Let me start by congratulating the Ebora Owu on his newest title of Baba Onigbagbo Ogun (leader of Christians in Ogun state) conferred on him by the Christian Association of Nigeria Ogun state Branch on Sunday 26th February 2017 in commemoration of his 80th Birthday. This is a position that should make Baba speak the truth no matter the condition he finds himself but alas it wasn't so. On Monday 27th of February 2017 at a Programme organised by the Kaduna State Chamber of Mines and Commerce Chief Obasanjo added another lie to the existing third term lie among other lies that have refused to go (thanks to Elrufai for confirming what we know in his book The Accidental Public Servant that indeed there was a Third term agenda that failed).
Chief Obasanjo challenged Nigerian youths by asking them what their generation will do for Nigeria. He stated that his generation fought for the unity of Nigeria and laid the foundation for democracy but he has forgotten that his generation also undid the two things they did for Nigeria. His Generation fought for unity of Nigeria and still introduced disunity in like manner. The democracy that was given to Nigeria by his generation was a fake one as it was "lootocracy", a democracy that is based on looting, looting and looting.
The evil done to Nigeria by Obasanjo's generation is unequalled and unparalleled. Obasanjo and his contemporaries like General Muhammadu Buhari, General Sanni Abacha, General Babangida, Dr Goodluck Jonathan among others are the reason why Nigeria is at the zero point we are today.
Nigeria gained independence in 1960. That independence was truncated by Obasanjo’s fellow military men when we had the 1st coup and General Aguyi Ironsi emerged as the President of Nigeria. The casualties of the coup included the Prime Minister Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the Sardauna of Sokoto Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of the Western Region Samuel Akintola, the finance minister Festus Okotie-Eboh among others. These shining stars were lost to the coup plotted and executed by Obasanjo's generation and Nigeria has not remained the same since then. After this there were coups and counter coups including the one involving Obasanjo in 1975 that saw to the removal of General Yakubu Gowon from office and the circus continued until "democracy" came back fully in 1999 with the same Obasanjo as President of the Federal Republic.
The coup activities of the military regime were the first actions that created division in our country. The same Unity that obasanjo's generation claimed they fought for. The coups were plotted and executed based on religion and ethnic colouration and till today the fruits of those ignoble actions are being reaped by Nigerians. Apart from the coup, these generations destroyed the common wealth of Nigeria and positioned us for the breaking point of today.
The military governments headed by Obasanjo's generation were characterised by looting, state sponsored assassinations, mysterious disappearance of people from the country and other evil vices. When Major General Buhari as a military officer toppled the democratically elected Sheu Shagari from office in a bloodless coup in the year 1983 and they took over the reins of power with his deputy Major General Tunde Idiagbon. they were succeeded in leading the country into its worst economic mess, the value of the Naira dropped and there was hardship everywhere coupled with the fifty two suit case issue too. So what has obasanjo's generation done for Nigeria?
After a period of time, Buhari was removed in a palace coup by General Ibrahim Babangida in the year 1985. The Babangida tenure was a continuation of the maladministration of the Buhari regime, from assassinations to looting and other vices including the introduction of the failed Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP); this tenure stood out. Under the leadership of IBB the Evil Genius (as fondly called) late Dele Giwa was killed in a parcel bomb on a Black Sunday. That was the first and only time that a Nigerian had died by parcel bomb and this was long before Boko-Haram started deploying bombs everywhere. Under General Babangida the June 12 election which was adjudged the freeest and fairest Election in Nigeria's History was annulled for no reason. Till today what happened to the 12billion Dollars oil windfall under Babangida remains a mystery. His Minna mansion and other properties acquired by him and his fellow officers are from state funds. So what has obasanjo's generation done for Nigeria?
As if that was not enough a greater evil befell Nigeria under the leadership of General Sanni Abacha, another man in obasanjo's generation. Abacha dissolved the interim government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan by forcing him to resign. He came into power and the looting continued with more assassination. From Chief Alfred Rewane to Kudirat Abiola and others it was killing galore and the looting was unprecedented. Even Obasanjo escaped Abacha's death offering by luck. Till today the Abacha loots have not been recovered fully by the federal government of Nigeria. So what has Obasanjo’s generation done for Nigeria??
In the year 1999 democracy returned to Nigeria and Chief Obasanjo emerged as president and he served a complete two terms from 1999-2007. Between these eight years Nigeria experienced so much drama under the man that came to office with less than 1 million Naira in his account but left as a billionaire in 2007 (well done Sir). Under the leadership of Chief Obasanjo corruption became a part of our lives as it was found everywhere. Under his watch there was stealing by all and sundry under his government. He was taking his own, same as his Vice President and other members of his kitchen cabinet. Democracy was a sham as the tenure was a continuation of his military regime. The leadership of National assembly was removed severally due to obasanjo's interference with their activities. When it was time for his Third term agenda bid he introduced bribery into the National assembly via his Ghana must go message.
He tried his very best to elongate his tenure but he failed woefully. Under his tenure as President 16Billion dollars was expended on Electricity generation but we ended up generating darkness. Till today Obasanjo has not explained how the money was spent. The National Assembly under the leadership of Dimeji Bankole set up a committee to probe the issue but in the long run it failed as Obasanjo refused to appear before the committee. The rest as they say is history...today Obasanjo is a billionaire with lots of interests such as Ota Farm, Bells University and other numerous properties. So what has obasanjo's generation done for Nigeria??
The maladministration of Obasanjo’s generation continued with the Government of Yar’adua/ Goodluck Jonathan. This Government will be in competition with Abacha's tenure based on corruption perception index. It was all about looting, looting and looting. We can't forget so soon the missing twenty billion dollars among other looted funds as was revealed by the EFCC. So what has obasanjo's generation done for Nigeria??
The same Muhammadu Buhari that was a beneficiary of a coup that removed Shehu Shagari from office in 1985 is now the President of Nigeria after winning the 2015 Presidential election and as it was in 1983 so it is in 2017. The Nigeria economy is experiencing its worst recession in twenty-five years courtesy of the Muhammadu Buhari led Government. The security situation is still a mounting challenge. From the north to the south it's all shades of civil unrest and terrorist attacks and our President is currently in London on medical treatment after campaigning against foreign medical treatment. It's ironic that Obasanjo's generation didn't build a world class health system for Nigeria. So what has obasanjo's generation done for Nigeria??
After Fifty years of independence Nigeria is not in the league of developed nations in the world. We are still battling with corruption, poor civil service, a poor human rights record, unemployment, election rigging and other vices. So what has obasanjo's generation done for Nigeria??
Now what’s the way Forward? Three things that marred their generation include corruption, nepotism and lack of innovation. Youths should participate in politics to replace the gerontocrats who have refused to leave the stage. Acts of corruption should be eschewed as corruption stunts the growth of nations when the national commonwealth is pilfered away, therefore accountability should be our watchword. We should see ourselves as patriots and put Nigeria first. The unity needed by Nigeria will come when we place Nigeria first and this will douse ethnic uprising as found in the actions of IPOB members and others. Youths of this generation should be innovative in their doings so as to confront the problems of economic downturn, unemployment and security challenges confronting the country.
With this our generation will be able to do something remarkable for Nigeria.
The present youth of Nigeria have done more good than harm to the image of this country; from sports to technological development, entertainment, activism, innovation, government and other sectors. They've shown the world that Nigeria has better things to offer the world than what was placed in our hands by Obasanjo's generation.
Adesina Tosin Nathaniel is a Forward Looking Nigerian Youth
For more of his writings visit www.donteewrites.blogspot.com
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