Obasanjo’s book, Abacha’s loot, Buhari’s fourth chance…issues that defined the last week

The action never stops: the signals of what to expect in 2015 keep getting closer and clearer; our economy continues adjusting to the tides of falling oil prices; insurgency seems to be weaning more souls off the face of the earth. From relative non-violent primaries to unending ‘verbal pugilism’ in the political space, the past week was a mix of the good, the bad and definitely the ugly. Here are 10 defining moments.

OBASANJO’S BOOK ON THE CLOCK

Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former president, launched a three-piece memoir titled ‘My Watch’. In this book, Obasanjo narrated his life in and out of Nigeria’s political scene, though with more emphasis on the scene. Prior to the launch of the book, Buruji Kashamu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state, obtained a court injunction to halt the launch of the book. Obasanjo, in his authoritative style went on with the book launch against court orders. Leading conversations in the Nigerian political arena, hitting out at enemies, applauding and highlighting Goodluck Jonathan’s “insincerity” to his word not to run for presidency in 2015, could this book have come at a more opportune time? Was it clocked for a time like this? Was the release for the political safety of Obj?

ATIKU THE DEMOCRAT GIVES BUHARI 4TH CHANCE

It is going to be the fourth chance for Muhammadu Buhari, a retired general, to contest for the highest office in the country. He won the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s primary election, reportedly held after Atiku Abubakar vehemently opposed the idea of fielding a consensus candidate. Though Atiku came in behind Buhari and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the governor of Kano state, he is still seen as the member of the part who insisted on true democracy. And, yes, he was the first losing aspirant to congratulate Buhari, a step it took immediately Buhari’s votes surpassed his – far before the former military president was officially declared winner of the primary.

Buhari has another opportunity, just like 2003, 2007 and 2011. Having lost three previous elections, would he be able to take over the reins of government this time around?

DID APC TRULY CONDUCT GUBER PRIMARIES?

Critics of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the party of lacking internal democracy, speculating that rather than conduct primary elections, the party leadership would pick a candidate of its choice. However, APC conducted gubernatorial primaries that may have proven its opponent wrong. Some are still of the opinion that the party just conducted the election as mere formalities, alleging that the results were known long before the elections started. A prime example is the case of Akinwunmi Ambode, who had been reported winner of the gubernatorial ticket in Lagos long before the election held. In the light of all these, can we say APC really conducted primaries?

IS SOYINKA A PARTISAN PROFESSOR?

Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in literature, compared President  Goodluck Jonathan and Suleiman Abba, the inspector general of police, with biblical king Nebuchadnezzar for what he called their “brutish” rule. He lamented the role of the police during the crisis at the national assembly in November, wondering why the “representatives of the people” were prevented from carrying out their duty. He referred to the scaling of national assembly gates and fence in order to have access to the chamber as the finest hour of the Nigerian lawmakers.

Reacting to Soyinka’s complaint, the president’s spokesman Doyin Okupe said the scholar’s comment was based on his “meals” at the table of the opposition. This entire situation has left Nigerians asking if the revered professor has gone partisan and if it’s a crime for him to do so.

CORRUPTION VERSUS CORRUPTION INDEX

Transparency International released the 2014 edition of its perceived corruption index, which shows the level of corruption across 175 nations of the world. Nigeria came out as 136th of the 175 countries rated, making it the 39th most corrupt nation of the world. Denmark was ranked the least corrupt, while North Korea and Somalia ranked the most corrupt. Nigeria’s rating this year was two points better than that of last year and the same with its 2012 rating. The country garnered 27 of 100 points in 2014, 25 in 2013 and 27 in 2012. Does this tell the true story of the state of corruption in the country? Has lesser cash illegally exchanged hands in the last one year?

EXACTLY HOW MUCH IS ABACHA’S LOOT?

Nigeria is a blessed nation, but our curses are literally at a par with our blessings. We are blessed with unending resources, both human and mineral, but we are cursed with the plague of heinous leadership and professional looters. Since the death of former head of state, Sani Abacha, one country or the other keeps turning in his loot. In 2012, Switzerland returned $700m; in 2013, another N3.2 trillion was uncovered. Just last week, Nigeria was notified of another N36 billion refund of his loot! So, how much exactly did Abacha loot in all? Will we ever know?

AN OATH FOR APC’S PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS

Loyalty has become a problem in Nigerian politics; cross-carpeting, which used to be for the shameless, has now become a “champagne popping” phenomenon in Nigeria. Politicians now jump boat as long as the current boat is not sailing in their favour. In view of this, the All Progressives Congress (APC) made all its presidential aspirants sign an agreement not to leave the party after the primaries. Would this agreement be binding? Time would tell.

BOKO HARAM AGAIN

In the last four weeks, no incident has been in all the ’10 top things of the previous weeks’ save Boko Haram. The insurgents have struck consistently for the past four weeks, with at least two attacks in a week. A fortnight ago, it was attacks in Maiduguri and Damaturu. Last week was Jos. Scores of innocent citizens have died.

Two female suicide bombers struck at Monday Market in Maiduguri on December 1, leaving not less than 10 people dead and many others injured. The case was slightly different from Damaturu, which was under gun attack by the dangerous sect, leading to a 24-hour curfew within the town.

ALAS! THE NAIRA RISES

After the naira hit a record low of 187.55 to a dollar based on the Central Bank’s shifting of the band of the naira from 155 to 168 to a dollar, the naira rose again. On Tuesday, after the central bank intervened three times to lift it from yet another record low, the naira rose to 181 to a dollar.

The naira closed at N181 against the dollar, up 3.6 per cent from its early session low of N187.55. Naira closed at N184.10 on Monday. As oil prices stay persistently weak around five-year lows, the Central Bank, has been struggling to keep the naira trading within its new band of 160-176 naira to the dollar. The naira has lost 12.3 per cent this year, and may even plunge deeper into the drop before year end.

WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG WITH NIGERIAN PRISONS?

The ‘revolution’ started in Kirikiri where two were reported to have been killed in an attempted jailbreak, which Abba Moro, the minister of interior later dismissed as mere riot. The move went on to Kogi, where two marshals of the federal road safety commission were killed, with at least 144 inmates missing. At the turn of the just-concluded week, scores of inmates escaped from the federal prison in Ado Ekiti, although 193 of them were later recaptured.

Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan replaced Aminu Suley, acting comptroller general of prison, with Ezenwa Ekpendu as substantive controller-general of prisons, yet another incident of jailbreak was witnessed in Minna. With over four jail breaks in two months, we should ask ourselves what exactly is wrong with Nigerian prisons.