March 29, 2006: These days when Republicans are running away from United States President  George Bush, it is heart-warming for him to hear Africa's first  female elected president, Dr. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia,  commend him: "President Bush whose strong resolve and public  condemnation and appropriate action forced a tyrant into exile and  thanks to you" (the 108th U.S Congress). The tyrant? It's not that dishevelled megalomaniac of Babylon, Saddam Hussein. No. It's the  diamonds-dealing, brutal "president", corrupt, human-rights abusing,  anti-democratic felon from Liberia, Charles Taylor.

On Wednesday March 15, 2006, I had the privilege of watching from  inside the gallery of the U.S Congress, President Sirleaf's history- making, impactful 40-minute speech.

On  Monday, January 16, 2006, the  inauguration of this Harvard-educated woman of substance ended 14 unrelenting years of violence and mayhem in a west African country established, largely, by freed American slaves. She represents the new face of Africa: the progressive and technocratic class, propelled simultaneously by domestic and international sources of support with a dignified commitment to rebuilding her country and parts of the   continent's future.

Then, comes March 29, 2006, at the White House, where Bush also met a few days earlier with Liberia's Sirleaf, new face of Africa; he welcomes Nigeria's President retired General Olusegun Obasanjo, an old face of Africa, to thank him for regional support of the U.S.,discuss "strengthening democratic institutions, and the need to bring Charles Taylor to justice."

Those come against the current background of the outrageous nonsense parroted by hangers-on and political idol worshippers, the philistines of Nigeria's politics who have since become the domestic and international canvassers of the indecent baloney that: Nigeria's constitution must be amended for one man, retired General Olusegun Obasanjo, to govern for a 3rd 4-year term (12 years!). This they,  shamelessly, claim is for Nigeria's survival. Worse, they add that without Obasanjo, there will be no progress, criminality of the political economy will abound and the polity will collapse. Good heavens! The sheer hubris that Nigeria can only move forward only by the "divine" and eternal governance of a 74-year former dictator Obasanjo is simply stupefying and immoral, to say the very least.  Hence, the enabled executors and conductors of this folly on behalf of Obasanjo only remind me of the infamous words of the 17th century  French monarch, Louis X1V (1638-1715) who reportedly said "L'État, c'est moi"  meaning  "I am the State." If only Obasanjo could drive us back to the 17th century; only there was no Nigeria, at the time.

In comparison, while Liberia's Madam President Sirleaf represents the manifestation of the triumph of popular constitutional methods and emerging institutional democratic values in Africa, retired General Obasanjo's imperious, know-it-all, emerging project for a sit-tight  presidency in Nigeria remind us all of the 1970s old Africa where constitution-tweaking soldiers (his colleagues) and power drunks  funnily believed their country's sun rose and shone at their hideous and idiosyncratic say-so. We won't go back there; no; not now that we  have the great Nelson Mandela as our icon, historical benchmark and reference point. Obasanjo makes it difficult for Obasanjo to be a statesman; no doubt, he's a regional leader.

As a specialist on US. and Africa public policy and cultural issues, here are things I'll suggest President Bush tell President Obasanjo, in a short, sweet but realistic summary:

One: the U.S government and its growing population of Nigerian- Americans respect and honor the fact that you've, by accidents of history, been the most privileged (not necessarily the most qualified) Nigerian to lead the country, having served as Nigeria's ruler 3 separate times (1976-79; 1999-2003; and 2003-2007 (as required by the constitution).

Two: U.S. missions in Lagos and Abuja (Nigeria) are fully aware of the ongoing plots, brazen moves and schemes of the (same, yes, same) anti-democratic prostitutes and anti-constitution "evil doers" who in your name like they did with your late tormentor, the brutal dictator and your junior ex-colleague, Gen. Sani Abacha, seek to amend the constitution for your personal benefit. We also take note of the fact you've refused to stop or condemn those charlatans and subverters of "democratic institutions." General Obasanjo, if y'all succeed in your little but dangerous scheme, you'll be governing Nigerians for an unprecedented 3rd-term; really 4th time! No; not under my watch will I subvert some of the reasons I moved against Saddam for never holding honest elections; which as you know has caused the deaths of almost 2600 American soldiers. It's not prudent, for you, General Obasanjo to even whisper the two words '3rd term.' Nah!

Three: that the U.S has a firm position on "strengthening democratic institutions." It has one, clear meaning to all of the civilized, democratic world who are watching your moves in Nigeria: retired General Obasanjo, you have served your constitutionally alloted 2 terms and we know you've mightily benefitted from the resources and government of Nigeria, and age is not on your side. Now, Mr.President, you must leave, come May 2007, to hand over to an able Nigerian (from a talented pool of 146 million people!), a new, technocratic generation, all under fair and free elections. Please, not the type you and the PDP were bulldozed into power in 1999, which my many Nigerian contacts in Houston call (s)election. Then, you can comfortably retire to your farm or just go spend time with your very children and grand-children.

Four: General Obasanjo, note that although I had disagreements on Iraq with a man I still greatly respect, former  president of South Africa, Dr. Nelson Mandela, you must learn from his example of having served  just One term, handed over  to a technocrat Thabo Mbeki, and left with his clout, statesmanship and gravitas more credible than any sitting president in the world, today! You'll leave, even if grudgingly.

Five: because the United States defines  its interests beyond personalities and Nigeria is our "strategic partner in Africa", this government will not be party to any corrupt moves and short-sighted agenda which equates your personal interests and ambitions to the objective, non-personal and law and order interests of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We cannot support  moves  which have, to borrow a familiar Nigerian political-speak "overheat the system." Open up the democratic space for presidential campaigns by other Nigerians towards "strengthening democratic institutions."

Six: Even for all the oil your country Nigeria provides as our 5th largest supplier, I have enough problems with my fellow Republicans on virtually every issue; immigration debates, Dubai deals, Katrina, another hurricane season is almost here, debts and deficits are sky high, gas prices are ripping the pockets off Americans, that evil-doer-in-chief Osama bin-Laden is till at large threatening fire and brimstone. Iraq. Iraq. Iraq. Wait a minute, another breaking news on CNN on Iraq. You can see, Mr. Obasanjo, the liberal American, Nigerian and world media (except VP Dick 'Big Time' Cheney's and my favorite FoxNews channel) are focusing on nothing but violence in Iraq. And, my strategist, "the architect" Karl Rove just handed me a report with my public approval dropping lower than a Texas rattle snake. Listen, we cannot add your self-serving 3rd-term scheme in Nigeria to the truck-load of my problems. Enough already, General Obasanjo. Please, let this be a friendly send-off meeting with you.  

Read my lips: you will leave in May 2007 in order retire with honor, or we'll not take your call or those of your multi-million dollar lobbyists when the heat comes on inside Nigeria. As we say down in Texas, you'll be own your own.

In concluding my suggestions of what Bush ought to tell Obasanjo, may I note that Obasanjo's anything-goes-and any-government-in-power strategists who continue to bleat that "amending the constitution" in hotel lobbies and walled-off venues reflects the "popular will of the people" for Obasanjo to run and govern for a 3rd term. should remember what our pathfinder, our political father, the great Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa) said to the late Ukpabi Asika: no condition is permanent. Obasanjo knows better. I believe that soon, he will dump those mealy mouthed contractors and self-serving partisans to listen to the dignified call of history: leave, even now that the ovation is dying down before you confuse the jeers for cheers! Mr. President, you can, and should fully halt the dishonor of appearing like Abacha. Remember Mantu worked  for Abacha, and he's working for you....???

Nwangwu, an adviser to the Mayor of Houston on international business (Africa), is an analyst on CNN International's Inside Africa, is the Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S.-based professional newspaper to be published on the internet, USAfricaonline.com, USAfrica The Newspaper, The Black Business Journal, BBJonline.com, and CLASS magazine. He is the recipient of the Journalism Excellence Award (1997) and writes commentaries on current U.S. and Africa issues in major newspapers in the two continents, and has served as a panelist at the BBC World Technology Forum in San Francisco, VOA WorldNet television and a number of other broadcast networks.

Related commentary. Why Bush should focus on dangers facing Nigeria's return to democracy and Obasanjo's slipperyslide. By Chido Nwangwu. on the GW Bush-Obasanjo first meeting appeared same day in the Houston Chronicle, May 10, 2001 as 'Nigeria's problem sits across the table from Bush; AllAfrica.com as Why Bush Should Focus On Dangers Facing Nigeria, and a number of other sites and newspapers).

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