IBB, Atiku, Jonathan, All the Same

Nigerian politicians are at it again, trying to outmanoeuvre themselves for the big prize; the proverbial national cake which all these years has been treated like war booty by the leaders.  There is no serious debate about how to move the country forward developmentally. There is no serious debate about providing jobs, and basic utilities of water, electricity and health care to the people. There is no serious debate about curbing the worsening security situation in the country. And of course there is no serious debate about providing Nigeria with selfless leadership. The debate has been about nothing but who among the oppressive elite political class gets the drivers seat next time around.

To these politicians, some of whom have been there and done nothing for the people, it is just another opportunity to foist their avarice on Nigeria.  They grab and grab and keep taking without giving. Obasanjo ruled that country longer than any single person yet no one can point to any major achievement of his.  It was his military regime that Nigerianized foreign corporations by decree. It took the much maligned Abacha to reverse that with the Enterprise promotion Decree which opened up the road for foreign investors to return to the country.
Babangida's performance needs little thinking to recall. Is it the annulment of the June 12 election?  Is it the improperly managed devaluation of the naira and the attendant economic downturn? Is it the political charade that preceded the June 12 election. The same man is planning to go round asking people to vote for him.
What about Atiku Abubakar? It was Atiku's PDM that made it possible for Obasanjo to be President in 1999.  Too bad Obasanjo outsmarted all of them at the end, from Chuba Okadigbo who was removed as Senate president early in the Obasanjo government to Atiku whose ambition was scuttled by his former boss.
Despite his personal issues with Obasajo, Atiku presided over his own empire of booty sharing from the Vice presidential wing. He is definitely not the messiah Nigeria needs.
What about Joanthan? I don't know but he has acted like he is just comfortable being President without doing much.   One cannot point to a particular direction the country is headed under him. He promised political reform but reform does not end with the appointment of a radical professor as electoral commision chairman.  What has he really done as President? Oh! he banned the Eagles from international competition.
Really who is out there?