Thursday, 17 May 2012
GridLock Jonathan And The Baggage Rule By Sonala Olumhense
Columnist:
Sonala Olumhense In 2009, millions of Nigerians joined in objecting to the refusal of President Umaru Yar’Adua to hand power over to his deputy, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan. I numbered among the disgruntled, and in this column, I urged the Yar’Adua team to do the right thing and obey our constitutional arrangements.
When one reviews Nigeria’s history since then—and then prior to that—it seems that Mr. Jonathan, during that time, must have been laughing his head off in his living room at what we were doing. The incredulity of it: Millions yelling and crying because we believed that Mr. Yar’Adua and the cabal—that was when that word became such a dirty annoyance—were betraying the nation and cheating Mr. Jonathan out of his legal right. Millions: Southerners and Northerners, Easterners and Westerners, Christians and Muslims, at home and abroad, dutifully standing by the constitution, and by Mr. Jonathan.
I do not know how hard Mr. Jonathan laughs when he is with his nearest and dearest. But he must have let himself go, again and again, seeing how deeply and seriously the nation was taking the matter.
We did win, of course. Two years later, last week, Mr. Jonathan, having benefitted fully from that epochal development as well as the death of Mr. Yar’Adua, appointed his second head of police, AIG Mohammed D. Abubakar. He replaced Mr. Hafiz Ringim, who had come to symbolize the gross incompetence and haplessness of the government during the Jonathan era.
Although Mr. Ringim had run the police to the ground as far back as 2010 when Nigeria’s official Independence Day anniversary was bombed by militants, he continued to be a member of Mr. Jonathan’s inner circle and one of his most trusted. His influence and power grew in inverse proportion to the insecurity in the land, and Nigerians, high and low, called for him to be dismissed.
Again, Mr. Jonathan must have enjoyed guffaw after guffaw, wondering why Nigerians misunderstand the situation. To prove that point, at the 2011 National Awards, he honoured Mr. Ringim with the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Still the insecurity in the country continued to grow. The horrendous Christmas Day and Kano City bombings were separated only by the nationwide mass protests which greeted Mr. Jonathan’s New Year’s Day hike in the price of fuel. Hundreds died.
Eventually, Jonathan decided he needed to show some courage. And so last week Wednesday, Mr. Ringim was sent away. In his place, Mr. Jonathan, smiling that enigmatic smile that must be the public face of his private guffaw, installed Abubakar.
Many Nigerians insist that Abubakar is a dangerous choice; that Mr. Jonathan does not know he is a discredited religious fanatic who should no longer have been in the force.
Not true. Mr. Jonathan knows Abubakar full well. To say he does not know the man into whose hands he has thrust the police is to insult the presidency. The answer is that Jonathan has chosen Abubakar because he fits the world view to which Jonathan subscribes.
I call it the Baggage Rule: the philosophy that nobody should suffer embarrassment or denial simply because he is corrupt, incompetent or malevolent.
Think about it: only two weeks ago, Nigeria woke up to astonishing revelations of corruption and abuse of office against Mr. Jonathan’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohamed Bello Adoke. The Minister took office only in April 2010, but according to the reports, he has already amassed millions of US dollars and British pounds, and billions of Naira, in several identified bank accounts. No matter; in last October’s National Honours, Mr. Jonathan gave him the CFR and kept him on the job.
Two months earlier, in November 2011, Farida Waziri, the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against whom there had also been allegations of corruption throughout her tenure, was relieved of the post. Speculations were rife that she would be probed. No! said Mr. Jonathan.
In 2010 and 2011, The Punch and NEXT newspapers published various investigative stories on corruption at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that involved the Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and other top officials. Mr. Jonathan responded by re-appointing her to his cabinet in June 2011, and comforting her with the CON thereafter.
Ojo Maduekwe, who is on his way to becoming Nigeria’s new Ambassador to the United States, was dropped from Jonathan’s cabinet as Foreign Minister in 2011. On his way out, he lamented the pathetic state of corruption in the Ministry, and specifically begged the government to probe five of its foreign missions. Jonathan laughed.
But remember: the first person Mr. Jonathan dropped from the cabinet when he became Acting President was Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. Mr. Jonathan fired the Minister, but it was for his role in the bizarre drama during Yar’Adua’s hospitalization in Saudi Arabia, not for the mountain of corruption allegations against him.
Corruption? Last year, Mr. Jonathan brought back “Mr. Fix It” Anthony Anenih, the former Federal Minister of Works who is best remembered for the hundreds of billions of Naira he did not spend on Nigeria’s roads.
Anenih’s job definition was to help Jonathan “win” the presidency. “Mr. Fix It” did not disappoint him.
And now, he crowns Mr. Abubakar, a man previously indicted for religious fanaticism by a federal Commission, and recommended for retirement or dismissal, as our country’s top police man.
Why? Apparently because Mr. Jonathan fully understands the Baggage Rule some of us deny: that in Nigeria, it does not matter what—or how much—baggage, you carry. It does not matter how much of an animal or a criminal you are.
Consider: Ringim’s last act of bravado was to send Police Commissioner Zakari Biu on suspension for his role in the Kabiru Sokoto jail break. Mr. Biu, a man who had been dismissed from the same police force, but who, under the Baggage Rule, continued to rise in it.
The Baggage Rule has deep historical foundations: In 2006, a Joint Task Force set up by Obasanjo allegedly to fight corruption found that 15 State Governors had breached the code of conduct for public officials, and recommended they be prosecuted. It was a heavy panel that included the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); the Code of Conduct Bureau; the Department of State Services; the Nigerian Police; and the EFCC.
The governors indicted by the panel, which was chaired by EFCC chairman Nuhu Ribadu, included one Mr. Jonathan, who was found guilty of several counts of false declaration of assets. Obasanjo’s insincerity may be found in the fact that he went on to appoint Mr. Jonathan, in effect, as Vice-President of Nigeria.
This is all of the proof needed to establish that the Baggage Rule works. It does not matter in what filth you have swum: pastors will bless you, voters will fight for you; people will die for you. And you can choose your own banks.
The Baggage Rule explains why, in 2009, Mr. Jonathan must have laughed his head off when he learned we were fighting Yar’Adua for him. Look back at the passage of time and you will see that in 2006, Jonathan was indicted for a false declaration of assets; in 2007, he was forced to declare his assets; in 2011, he refused to declare his assets.
It is a game: Ringim, like others before him, was not fired; he was released to go and enjoy himself. And it does not matter whom IG Abubakar says he is, the Baggage Rule warns us to be afraid, very afraid.
• sonala.olumhense@gmail.com
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Unbelievable
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 5, 2012 - 15:58.
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Our "man" Jona!
Submitted by Kole Dafe (not verified) on February 1, 2012 - 19:45.
If you are one of the many admirers of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, by the share design of Prof Jega, you will often marvel at the discovery that this man is not possessed with the kind of mind that's used to HARD THINKING! He wanders on, regardless!
THE BAGGAGE RULE
Submitted by EMMA (not verified) on January 31, 2012 - 11:44.
THANKS A MILLION MR. SONALA OLUMHENSE.Your article assures us that there are still some nigerians who are not deceived by the pretending BADLUCK JONATHAN. He is deadly dangeruos and ruthless.HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING.
BUT YOU FORGOT TO MENTION THE FRAUD BY HIS WIFE DURING HIS TENOUR IN BAYELSA. WHAT A "COUNTRY" OUR MONEY IS BEEN LOOTED.
Good jo Solana
Submitted by ONYINYE GANDHI (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 20:38.
I think you have again done an absolutely wonderful job of dissecting the disaster that Jonathan and his gang represent. It couldnt have been better written!
sonala stop chasing shadows while 9ja burns
Submitted by deri (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 01:18.
If the threat by the Islamist fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, to Southerners living in the North to leave or risk being killed sent fear among the Igbo in that part of the country, last week’s multiple bombings in Kano that claimed no fewer than 200 lives in Nigeria’s second largest city, triggered off mass return of the South Easterners to their home land. They needed no further prompting after their apex socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, asked all Igbo living in the state to return home. And the exodus, since it began, has been accompanied by tales of woe.In Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, some of the returnees, who spoke with Sunday Sun, narrated their experience in Kano and their resolve not to go back if nothing concrete was done to arrest the insecurity in the land.
NIGERIA, 7TH POOREST NATION! (3)
Submitted by Okwuchukwu Ezeanyika (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 23:25.
In regard to GOVERNANCE, Nigeria was third to the last; fifth to the last in EDUCATION and HEALTH; and sixth to the last in respect of SAFETY AND SECURITY. But note that this study was before Boko Haram took over the country with their mindless killing machine.
While Nigeria ranked 104 out of 110 countries, Ghana was 78 and the landlocked desert country of Mali was 90.
There are many Orkars and Rawlings in Nigeria. My call to them today is the same call US President Reagan made to the then Russian President Gorbachev to destroy the Berlin Wall in 1987. Reagan implored Gorbachev "TEAR DOWN THIS WALL." I say, "tear down this country because it has never worked for the common man and as it is presently constituted and governed will NEVER work." Again, Sonala, thank you and God bless.
NIGERIA, 7TH POOREST NATION! (2)
Submitted by Okwuchukwu Ezeanyika (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 23:05.
The Index is the global study of the indices that promote and constrain national prosperity across 110 countries. Nigeria is ranked 104 out of 110 countries, which in all intents makes it the 7th poorest nation in the world!! I am aware though that about 100 countries were not polled but the reasons for this were not spelt out by the Index.
Nigeria is only better than the countries of Central African Republic; Zimbabwe; Ethiopia; Pakistan; Yemen; and, Sudan. But none of these countries is the 7th exporter of OIL in the world.
The indices weighted or scored by the Index comprise Economy; Entrepreneurship and Opportunity; Governance; Education; Health; Safety and Security; Personal Freedom; and, Social Capital.
NIGERIA, 7TH POOREST NATION! (1)
Submitted by Okwuchukwu Ezeanyika (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 22:54.
Bro Sonala, thank you for making us understand that what drives governance in Nigeria is not the interests of the citizens but the protection of the avarice tendecies of the President. I say this because if GEJ would allow Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to dictate the appointment of FOUR economic advisers ALL from her local council in Delta State what then prevented him from appointing a person whose antecedents are such that he would cleanse the Nigeria Police and avoid the appointment of Abubakar with his baggage? If that man were from the south and with only a Diploma as formal educational certificate he would certainly not have risen further than the post of CSP.
And Nigeria we hail thee! THE LIGATUM PROSPERITY INDEX 2011 has been released and Nigeria is the 7th poorest nation out of 110 countries polled!!
Solana, that was a wonderful
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 22:18.
Solana, that was a wonderful write up bt with a point of correction IG Abubakar was not indicted by a federal commission but a commission set up by the then governor of plateau state chief Jushua Dariye on jos crises. Please
Solana, that was a wonderful
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 22:13.
Solana, that was a wonderful write up bt with a point of correction IG Abubakar was not indicted by a federal commission but a commission set up by the then governor of plateau state chief Jushua Dariye on jos crises. Please
Thank You SO
Submitted by Adedayo (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 21:11.
Thanks for always giving us insightful articles such as this. I strongly hope we can keep up this tempo of anger till 2015. If we still have a country then, that is.
Is Nigeria finally falling apart?
Submitted by Elmango Meat (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 19:03.
@SONALA, Nigerians forget easily. Imagine 50 years of atrocities.
Atrocities committed by Politicians that took advantage of us continually, with no conscience, sense of responsibility or destiny FOR Nigeria or Nigerians.
This sunday, I write with a heavy, heavy heart.
Is Nigeria finally, IRRETRIEVABLY falling apart?
Are we reliving the prior events that culminated in the 1966 Civil war?
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article...
IBB talks about going back to war at 71 if need be.
Nigerians have been at war with their decrepit leaders since the British left!
Nigeria has failed, and for the first time in my life, I see no one with a solution. Is Bros Jonathan COGNIZANT of the PRECARIOUS SITUATION NIGERIA is in?
Can Nigeria be salvaged?
Is Sovereign National conference too late?
Too many questions.
Do We Really Have Men-Of-God In Nigeria???
Submitted by Senator D (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 18:49.
This is a question that came up in my mind as I read through this piece... I just really wonder!
Nigeria IS, as She should Be.....Failed State
Submitted by Damocles (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 18:09.
A country that has had thieves & traitors as its leaders since 1960, CANNOT expect to succeed! A country that has neglected to provide even the most basic needs to its citizen cannot be called worthy. A country whose people tribalistically side with Looters & betrayers(provided they are my tribe)can NEVER BE GREAT, NEVER!! what NEEDS to be done is known by all, but yet we siddon dey look. The ruling elites must either be coerced to VOMIT every stinking KOBO, they stole & OR BE EXTERMINATED!! There is NOWAY to get around this. You see if they are not compelled to return this money or die, then Nigeria is not A COUNTRY & HAS NO HONOR, and is not worth a bucket of WARM SPIT. So this is our dilema as a people, either we have honor as a country or we dont? I believe I know the answer!
He who has sense should read
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 17:17.
He who has sense should read and take heed.
Tafawa Balewite you be real mumu!
Submitted by E do! (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 17:03.
So you are waiting for Sonala to solve your incompetence and corruption for you? Why are you trying to avoid the obvious that she writer is hammering on: incompetence and corruption can only be resolved by the reverse? I appreciate Sonala's effort to maintain a historical record of PDP's shenanigans. It is a great strategy to make sure nobody forgets. If if offends you, tell your people they must change (that is, eliminate incompetence and corruption) so that Nigeria can move forward. That is the solution Sonala is providing for you, and I applaud him
Your mumu don do!
Nigeria in the Thick Cloud
Submitted by Liberty A. on January 29, 2012 - 16:39.
Nigeria is in the thick cloud of corruption. The leaders are ruders and intruders, lawmakers are law brokers. The way forward seems not really visible. Nigeria needs a sincere leader. Jonathan have no agenda whatsoever to lead Nigeria, it was Obasanjo's 'do or die' politics that gave birth to Jonathan and just to cover Obasanjo of all his atrocities.
Sonala’s article is genuinely stuffed
Submitted by AnonymousKomolafe Akinwumi Sunday (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 16:15.
Abject poverty, religious and political zealotry, constant infrastructural problems--all this, making Sonala’s article authentic, is like a hydra-headed snake not diligently and determinedly tamed by Nigerian successive avaricious leadership class. Critics you had better keep shut.
What a soft but penetrative
Submitted by Ayo (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 15:42.
What a soft but penetrative analysis! The nation is in delirium and only God can cure the insanity
Gridlock Jonathan Indeed
Submitted by Igbiki (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 15:38.
Sonala you are always a delight to read, just keep it up.
As for Mr Gridlock, he'd be gone when his time is up. No seven years no second term and no executed projects or developments.
Let him enjoy his yearly billion naira food money while it lasts.
OMG
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 15:34.
For those saying Nigeria's problems predates johnathan, I'm sure u need ur heads examined. Do u guys belong to this age at all or you are just a throw back to the primitive days of early men? I'm sure Nigeria problems predate ur kinsman, johnathan but so it will also predate the next president after jonathan & the next one after him & the next one after that. So, if u re saying this is an excuse why they should'nt attempt to solve the problems, then I wonder what kind of human you are. Supporting these corrupt & shameless elements won't lead us anywhere. We have been taking for a ride for too long & this is the time something has to give, or we ll forever remain in their shackles. I'm sure hunger doesn't care if u are from the president's home town in Bayelsa. So, why not join hands to make these idiots that made you go hungry pay for theirs sins.
COME BACK HOME
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 15:31.
People paid with their life to make America what it is today. Come home and do something meaningful for ur country instead of being a stranger in another man's country to make noise and sold the seed of discord. What happen to the 53 suitcases during Buhari's regim (ur mentor)? and why's is it now that EL RUFAI is speaking against the govt? bcos no opportunity for him to allocate land to his unborn children.
@Ken Mani:ur attack on d
Submitted by jude (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 15:04.
@Ken Mani:ur attack on d person of d writeris unwarranted.I hate it when people make ambigous pronouncements.You said Jonathan made d best out of the bad situation.Can I ask u sir †̥ name those 'best' he delivered.I frankly agree with you that d problem in Nigeria police and by extension Nigeria pre-dates Jonathan,but unlike you I want an end †̥ it.There's no such thing like slow approach,do you advocate selective fight against corruption?
One other thing,its childish of you to call someone 'fool' because he supported Buhari.I am not against you for your choice of Jonathan,I can only ask how proud are you 10months after?
Pointless ramblings and
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 14:44.
Pointless ramblings and incoherent writing. This is nothing but a uninformative ranting. I am not sure the writer has any information to impart. The author leaves the reader in no doubt about her sense of outrage at the state of affairs under Jonathan but really is not a journalist in any sense of the word.
objectivety
Submitted by BUSARI IDOWU (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 14:08.
Its high time analyst start to analyse objectively. prejudice or subjective and analysis driven by bias mindset is not comprehensive
wonderful sensation!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 13:39.
what a truly investigative report by Solana!
gridlock ebelemi and his patent dwalf pair and surrogate ministers in Aso Rock are another bunch of Nigerdelta/obj cabal like yardua boko haram cabals in today nigeria politics of destabilization are all same Bagage load of lunatics . but Buhari still remain the most qualified of all northern leaders apart from his marginalization and segregation of Alex Ekweme into prison custody while Shagari was spared on a home arrest strategy even when he Shagari did kill Brig Gen Bako without any qualms from Fed Authority. is this a northern impunity of crime monopoly? if not what has Henry Okah and Associates done to make them languish in jail for asking their south owned Oil-land freedom from Nigeria northern babylon system while boko boys of the north are untouchable?
Nigeria Nations of North South East West must go their own separate ways through Sovereign National Conference now or never.
If you are so sure of your
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 13:37.
If you are so sure of your facts why have you not taken them to court.From ur writeup i can see they are jst speculations stop this assasination of pple's character.Am sure if u r investigated u may be more corrupt than them
Gridlock or Goof-luck
Submitted by Emini (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 13:25.
Goof-luck would have been a more apt title. A bright and insightful article as usual from Sonala.
Again, Crticisms - no solutions!
Submitted by Tafawa Balewite - ATBU (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 12:54.
Sonala - personally, what have you done to see to the prosecution of these perceived corrupt officials?
We all living witnesses to Ribadu speaking from both sides of the mouth. He once alleged that Tinubu was culpable while he (Ribadu) was the chair of the EFCC and he also, for all intents and purposes, denounced the same allegation while later running for the presidency under the platform of AD whose numero uno party stalwart is Tinubu!
I think you are part of the problem - never professing any solutions but just calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
The IG case, whom should Jonathan have appointed?
Everybody knows Abubakar's appointment is more political than merit. If you know of anybody better qualified that he should have appointed, while being fair with geographical representation, then, name the person.
Bottom line, come up with solutions/alternatives rather that playing the same boring sonorous - no pun intended - tune every time!
All I have to say is the
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 12:29.
All I have to say is the blood of yaradua is on jonny's hands if he doesn't confess and ask for forgiveness he will have no peace
