CNN International interview with Nigeria's President Obasanjo and USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu on Democracy and Security Issues

Anarchy rules when corruption takes over
By KEN OKORIE

Exclusive commentary for USAfrica The Newspaper, Houston
USAfricaonline.com

Nigeria is a troubled country.  These days, everywhere is abuzz with fear over going home and visitors are rethinking their options when it comes to visiting Nigeria.  Under this state of mind, how does one invite a friend to visit much less invest in Nigeria?  At the height of his brutal regime, most Nigerians believed that the late General Abacha was the worst thing to happen to Nigeria.  Recent happenings suggest we may have spoken too soon.  The current state of fear and feeling of insecurity among Nigerians -- since retired Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo took over in May 1999 -- may be doing far greater damage than Abacha in all of his crudity.  

Without doubt, the ongoing rash of killings all over Nigeria cannot be armed robbery or routine crime.  Something deeper, something more troubling is going on.  PDP National Chairman Chief Audu Ogbeh reportedly shared these feelings in a recent statement from Lagos.  Interestingly, spirited defenders of the former Works Minister, Chief Tony Anenih, whom Abia State Governor, Orji Uzo Kalu, has directly and publicly accused of plotting to kill him have remained silent on Chairman Ogbeh's comments.  One must wonder why?  Both Chief Ogbeh and Chief Anenih are big wigs within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  

Early in March 2004, armed intruders at Alvan Ikoku College of Education shot a Professor to death in his office.  Another Professor was also murdered at the Federal Polytechnic Umuagwo.  Both institutions are located in Imo State.  These incidents have since been followed by two incidents in Edo State: the assassination of the Director of the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), Benin, Mr. H. Ogierakhi and an attempt on the life of Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, Mr. Paul Fashanu Udofe at a PDP meeting venue.  Each of these killings or attempted killings further validates the theory that what we are seeing is not random violence by common criminals, but may be something worse and far ominous.  Society can contain common crime if the rule of law and instrumentalities of governance are duly applied, as they should.  Politically motivated killings resulting from deliberate political designs are far more ruthless and dangerous and can undermine our system of governance.

Governor Orji Uzor reportedly explained to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, nearly Lagos that his life was threatened after he raised questions on how N300 billion earmarked for road construction during Chief Anenih's tenure as minister was mismanaged.  He also voiced disappointment over the manner in which some members of PDP were trivializing the issues, insisting it is not a party problem.  He reportedly had directly confronted President Olusegun Obasanjo over these concerns in a recent Council of States meeting in Maidugiri.  

The bane of Nigeria's problem may be imbedded in this unfolding story.  How could the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, be killed in his house nearly two years ago and there is yet to be an arrest?  How did former Deputy Governor Omisore of Ige's home state, accused of involvement in the killing, win election from jail and without being first cleared of the allegations?  And how is it that the same Omisore continues to be allowed participation in federal Senate proceedings from detention?  Do we now have a clear case in which anarchy rules because corruption has taken over?

The manner in which the President's ruling PDP quickly dabbles into these matters, seeking to transform criminal incidents into party political issues is very ominous for Nigeria.  This pattern implicates a motive to cover up.  When the saga and intrigues of Anambra State governance began last July, the PDP set up a mediation committee that led to the so-called Concorde Accord between Governor Ngige and renegade Chris Uba.  The National Senate President, Hon. Wagbara, led that mediation.  

To be clear, this is a situation where private individuals concocted a plan to remove an elected governor using a phony letter of resignation and the instrumentality of the State's legislature.  Rather than arrest or detain the perpetrators of this illegal hoax, the Police removed the governor's Security detail and has since not reinstated it.  A subsequent attempt to overthrow the governor by the same forces this January was thwarted.  Today, the Governor remains without police protection even after the courts have ruled in his favor.   

In the wake of Governor Kalu's accusations against Chief Anenih, PDP has again engaged itself in night long meetings to "resolve the matter" in the language of Party Chairman Audu Ogbeh.  What Governor Kalu has alleged is a crime, possibly multiple crimes, that may include attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, criminal fraud, abuse of power, among many more.   A political party does not investigate or adjudicate crimes, the police and the courts do.   Meantime Anambra's Governor Ngige and his supporters continue to believe that all that has happened to him is rooted in the Presidency.  In his recent allegation of threats to his life, Governor Kalu has now asserted possible criminal disposition or involvement by the Presidency. These are not just ordinary crimes; they are nefarious crimes that implicate state security.  If proven, they could constitute grounds for impeachment and removal of the President.  These matters are too serious for PDP to keep monkeying over.  They also worsen PDP's image and blemish from the notoriety of widespread rigging of last year's elections.  

These are not indicators of a country that is either normal or secure, or a leadership that can be trusted in such matters.

How does crime become a problem for a party rather than for the police?  Thus far the Police, which is the primary investigative and prosecutorial arm of Nigeria's government, and the Courts seem to have acquiesced to this pattern of constant meddling by partisan political interests?  Granted that many of the recent murder victims have been highly placed PDP members, the criminal nature of the cases is not altered, and it also is no license for PDP's meddling and injecting itself into the criminal justice process.

President Obasanjo recently had a run in with the family of PDP's Chief Dikibo when he trumped any investigation or verification to announce that the death of the PDP chieftain was the result of armed robbery.  Following that incident, many more killings have occurred, the latest of which include a narrow escape by the Governor of Benue State.  His companion, former Nigeria Airways Chief Executive, recently nominated to PDP Trustee, was not as lucky but was shot to death during the encounter.

Add to all of this the declassification announced only yesterday by British underwriters following an agreement by leading Hull War Risks insurers to cancel coverage for vessels bound for Nigeria, and a parallel ranking of Nigeria atop countries presenting high risk characteristics among 50 nations in the world profiled by United States-based A-on.  The picture emerging from all of this is deeply troubling at best.  

Nigeria is a troubled country.  These days, everywhere is abuzz with fear over going home and visitors are rethinking their options when it comes to visiting Nigeria.  Under this state of mind, how does one invite a friend to visit much less invest in Nigeria?  

At the height of his brutal regime, most Nigerians believed that the late General Abacha was the worst thing to happen to Nigeria.  Recent happenings suggest we may have spoken too soon.  The current state of fear and feeling of insecurity among Nigerians -- since retired Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo took over in May 1999 -- may be doing far greater damage than Abacha in all of his crudity.  
As an organized national enterprise, Nigeria is finished when its citizens cannot be sure that their government will protect them that justice will not be allowed to function.  Foreigners will also find little reason to risk even a brief visit much less investing!  I ask again of Nigeria's leadership, and of President Obasanjo personally, what manner of democracy are these anomalies dividends of?

These are sad times for Nigeria.  The problem with maverick Orji Uzor Kalu is knowing where he will surface next.  Sometimes you just want to embrace him for saying the right things; other times he says and does things that make you wish you never heard his name.  Whichever direction Kalu's kite flies in this gathering storm, the words attributed to him, if true, evidence rare courage...the level of courage more people must show if Nigeria is to ever get out of its current deeps!
Okorie, attorney at law, is a member of the editorial board of USAfrica MultiMedia Networks, Houston

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