It was Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the renowned economist, who made the point that Mr Peter Obi circulated poverty in his eight year reign as Governor of Anambra State. While Mr Obi’s media aide took to name – calling in response, the former CBN Governor backed up his submission with poverty index figures from the National Office of Statistics.  It is becoming glaring to even ordinary people of Anambra State that Obi’s development efforts were defined by deficit of standards and quality. In projects and staff remuneration, the former Governor displayed an addiction for the cheapest categories even as he tirelessly propounded theories of wealth creation. Mr Obi saw no contradiction in paying workers survival wages while he supposedly saved billions of naira for the State. Although the regime boasts of building over 800 kilometres of roads but in reality these are of very poor quality and are gradually being reconstructed by his successor whereas the roads built earlier by Senator Chris Ngige are still intact. But it is not only in economic management that we encounter the poverty of Peter Obi’s vision. The severe limitation of his politics is finally proving to be a cul de sac.

Former Governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, at a press conference sometime in 1981 read out from a document he claimed to be the product of a research by the rival NPN into the party’s shallow presence in the State despite the big names paraded as members. The report questioned the commitment of these members of the party and went ahead to describe them as ‘Ekwueme – in town- politicians.’ It was said of these members of the party that they hardly attended party meetings nor lent hands to building the party in any tangible way and were only to be seen asserting their presence only when the Vice President was visiting the State! This political thought, if it can be called that, has useful relevance in the discussion of Peter Obi’s politics.

Notwithstanding the fortune fate placed on him to play a leading role in Nigerian politics, Obi could not rise beyond incidental politics in the twelve years of his membership of APGA.  Where is the programme of emancipation for the people of the south – east that Obi championed? Where is the plan Obi put up for alliances with other parts of the country? What vision had Obi for uniting the people of the south – east behind a common cause? What agenda for national dialogue did Obi ever set? Did his leadership style permit consultation and consensus with the critical constituencies?

Had Obi the prerequisite leadership qualities, they would have shown even before his assuming office. The circumstances which the denial of his mandate in the 2003 election threw up were such that would have produced a great opposition leader.  There was abundant goodwill to be tapped from the outcry against the daylight rigging of the state’s governorship election. The crude and egoistic display of power by the PDP cabal was resented by Ndi Anambra who would have readily embraced an organized advocacy to demonstrate their contempt for these wreckers of society. No one fitted the bill better than Obi to assume the role of an opposition leader, aggregating public opinion and proffering superior alternatives to the gyrations of the resulting government. As it turned out, Mr Obi filed his petition and for the most part went on with his trading.

Not unexpectedly, the eight years of his governorship had no underlining political or economic transformational objectives. In the absence of a defining mission, Mr Obi resorted to a policy of ‘my relationship with the President.’ Thus, one of his first acts was to ingratiate himself to President Obasanjo. It was with consternation that many watched Governor Obi courting the friendship of the same Obasanjo under whose superintendence, the state had been destabilized and her people traumatized. To underscore the extent of his involvement with Obasanjo, when the impeachment axe dangled over Obi, it was to the sly civilian dictator that Obi ran to for survival strategies rather than to his party leadership. It was only when the same authority that provided the impeachment legislators with police protection advised Obi to lock up the assembly complex that Obi counted his teeth with his tongue, as we say in Igbo.

The raw experience in Obasanjo’s hands notwithstanding, Obi continued with the personal relations with the President policy when the late Umaru Yaradua became President. It was on account of this unusual closeness to Presidents who were of the PDP that analysts at this time began to project that it was only a matter of time before Obi defected to PDP. The obsession was such that even when the late President had been incapacitated by sickness and well meaning Nigerians harped on the need for the Vice President to become acting President, Mr Obi opposed this line of action. Contrary to the demand of overriding national interest, Obi proposed that the ailing President should be let alone to be in office and yet inactive; arguing that there had been examples of state leaders with prolonged illness.

The same man who was so enamoured of Yar’adua’s presidency quickly moved to cozy up to Jonathan once the latter ascended the throne. Obi’s choreographed collaboration with Jonathan is very much fresh in our minds that there is no need boring the reader with the details. But while a Governor Obi maintained a fawning relationship with each PDP occupant of the Villa, what was his attitude to the gestures of his constituents and the fortunes of the party that brought him to power?

For reasons best known to him, Mr Obi largely shielded himself from the people he was supposed to be preoccupied with matters of their wellbeing. Perplexed by the perceived aloofness of his state Governor, Mr Okey Ndibe later described him as ‘self absorbed.’ Obi was wont to ignore cheers from the masses, obviously regarding them as intrusive and hardly went out to engage with the people except when forced by circumstance. Shortly after taking office in March 2006 he jolted a group of APGA supporters he used to call incessantly to carry out services for him  that they should not be seen hanging around Government House; that he would send for them whenever he had need for them!

It has been suggested that the reason Mr Obi created a distance between him and the people was to ward off requests for monetary and other forms of assistance. Some others say the behavior goes beyond that, reasoning that the nearly three months it took Obi to constitute his cabinet was a strong indication of someone who would have run Government with just a few aides if he had his way.

This view gains significant substantiation in Mr Obi’s awful distrust of people whenever the subject was money.  The trader – turned politician had developed the uncharitable mindset of doubting that other people could be trusted with judicious use of money. And since only he could be trusted with honest and prudent expenditure, he had to oversee everything resulting in the snail speed for which his administration became notorious. Government machinery was in some cases crippled by this pathological aversion for collectivism. The Awka Capital Development Authority would not be constituted and inaugurated lest public fund enters private pocket. It was much for the same reason that local government council elections were not conducted until he ran out of excuses and public pressure forced his hands.

As for APGA, Peter Obi could not be bothered about its state except at the approach of elections. Even at that, the fate of APGA outside Anambra State was out of the question. Mr Obi would neither shore up other state chapters of the party nor leave Anambra to campaign for APGA candidates – for fear of hurting his PDP governor friends.  At such election periods, it was a different, humble and friendly Obi who had time for APGA officials in Anambra State and ordinary folks. Subsequently, the people learnt to exact as much as they could from him at election season before he became incommunicado once more.

Given that Mr Obi has no stomach for opposition politics; and has more or less become addicted to Presidential Villa politics, what will he do now that a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph is at the doorstep? With his recent trip to South Africa to check on his business investments, Mr Obi may have begun his retirement leave from politics.

Okonkwo, a community leader, wrote from Agulu, Anaocha Local Govt of Anambra State.

The Path of a Desperate Man Leads to Destruction and Shame!!! President Elect Beware!!!

Bashir Gwandu is at it again, today he is clamoring to be the Minister of Communications Technology in the incoming Administration to be led by Gen Muhammadu Buhari, the President Elect.

Bashir Gwandu thinks we can forget easily, his 7 years stint at the Nations Telecoms Regulatory body NCC, where it all started; Bashir in the 2003 met with Ahmed Joda the then Chairman of the NCC on one of the latter’s trip to the UK had in the instance of one of the daughters of Ahmed Joda sought audience with his requesting his assistance to gain employment into the NCC, he tried severally but did not get a favorably response but he however scuffled his way to hand Alhaji Joda his well crafted CV at the London Heathrow Airport London. It would interest you that at this time Bashir Gwandu did not have the required experience, both professionally and in terms of Managerial skill required for the position coming from a lecturer.

Bashir Gwandu at his ever first meeting as a member of the NCC board vehemently querried decisions already taken by the board prior to his appointment as he was seen shouting down the Chairman and other board members this character are all confirmable from ex board members.

His first Five year term as Executive Commissioner’s was saddled with controversies, malicious plots against his then EVC/CEO and anyone who stood in the way of his ambition to become EVC and succeeding Ndukwe, The then Minister of communications, Late Dr Dora Akunyili, was not spared in Bashir’s antics.

Promoting Ethnic and religious divide amongst commission’s staff his brief stint as caretaker of the commission which he is misinforming Nigerians that he was acting EVC was described a tribal party by some of his colleagues and staff of the commission.

The APC and the President Elect General Muhammadu Buhari must not be fooled by his charismatic exaggerated achievements.

Its important to note that as the incoming President has promised to implement the Oronsaye report, we would expect that both the Ministries of Communication and Communications Technology be fused into one and the choice of the position of the Minister reflect character, Experience and versatility a prerequisite for that position which Bashir Gwandu lacks.

In the international scene, Bashir Gwandu has on many occasions being an embarrassment to the Nation. It’s a fact that The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) the world’s highest telecommunications regulatory body had written letter of complaints with regards the conduct of Bashir Gwandu requesting that he be called to order on several occasion. All these information are confirmable from the ITU & ATU.

In 2013 at the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Bashir openly embarrassed the honorable Minister and head of the Nigerian delegation from the Ministry of Telecommunications Technology, where is posted himself as the head of the Nigerian delegation and independent telecom regulator. These information are all in record and confirmable at the ministry and presidency.

Bashir Gwandu has exhibited times and again the trait of a “desperate man” who would stop at nothing to bring down anyone Including blackmail, and peddling of lies which he would definitely exhibits if this coming administration make a mistake even making his a School Teacher.

It is public knowledge that Bashir Gwandu has been seen in recent times loitering around the President elect of our great Party (APC) and soliciting for the position of Minister of Communication Technology in the new the incoming administration.

Bashir Gwandu out of desperation locked out his colleague Stephen Bello, a fellow Northerner, out of office all in desperation to be EVC, recognizing his antecedents the Administration of late president Umaru Musa Yar Adua, went ahead to appoint another EVC, this did not go down well with Gwandu who consistently tried to undermine the new leadership of the NCC, his cup finally became full when he was sacked by President Goodluck Jonathan for Gross Misconduct, Embarrasment to Nigeria at international meetings and indiscipline as against his very popular claim that he Bashir unraveled fraud with the sale of Spectrum which is a complete and blatant lie.

If you must know he has even corrupted and recruited some innocent staff of the Ministry of Communications Technology and Nigerian Communication Commission of sneaking out very Sensitive official Govt documents to him promising them juicy positions if he gets into office. Gwandu has sleepless nights distributing confidential documents to different anti graft agencies and security Govt offices.

Today he is again on the desperate journey to become Minister, of Communications Technology; I want to use this medium to caution the incoming administration under the leadership of the President Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to tread with caution in its dealings with Bashir Gwandu the self-acclaimed whistle blower. He will not stop at even blackmailing his best friend when he wants anything.

In the case our great party and the president elect decides to zone the position of Minister of Communications Technology to the North, there are other highly experienced and qualified professionals from across the North fit for that position. We however again believe that the Buhari Led Administration is not playing a Northern Agenda anyway rather a Government for all Nigerians.

It is also a know fact that the man Bashir Gwandu is “Corruption Personified” some Mobile Telecom Operators have made allegations that Bashir Gwandu requested financial inducement from them to sign off on type approval applications.

These information are not misleading in the character of the person of Bashir Gwandu please investigate.

–

By,

Umaru Tanko.

Concerned Northern Telecommunications Technocrat.

Titus Terver Mamadu, a scholar in Religion and Philosophy made it clear in 2006, that Nigeria would have been the best country in Africa and one of the best in the world if not that corruption was institutionalized and most of the leaders never saw anything wrong in it. According to him, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida was the worse head of state Nigeria ever had because of so many atrocities and impunity he committed during his era of dictatorship.

I agree with Mamadu after a comprehensive study shows that Babangida was truly the worse head of state Nigeria ever had. Nigerians are suffering today because of so many wrong and self-centred choices he made.

In August 27, 1985, Buhari’s regime was deposed in a peaceful military coup, led by General Ibrahim Babangida, an army chief of staff. During Babangida’s regime, Nigeria experience unmitigated disaster. Corruption was institutionalized in the country. Barely a year later, precisely on October 19, 1986, Dele Giwa, the founding editor of Newswatch Magazine, was murdered through a letter bomb. The General was charged of Dele Giwa’s death but he claimed not to have had anything to do with his death. The nation was noted of insecurity and looseness in high places within this period. This result was the experience of two coups plot that threatened Babangida’s tenure.

On December 20, 1985, it was announced of the first coup attempt. Mentioned as being involved in the alleged plot was Major Gen. Mamman Vasta, Babangida’s best man, an old school and army course-mate, who was then the minister of the Federal Capital Territory. He was accused, together with 13 other military officers. On March 3, 1986, Vatsa and the nine other officers were executed for the alleged plot.

On 27 July 1990, another batch of 42 military men was wasted. The officers had on 22 April 1990 attempted to overthrow Babangida’s government in a bloody shootout. The plotters led by Major Gideon Orkar, had in their speech read on the aborted coup day, accused the head of state of corruption and politicization of the military and insincerity about his transition programme, among other things. On 13 September, 1990 another batch of 31 retired military men was added to the Orkar gang and executed.

Apart from the so many lives lost during Babangida’s administration, there was a great damage done on the economy whose effects have been felt till date. In 1986, the despot introduced the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), as the Panacea for Nigeria’s economic problems. But it was clear after only a few months that Babangida’s administration lacked the strict financial discipline that economic revivalist programmes like SAP entailed. The naira was devalued and all sorts of extra-ministerial parastatals were founded allegedly within the SAP ambit. These included the Directorates of Food, Road, and Rural infrastructure; the Better Life Programme; the National Directorate for Employment and Community Banks. In time, SAP and these agencies had become ready conduit pipes to siphon money from the national treasury. Gradually, the prices of goods were inflated; naira became a worthless currency.

Importantly, there was then an appalling dedication in the living standard of Nigerians. The poor masses suffered from abject poverty and hunger. The out cries were so much that for the common man on the street, SAP was renamed “Stomach Adjustment programme”.

Under Babangida’s administration, foreign debt rose to $30.2 billion. It was this time also that the country witnessed an unprecedented level of capital flight, divestment of foreign investment from key industrial sectors, low capital utilization, outright closure of some industrial concerns and expectedly, unemployment.

Babangida’s rule was again noted with a great deal of inconsistency, chaos and outright activities of armed robbery, fraud and cultism. He was alleged to have siphoned the $12 billion Gulf war windfall even at a time when Nigerians had not enough to live on.

In 1987, two years after assuming power, he announced a transition programme billed to terminate in 1990. But the programme was later extended to 1992 and then to 1993. Billions of naira was spent for each of these programmes that turned out to be abortive. The hope was lost completely when he annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was to usher M.K.O Abiola as civilian president. When the pressure became so severe on him, he finally bowed out of office and handed over to the interim head of state, Ernest Shonekan.

With this kind of evil, I wonder if someone like Babangida will in any way be elected for any political post in Nigeria if he contests.

We should know that whatever we do today in our respective positions as leaders will go down in history book whether good or bad and will affect us tomorrow. If not that Buhari’s military government was known to have made progressive efforts against corruption and fought against indiscipline, he won’t have had the overwhelming support of Nigerians today.