'Alams', Dariye, Nyame would also be qualified for
third term as most of them are in control of the political Machinery
within their individual Political jurisdiction.
In Nigeria, it is a common thing for
leaders to first test Public reaction on Certain dangerous Policies
they want to impose on Nigerians in order to see how public reaction
would be on Such issues. We all know what usually happens before any
major fuel price hike, it always come first as a rumor and then a
reality. We should not also forget how Abacha planned to elongate his
stay in power ,but thank God for the ever vibrant civil societies and
human right groups that forced him out of Aso Rock. The proponent of
third term Bid for President Obasanjo believe he is the only man with
the much needed 'magic wand' to move Nigeria forward towards greater
height. They believe he has done so Much on the Economy and light
against Corruption in Nigeria. They equally argued that there is need
for continuity in the progress made so far by OBJ.They often
Personalized Nigeria state as OBJ personal Estate or Property in their
argument, they often praise him even on the pages of Newspapers
possibly to get recognition or compensation in term of contract or
appointment. If you cannot associate yourself with the so called good
achievement of OBJ then you are the bad 'guy' to Uncle sege .The
people are very myopic about what modern
governance and democracies entails. Why must they Bend our constitution
always in order to fulfill the selfish interest of some
clique? President Mandela did not stay a day longer in office in spite
of his achievement in South Africa, George Bush Jr. will never
consider such undemocratic idea even with his great achievement in the
United state.
These people who are proponed of OBJ
third term bid are political sycophants and never-do-wells who think
only of feathering their own nests instead of promoting what will
move this great country forward. The loud noise about fight against
corruption lately which they based their argument on is part of
political Strategy By OBJ to gain support and sympathy of People in
Achieving is much rumored third term bid. Unfortunately, there is still
so much corruption in Nigeria down to the Presidency and there are
so many sacred cows oppressing the masses with stolen public wealth.
We
see them everyday and some are even warming up for 2007 race with the
stolen money. So what are we talking about? The Economic situation is
so bad that people are tired of hearing different forms of economic
theories and Economy jargon that only work in theory but not in
practice by OBJ and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala which ordinary Nigerian did
not understand. What has those Economic jargons translated to?There is
still so much Poverty during the last 6years of OBJ rule, the Crime
rate is still very
high, we witness Police brutality almost everyday, there is high level
of unemployment in the country. There is low value attach to people's
life by political leaders and Police and Ethnic crisis has killed more
people than HIV in Nigeria within the last six years of OBJ
rule. People want an Economy policy that will reduce hunger, as many
Nigerians are starving. They want Economy Policy that will reduce the
poverty level, the one that will bring food to the table of average
Nigerians, the one that will make Nigerians to thank God for Bringing
them democracy, not the one that will make them to think that their
lives was even better off under Military rule.
It is disheartening, for anyone to even
think up such crazy and
undemocratic idea, although they may try to use ' legislative
abracadabra ' from our dishonorable National assembly members to
give legality to their action. I strongly believe that the National
Assemble still consist of some men and women of honor and conscience.
They should do everything to frustrate the hidden agenda of Mr.
President. I am also very aware that the ever vigilant Civil
Societies and human rights
groups are not sleeping, they are only watching the unfolding scenario
for now. I am also very aware that the ever'Aluta' Conscious Nigerian
Students are also waiting to see the next Move of Mr. President. OBJ
six years of Pseudo Democratic rule has not brought the much desire
happiness Nigerians thought Democratic government would bring them.
Nigeria is not another form of Banana Republic where everything goes,
OBJ should erase the issue of third term from his mind as he will
definitely meet strong opposition by Nigerian as this cannot
definitely be easy as he thinks. Nigerians are too wise for such old
trick and they will not welcome any form of ''sit thightism’’from
Uncle sege. A WORD IS ENOUGH FOR THE WISE.
Ayoade Babatunde
People’s Republic of China.
NigerianNews_Letters_December_2005.htm 