Adeola Aderounmu
If you are an ardent reader of The Guardian online or in print, you must have read the series that Abati dedicated to the Bolekaja (feud) Presidency of the Obasanjo-Atiku regime. The matter could at least be left to rest but it will always be interesting and historic to look into some aspects of the events that brought shame and ridicule to the position of highest office in Nigeria-The Presidency.
For the records, Obasanjo was Nigeria’s civilian president from May 1999 to May 2007 while Atiku was his vice president for these 8 wasteful years. From my own opinion, both Atiku and Obasanjo share joint and equal blames for the entire events that occurred during their terms in office. As the third term agenda brewed, Atiku became opposed to the same government which he helped to come to power in 1999 and 2003.
If there was no third term agenda and if Obasanjo did not plan to perpetuate himself in power for life, Atiku would not have seen anything wrong with his Master’s actions and inactions until the latter half of their joint mis-governance. Thanks to the third term agenda, we saw most of the rots (not all of it), corruption and mismanagement of the 2 men who swore to defend our constitution. The third term was the wind that blew which enabled us to see the anus of the chicken.
Regarding the agenda of Obasanjo and the PDP which Atiku belongs to (until lately), Atiku was indeed a disloyal vice-president. Atiku as the vice-president of Nigeria could not have been blind when the PDP rigged elections in 1999 and 2003. He played along diligently and he was waiting for his turn to be president in 2007. Some school of thoughts regarded Atiku as the mastermind behind the success of the PDP at the polls in 1999 and 2003. If that is true, he must be a master rigger of elections! That does not justify the show of shame in April 2007 anyway. Instead it goes to show further that we have fools in power.
In addition, Atiku did not tell us what Obasanjo and his friends have been doing with the treasury. How could we have known that they both connived with other people, family and friends to loot our common treasury? How could we have known how much money they both spent in bribing the National Assembly? If there was no third term agenda, would Atiku have remained forever silent?
By the way, I think the EFCC should be scrapped since these 2 men have not been successfully prosecuted. Someone suggested that Obasanjo should be tried for corruption so that it would be easy to try all the ex-governors that are now hiding or on the run. The days of the stupid immunity are over.
I am not in support of the misdemeanor of Obasanjo and I am also against a vice president who could not resign from a corrupt government in the hope of reaping from the same garden of betrayal. The people Nigeria, more than 140 million were betrayed by Obasanjo and Atiku. While they looted, tour the world and make merry, the people languish in poverty, bitter pain and heavy frustrations.
In 1999, the people embraced democracy and received hopes for better days ahead. All the hopes became hopelessness after more than 2, 900 days. They were promised that there will be no sacred cows but Atiku and Obasanjo left office with more sacred cows than any previous administration in Nigeria. The EFCC that should have been non-partisan became a tool in the hands of one man and chased one of its own-Atiku. What did mamma tell us about those who live in glass houses?
These men are gone now and the evil and disloyalty that they portrayed will live with them for the rest of their lives. In the end what we are reading and hearing is Obasanjo’s legacy-most of it evil and anti-progress. Highly unpalatable! There were a lot of imaginary progresses that were never felt by the common masses.
Atiku does not want to be associated with Obasanjo after parading himself as vice president to Obasanjo for 8 years. It is very laughable. How then shall we write Atiku’s legacy or how does Atiku wants to be remembered? It will never be enough to say that he fought third term to a standstill. It will instead also be inclusive that he betrayed Obasanjo’s plan to be president for life, typical of African dictators.
The issue beyond betrayal is the disloyalty of our leaders to the wish/ will of the people. For the common people, over 70% still begging or living from hand to mouth, these are all distractions and irrelevancies. Nigerians will continue to hope for better days. History has revealed that what successful societies are reaping today was a collective will of the good of all. This is my main gospel and this is the bane of our progress. I am as guilty as the next person; we are not standing up for our rights. When we do, we will make progress and secure the glory of this great country for our children’s children. We are already wasted, no doubts.
A View From The Scandinavian 
I share your thoughts 99% on this one but again, i disagree with the idea that nothing can be done to remedy it. Liberia, which everybody thought had gone bunkers is right now ahead of NIgeria on the safest countries to live in the world. Their new president, has already started out on a lot of reforms that may see that country return to its former glory in a record time.
IN tune, i belive Nigerian can aslo get to that pith. All it takes is a commitment to service on the part of our leaders and a deep sense of purpose, including a strong will.
Yaradua may yet be what we’re looking for, though his accent to power was fraught with huge irregularities. As i tell my friends, lets wait and see.
Only God will judge Atiku and Obasanjo for jointly making ridicule of the whole entity called Nigeria adn completely bastardizing our beloved nation…only God
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ok! 99% is perfect in my dictionary of reasoning.
I know we can make progress in a short time but that will be a difficult concept to sell or buy since we have not put any foot right in as many years.
We have not started on the road to revampment…so when do we want to get to our destination?
For this reason, I think the next hope is not for us or our children but our children’s children. Believe me, if our children miss the chance, we are talking about the fourth generation when you and I are no longer here. Neither these fools anyway.
Our former president told us that democracy is a journey. This is pure fallacy. It means we will travel forever and never make progress; that is if we believe in that statement.
Democracy is not an everlasting journey. In some countries, it is no longer a journey anyway, it is now a process where the people elect their leaders based on issues and not personality or some stupid ego. They also hold their leaders accountable and put them in jail if they steal.
If truly Liberia is making progress, it is because they have taken a positive step. What we have done in Nigeria, again, is to take as many negative steps possible, backwards of course!
Believe me my dear brother, I am a very positive person but I don’t day dream.
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Shut up – that is the advise – if you have nothing to write – either sit at home and count the alphabet or sit at home and recite the national anthem – all criticisms like in the article is so unfounded and unreasonable that it makes my stomach churn out sounds unbeleivably when reading the article.
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Alabi Opeyemi: Try as you may, you cannot take my freedom of expression away.
I feel so sorry for you because you have not made any point.
If you have a stomach problem,why not visit a doctor instead of advertising your shallow mindedness on my blog.
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I think it is easy to sit from afar and list all the problems, infact it is the easiest thing. I have some plans for Nigeria, they are innovations, I don’t want to pour my ideas out on a blog that the first reply would be negative; hence I would wait for my idea to manifest and I will start talking to people.
First and formost, you are so far from Nigeria and it seems you do not regularly speak to people in Nigeria. I phone my friends and they are excited about what’s going on in Nigeria.
You least so many problem to make yourself feel that the problem in Nigeria has no solution, so that you can feel no sense of responsibility. Well you are wrong, as long as you are a Nigeria you have a responsibility to make the country better. You can accept it or not but it is true.
First and foremost, you are in Sweden yeah but you got there from Nigeria, I will believe you did it the right way, then is that not a good point?
You have to change your attitude because he that speaks of problem draws that to themselve regardless of how they say it. I am drawing prosperity to my life and the people around me because that is what I speak of the most.
I remember Nigeria for everything it has given me. It has given me joy of living, no worrying about tomorrow, lessons of respect, lessons of leadership, lessons of what you plant is what you ripe. I think of Nigeria and I remember my school, where I learnt that I was really good at Maths, Economic, and Science. I remember when I was scared but I remember the happy times because they were less that the pain.
Nigeria is a fantastic country and I am going back. I am proud to be a Nigerian, and I am not ashamed of it. My CV has my nationality as Nigerian on the third line. On the second line has my place of birth Lagos. Is that serving me well, yes.
Nigeria also saved my life my serious illness that anyother place in Africa I would be dead.
You talk about Nigeria as if you are ashamed of it, as if you have escaped a place of proverty. My mum a Nigeria also brought me up so well I cannot imagine anyone raising me better.
You have to start thinking and start writing solutions. Discuss ideas you have. Just saying the democracy is useless isn’t a solution. People, not the leaders are the ones that run the country and the cost of petrol being 65 or 75 naira is the last thing on people’s mind.
Obasanjo that you love to blame might just have made Nigeria. You see GSM, was what changed India. Their economy was changed by mobile phone. GSM or whatever they call it now could just be what make Nigeria Economy compete the top economy in Africa like South Africa.
I will continue to be free to say what I feel because I read your article and I feel sad, I read what I say I feel happy. If you are a Christian then you should know faith, believe, and God.
Obasanjo has done alot of wrong by making every 36 states a mess because he runs all of them. I DON’T THINK SO.
Nigeria is on its way up. Why? There are legitimate people becoming rich and richer, that is a sign for me and because some or most people are poor doesn’t mean they should feel sorry for themselves.
I never think of proverty, infact I have never known it because I have only known prosperity in Nigeria for 16 years until 2003.
THINK HARD, VERY HARD ON SOLUTIONS. That is why we go to school to solve mathematical problems div, grad and curl or economical problem like inflation.
You can say whatever you like but the Naira has being stable for about 4 years that is a positive and it means Obasanjo did sometime right. In fact it has always increased since 1984 but decreased for the first time in 2005.
You ask bankers and they will tell you the same thing. It is an exciting time for Nigeria’s economy and if you want you write about the problem then continue.
I have no problem with this site infact I think it is cool. My attitude is why I am in one of the best Universities in the world and I thank my country Nigeria for that.
I am coming back immediately I finish Uni, my first job will be working for the Nigerian people. If I have my way I will country my University studies in Nigeria but my mum wants me to finish then I can do whatever I want to do. RESPECT.
If you think I don’t know what hard is then think again. But I am alive, I am intelligent, smart, and most of all a proud Nigeria what more can I ask for.
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I think it is easy to sit from afar and list all the problems, infact it is the easiest thing. I have some plans for Nigeria, they are innovations, I don’t want to pour my ideas out on a blog that the first reply would be negative; hence I would wait for my idea to manifest and I will start talking to people.
First and formost, you are so far from Nigeria and it seems you do not regularly speak to people in Nigeria. I phone my friends and they are excited about what’s going on in Nigeria.
You list so many problem to make yourself feel that the problem in Nigeria has no solution, so that you can feel no sense of responsibility. Well you are wrong, as long as you are a Nigerian you have a responsibility to make the country better. You can accept it or not but it is true.
First and foremost, you are in Sweden yeah but you got there from Nigeria, I will believe you did it the right way, then is that not a good point?
You have to change your attitude because he that speaks of problem draws that to themselve regardless of how they say it. I am drawing prosperity to my life and the people around me because that is what I speak of the most.
I remember Nigeria for everything it has given me. It has given me joy of living, no worrying about tomorrow, lessons of respect, lessons of leadership, lessons of what you plant is what you ripe. I think of Nigeria and I remember my school, where I learnt that I was really good at Maths, Economic, and Science. I remember when I was scared but I remember the happy times because they were more that the pain.
Nigeria is a fantastic country and I am going back. I am proud to be a Nigerian, and I am not ashamed of it. My CV has my nationality as Nigerian on the third line. On the second line has my place of birth: Lagos. Is that serving me well, yes.
Nigeria also saved my life my serious illness that anyother place in Africa I would be dead.
You talk about Nigeria as if you are ashamed of it, as if you have escaped a place of proverty. My mum, a Nigerian, also brought me up so well I cannot imagine anyone raising me better.
You have to start thinking and start writing solutions. Discuss ideas you have. Just saying the democracy …. is useless because it isn’t a solution. People, not the leaders are the ones that run the country and the cost of petrol being 65 or 75 naira is the last thing on people’s mind, not everybody knows the price of petrol unless you own a car or drive one.
Obasanjo that you love to blame might just have transformed Nigeria for the better. You see GSM, was what changed India. Their economy was changed by mobile phones. GSM or whatever they call it now could just be what make Nigeria Economy compete the top economy in Africa like South Africa.
I will continue to be free to say what I feel because I read your article and I feel sad, I read what I say I feel happy. If you are a Christian then you should know faith, believe, and God.
Obasanjo has done alot of wrong by making every 36 states a mess because he runs all of them. I DON’T THINK SO.
Nigeria is on its way up. Why? There are legitimate people becoming rich and richer, that is a sign for me and because some or most people are poor doesn’t mean they should feel sorry for themselves.
I never think of proverty, infact I have never known it because I have only known prosperity even in Nigeria for 16 years until 2003 and forever.
THINK HARD, VERY HARD ON SOLUTIONS. That is why we go to school to solve mathematical problems div, grad and curl or economical problems like inflation. We don’t go to school to write problem but to know how to solve problems.
You can say whatever you like but the Naira has being stable for about 4 years that is a positive and it means Obasanjo did sometime right. In fact it has always increased since 1984 but decreased for the first time in 2005.
You ask bankers and they will tell you the same thing. It is an exciting time for Nigeria’s economy and if you want you write about the problem then continue.
I have no problem with this site infact I think it is cool. My attitude is why I am in one of the best Universities in the world and I thank my country Nigeria for that.
I am coming back immediately I finish Uni, my first job will be working for the Nigerian people. If I have my way I will continue my University studies in Nigeria but my mum wants me to finish then I can do whatever I want to do. RESPECT.
If you think, I don’t know what hard is, then think again. But I am alive, I am intelligent, smart, and most of all a proud Nigeria what more can I ask for.
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Glo-Thanks for reading my blog. You are always welcome back at anytime.
First, if there is someone who has the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians at heart, I should be one of the most remarkable person in my community in Festac. I am not going to tell you about my entire profile this way but just believe me that for more than 10 years, I gave back all that I could in Nigeria. One of my assignments included GA at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos. Generally,I taught in Nigerian schools for more than 10 years (but I was never employed in the real sense).
I started teaching when I was 18. For a few years in between my University education, I taught in my alma mater and I did it for free. In no time, about a dozen of my friends joined me and we made name in Festac. This was around 1992/93.
In subsequent years, the school decided that I shouldn’t work for free and they gave me contract employment for the rest of my teaching years at Festac Grammar School. I taught there in this way until 2000.
From 1990 to the day that I left Nigeria, I taught in many other places including my own private lesson-Excel Consult. I cannot continue with other things that I did positively, I’ll end up with the story of my life.
I love Nigeria and I seek the peace of it. I served my primary school, I served my secondary school, I served my University and department(s), I served my community and I probably have some of my ex-students in the country where you live.
My name is Adeola Aderounmu and you can do your searches and investigation when you get to Nigeria, if you really have the time. Then you can come back to me and tell me if I have been doing anything or not to solve Nigeria’s problem.
I gave my best, selflessly. I am a good leader and a dedicated teacher. I will do all I did again if given the right terms and conditions. I prefer to be unemployed in Sweden than to be unemployed in Nigeria. I gave myself a job and a life after my University years. Nigeria offered me NOTHING. Nigeria offered thousands of her University graduates peanuts or nothing at all.
Indeed, I live in Sweden but I have been back in Nigeria 3 times since 2002.The last time was in 2006. So, really I know what is going on in Nigeria and all my family live there.
I talk to my family and friends every other day. I was still in Nigeria last christmas, so I know what I am talking about when I list the problems.
On december 26 2006, I sat inside my car at a gas station for 4 hours before I could get fuel. I looked around me as I sat in the car alone and I saw the sufferings and pains of Nigerians, the pain of my friends and family. You know what? TEARS began to flow from my eyes, I cried loud in my car like a baby. I didn’t cry for the fuel situation only but for the rapid collapse of the system. Believe me, I drove myself around in Lagos. I saw things with my own eyes. Things were not even that bad even 4 years ago!
There is lawlessness and recklessness spelt all over the place. Nothing can show the rotteness of the last administration that the fact that many Nigerians now imagined then that there was absence of governance in Nigeria.
What I saw last christmas was not the Nigeria of my dream. I know that Obasanjo does not run the 36 states directly but you may not agree with me that he does indirectly.
Can you tell me why 8 years was not enough to have a functional refinery in Nigeria? What is wrong with highlighting the problems of Nigeria? If we don’t know the problems and if we don’t write about them, how can someone know that there is are problems to be solved?
Someone is paid to fix all these problems that plagued Nigeria. Don’t you realise that the common people who are taxed in Nigeria do not enjoy the benefits of the taxes?
Talking about solutions, this is the essence of governance. If those in government cannot solve the problem of the people, then they deserve to be criticised. Why did they go into politics if they cannot serve in the right way?
Haven’t you realised that corruption and greed is the bane of our problems? Don’t you realise that the evil and decay in Nigeria is because you and I do not unite in our struggle to get rid of those who steal our common wealth?
I don’t blame you anyway, you have said that you didn’t suffer at all in Nigeria. I did. I have gone to bed many times in my life as a child without food on the table. One night, I made rice and because there was no electricity, I didn’t know that candle had dropped in the rice. The taste was unusual and the rice became a waste. I had saved my pocket money for several days to be able to buy that cup of rice, I was just about 15 and I didn’t get dinner. I wept,like millions of children in Africa.
Your parents could afford to send you to school abroad. Mine couldn’t. My ticket to Europe in 2002 was lent from my cousin, my friend and my eldest brother. I paid back to each one to the last kobo. When I was studying in Stockholm and borrowing from people to stay alive…I was lucky to get a scholarship. But my school in Nigeria cancelled my Graduate Assistantship: they said I cannot be getting scholarship abroad and be earning GA salary back home. That was the beginning of the end of my phd ambition. There were other reckless statement from my department and I began to orientate myself to life without a phd. I submitted my thesis in UNILAG but I never defended it.
So,my friend..I wish you goodluck with your studies and success with that dream of yours.
In Nigeria, I suffered but I didn’t complain much…there was no way to make my voice heard under the kind of system that we had. Thank goodness for internet and blogs, I am now letting out my views in the strongest way I can. No one can take that away from me, it is my right to freedom of speech, expression and opinion.
Let me lend you a phrase. People can give you something and take it back (if they like) BUT what you have with you will never depart from you. You always go with what you have into a system and you can get out (by choice or force) with what you have and what you gained in that system. This is one of my philosophy about life. It has helped me a lot. I am always happy that what I have, I hold, and tightly too.
There is a lot I can tell you my brother.The experience is there and the knowledge is flowing.
I will save the rest of my argument. But I will keep writing the problems because the people who are in charge must learn to do things the right way. That is the reason they are there in the first place, to serve and to solve the problems of the citizens. Not to steal and loot.
You have been a lucky man, people born or raised with silver spoons CAN NEVER share the views of the people who lived everyday of their lives a a struggle. There is no way fortunate people like you can share the views of those who cross the sahara desert to southern Europe!
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To say I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth will be untrue. I grew up in face me I face you, but I never saw myself as poor. When I was hungry, I had more than 50 mothers who could feed me. I learnt how to live with difficult people, it made me stronger and anywhere else is easy. I am not going to write anything that will make me greater because I am not. Success and failure is all in the head.
I have lived in a world of prosperity and as long as I have my brain then I will never be poor, or lack anything. Everybody has a gift and what makes me angry is the fact that people say every Nigerians are thieves which is wrong.
There are good people and as I said before I have plans for my country that will a least change the lives of the people that have helped me get to where I am today.
When we complain we also complain to God, and say he is bad. I wake up every morning thanking him and taking whatever I want. God said ask and we will receive. Plants do not grow with stress, and then we God’s children should never suffer. I never suffered and I never saw myself poor but that does mean I won’t ask God for a better life.
What we are is greater than our best imagination of our fantasy world. I only think positive and whatever I lay my hands on will prosper it does not matter which country I am in. People who are bad will be blind to my business.
You are what you think of yourself. I think of myself as …
I have being telling my friends this principle and it is working like magic. God is not a liar, he said ask and you will receive. However if you ask for prosperity and you complain of poverty, you will not be rich.
I was blessed by having great minds around me. My tomorrow will be better than today. People are being told lies that their lives will never get better and you know what they do, they pity themselves. Self pity is the excuse most people have but never say. I will never pity myself. I will stand and ask whatever I want and work towards it.
Can I change Nigeria? Yes and No. Why? Because I don’t know if I can yet. For Nigeria to change people need to know who they are first. I am intelligent, smart and handsome.
What we proclaim is what will be that’s why I have being trying hard to tell you to write about one positive thing about Nigeria. WHEN YOU SAID NIGERIA GAVE YOU NOTHING, my eyebrows rose.
When I read your blog, it remains me of what is going on here; blacks always doing poorly in exam, black always involve in crime… So many negative things about blacks and people are embroiled in that.
WHAT they do not know it what makes me angry. They told know they are being told lies, they don’t know they can be whatever they want to be, they don’t know they have the intelligent gene, they don’t know that they were the first engineers ever, they don’t know they were the first doctors, they don’t know they were the first Mathematician.
They have being told lies, that they don’t have options than to settle for nothing. People in Nigeria should stand up and be counted. People should create jobs and not wait for the president to create jobs. Look at Europe and tell me if most people work for the government. Nigerians are among the brightness people in Africa, and they must start changing the economy by themselves. We are told lies that things will never be enough. So we become greedy. It is more than enough to go round, it always is.
We keep blaming people for our situation. WE SHOULD BLAME OURSELVES. WHATEVER SITUATION WE ARE IN TODAY IS BECAUSE OF US NOT BECAUSE OF OBASANJO OR EVEN ABACHA.
Why are some people rich? Are they lucky? Yes, if the HARDER THEY work the luckier THEY GET.
We must stop complaining and start asking what do people need? What can I see apart from the obvious? We need to create jobs. We need to get up off our back and start making things happen.
Nigeria for all the problem people talk about only lack in two areas electricity and to a lesser extent in education. What can you sell? Is it better education? We all have a responsibility to our country. My country has given me so much and I don’t intend to have my family abroad. Prosperity is all I know. Complaining will never do anything to change the situation. NEVER. THE PROBLEM WILL STIR IN YOUR FACE AND MAKE YOU FEEL SICK.
SOLUTIONS WILL CHANGE THINGS. It is time for innovators, people with different ideas, people who can transform Nigeria without getting involved in politics. It is time for a change, a change from the inside. Time for students to say teachers you have a responsibility to teach me and I have a responsibility to pass. We have to change our mentality from, what can my country do can for me to WHAT CAN I DO FOR MY COUNTRY. The people who have thought this way are the people who are among the richest in the world, Bill Gates being one of them.
We need SOLUTIONS, when you begin to find them, then you are on your way to creating jobs and ……….
How can we change the educational system for the better?
How can we people aware of their rights not just from man but from God?
How do we solve the problem of electricity?
How do we reform the constitution?
What do we need to change?
Until we change our mentality as Nigerians, our problem will continue. I see myself as——-
My brotha there is a way.
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I also know what pain but I will not dwell on that because to be honest nothing good comes from it. I have seen things too, things I can’t say. Don’t think I have cried…
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