The Obasanjo-is-greatest-president-ever spin
May 1st, 2008 | Published in Governance, Nigeria | 17 Comments
First Nigerian Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr. Vincent Maduka, on Thursday described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the greatest president Nigeria ever had. In a lecture he delivered at this year’s edition of the House of Lords annual lecture and luncheon, Maduka said Obasanjo was not as bad as many people were portraying him.
Of course, Obasanjo is the greatest when compared to the his predecessors - the likes of Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha. The fact is there is really no standard for any meaningful comparison - just yet.
With what have been revealed recently, what makes the Obasanjo’s-greatest-president-ever spin so unpalatable is the fact that Nigerians expected so much from him - and they have every right to. The former president had the power, including the good tidings of fate and a timing so perfect that he could have done better than he did. He tried, but he just did not have it in him to do more than he accomplished. After all no one can do better than their best.
On another note - media report has it that the national assembly will commence an investigation into the transportation sector during obasanjo’s tenure. I feel some legislators are now getting carried away.
Isn’t it time these people sat down and do some real serious work? Like passing the Freedom of Information Bill - the House of Reps. threw the bill out by the way… And how about figuring how an enabling environment can be created for people and commerce?
Nigeria needs to speak on the issue in Zimbabwe - the National assembly can lead the way while waiting for ailing President Yar’Adua to catch up.
How about the Niger-Delta?
Isn’t it about a year since a new government came to town? Knock Knock anybody home?
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:52 am (#)
A joy as always to visit. I am also a fan of “Wake up” from The Matrix.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:08 am (#)
Just I would have love to put it, especially that bit on Obsanjo. It always cross my mind that most of the people criticising him may not even do better than him afterall. The lawmakers took it too far when they started probing El-Rufai, nobody is perfect, where there is any shortcoming on his part. Those going after him today are doing so, because the man has killed the existing “system” which favoured them than us. Has anyone ever ponder how come those they demolished their houses because they are illegal and obstruct the abuja master plan got the plot to build the houses in the first place?
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm (#)
Yes it is true that the Nigerian Legislators dont seem to have much to show for. Yes it could be true that most of Obansanjo’s critics may not even ever do better than him, for they are either chips off the old block or chops of rusted trees. But one thing is clearly not true… Obasanjo is not the greatest president ever. Obasanjo was given the chance and opportunity to be great, but this chance was grossly misused and many things went amiss.
So tell me if Obasanjo was asked this question what would his answer be: Given another chance to rule Nigeria, would he do it same way all over again? I guess his answer if he has the spirit of God in him would be a capital NO. For if he were to say yes, then Nigeria is well and truly done for. So what then would make Obasanjo the greatest president ever?
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 pm (#)
There are indications that Obasanjo achieved the most of all Nigerian presidents, and that is why the talk of him being the ‘greatest prez’ is relevant. But when the baseline is lousy and at rock bottom - any knucklehead can be ‘grea’ in Nigeria. Right?
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 am (#)
Well I suppose he’s a contender for the best ever only because of the level of the competition.
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:55 am (#)
I believe that Olusegun Obasanjo would most certainly be the greatest by at least one standard - girth!
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 am (#)
I believe there is just one word we are missing here and that is
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 am (#)
(sorry for the break in transmission. NEPA took light (tell a lie>>>) - OBJ being the greatest president Nigeria EVER had, he is not. He could be the greatest president that Nigeria never had. Greatest President is not comparative but definitive. Even if we were to compare OBJ administration with his counterparts, Nnamdi Azikiwe was a better president and Murtala Mohammed was doing much better than OBJ did but unfortunately his life was cut short. I state these given the time frame and expectations and level of development in Nigeria at the given times.
Just one more thing, Nigeria will have a truly great president someday but for now, up to todays date, it is yet to happen.
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:01 pm (#)
Zik was a big man as well, wasn’t he?
May 4th, 2008 at 7:50 am (#)
My brother Don you are right, Zik was a great man (big?) and he is the same as named above i.e Nnamdi Azikiwe “Nnamdi Azikiwe was a better president”.
May 4th, 2008 at 10:17 pm (#)
Zik was in power between 1963 to 1966 when Nigeria was a Republic - Zik was the president and Tafawa Balewa the Prime Minister. What exactly did Zik achieve during that period to be a “better president”?
May 6th, 2008 at 12:24 pm (#)
@imnakoya - Prior to Nigeria gaining her independence in 1960 Zik began as an achiever for he was deeply involved in the Independence process and helped Nigeria achieve a bloodless Independence. Zik possesed all the qualities of a great leader and president - He was an intellectual, had GENUINE love for Nigeria, Humble, dedicated without being powerdrunk. He worked hard to remove tribalism in Nigeria. He fluently spoke “wa-zo-bia” - a language of unity and involvement. Zik was charming and had sound diplomatic and communication skills. Zik to me was a very sincere person who introduced a lot of self help schemes and built numerous schools and clinics in post colonial times. Yes he was ousted from power in 1966 by a military coup but this dignified gentleman was still dubbed the “GREAT ZIK OF AFRICA.
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May 7th, 2008 at 3:18 pm (#)
To Omotaylor, you do realize that Zik was not the ruler of the country. We used a parliamentary system back in the sixties and in that system, the Prime Minister is the head of the country while the President is the equivalent of a Royal Head like the Queen in England and just performs ceremonial functions and has no power. Even if the prime minister died, the president would not take over.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:56 pm (#)
Dear Chad, Zik as president of Nigeria post colonial days, did his bit as president (ruler or not) and none of the above assertions are false. Secondly I will contest the assertion that Zik as president was equivalent to Royal status of the Queen. If Zik had no standing then how come he achieved what he was able to.
Talking of Tafawa Balewa, now can I add him to the list of “rulers” in Nigeria that I consider greater than OBJ.
May 8th, 2008 at 5:54 pm (#)
I think you are not really familiar with history or how the Parliamentary System of Govt. works. You did not realize that the Prime Minister is the head in a Parliamentary System. That said, you may have a point; Nigeria with its geopolitics might have functioned more as a dual system with a Presidential/Parliamentary govt. Either way, Zik’s reputation as was Awolowo was made in Geopolitics. Before Independence, Nigeria was divided into 3administrative regions, The West, The East and the North. Zik was the Premier, equivalent of Governor for the Eastern Region. The Governor General, a British Citizen was the ruler or the equivalent of President in our present day system. At administrative (we were stil1 a colony) independence in 1960, Zik was made Governor-General. In 1963 we became a Republic and Zik should have been President. But geopolitics reared its head and the Parliamentary System was instituted to suit egos and ethnic strife, and Tafawa Balewa a representative of the Leader of the North, who was the Sultan of Sokoto (there was no separation between a religious leader and political leader in the North)became Prime Minister and Zik, the President. Either way, history shows that the real power in the 1st Republic was in the Parliament with the executive branch a rubber stamp. Either way, this lengthy historical assessment is to say that Zik’s reputation as a great leader was not made during the 1st Republic but prior as a leader of the Eastern Region and as a founding father of the Independence movement. But if you know of any major achievements of Zik in the 1st Republic or the Parliament controlled 1st Republic in General, let me know. It is what led to the first military takeover. The people were complaining of how useless the politicians were and how the executive branch was doing nothing about it.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:00 am (#)
@Chad - I only dimly remember Tafawa Balewa who I seem to remember was relieved of his head during that coup.
I have a more clear memory of Shehu Shagari, and that is of a man who was nearly as thin as Umaru Yar’Adua is. So from this limited sampling and by this most narrow standard, the presidents from northern Nigeria do not appear to have been as “great” as those who came from either Yoruba or Igbo areas.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:31 am (#)
True say brother Don