Summary of Essay 
It is important to note that if that country's post-Abacha crop of politicians who are, without a doubt, some of the most greedy, unprincipled characters seeking public office anywhere in Africa do not put their selfish idiocies in check, the next military ruler will, after taking over power on behalf of the "Military Ruling Council', continue to play the divide and rule game, extend the transition program by another 24 months, erect some ploy and "march" to democratic elections, and hurl the already mangled destiny of Nigeria back into the wretched, failing, greedy and philosophically untutored hands of the army. Yet, one thing is certain, Nigerians have had enough. Their destiny and interests cannot be left to swing from one end of the extreme banality and shameless games being played by politicians and their soldier-politicians patrons. Both have turned Nigerian into their barnyard to play out some of the most execrable, undignified serio-comical political drama in how to destroy and impoverish run a country. Rememebr that Nigeria has some of the best petroleum resources/products in the world, such as its fine, low-sulphur Bonny Light crude oil, yet there is a perrenial shortage of fuel for cars, cooking gas, kerosine, and all other petro-chemical needs of the country. 
 

The death of Gen. Sani Abacha will leave a number of implications for the country. 

First, there is already a polarizing of the military along ethnic lines. The struggle over the issue of the continuing harassment and detention and sentencing to death of soldiers especially from the South, particularly Yorubas, will create more tension within their ranks. Mistrust have destroyed the so-called esprit de corps of the Nigerian armed forces. To paraphrase the title of the book by Africa's most translated novelist Chinua Achebe, Things have fallen Apart! 

Second, the whole charade about Abacha's self-succession would have left many of his shameless apologists and zombies in history's lurch. Their value in the eyes of the community will hit an all-time low and further de-legitimate , really, debunk pretensions to the accurateness of their ill-logic that only ONE Nigerian (Abacha) can rule or be voted for in Nigeria. It's a crying shame 

Third, the military as an instrument of coercion, lording it over hapless Nigerians will be in a very difficult position to continue their dictatorship. Nigerians, are more than likely, going to bring about what syndicated columnist Carl Rowan suggested: The Indonesia Formula, in order to have ONE FINAL CONFRONTATION with the Nigerian army, stare them down and resolve the antithesis to democratic rule. 

The failure or success of such a major task will have to deal with the ethnic jostlings and religious prejudices in the country have made nonsense of a truly national coalition for national democratic representation. The NADECO remains largely a Yoruba-mouthpiece, the EMU, an organ of Igbos and other Easterners while many Northern politicians lined up behind Abacha and his cohorts under the Northern Elders Forum. 

Fourth, another anticipated outcome since Gen. Abacha did not appoint a deputy before he died, is that there will an ethnically-modulated power struggle. The Southerners do wish to have another Northerner rule over them. Pray, a majority of the largely Muslim Northern power mongers seriously believe it is their birthright to rule the predominantly Christian South. Even within the military, the feeling is the same. I believe there will ultimately be a violent quest to hold the hotheaded military horses in check. Some will break from the ranks to be on the side of democratic governance. Many will morally and rightly call for the release of Chief. M.K.O Abiola, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (the only soldier president in Nigeria who handed over to the civilian, elected government of another Northerner, Alhaji Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1979), author and critic of the military Arthur Nwankwo, prisoners of conscience, especially some of whom are my friends in Nigeria and colleagues, such as journalists like Chris Anyanwu, George Mbah and other pro-democracy activists. 

Fifth, Since political power abhors a vacuum will collide within the military and outside, among the civil society. Why will such a clash arise? Some soldiers will, as children of putrid privileges, fight and kill to keep the 'ancien regime.' In the short run, they will frightenm many; in the long run, they will, naturally fail. Why? The spirit and will for freedom of humankind will always overcome the assortment of dictatorial and authoritarian regimes and structures. It will be no different in Nigeria. 

Chiefly, among other reasons, the exponential de-legitimation of the military, neo-feudal clientielism, terrible system of corrupting patronage and a blinding imposition of nepotism at all levels of the dictatorship have made younger officers more powerful than their certifiably superior-ranked officers. Charlatans have made so much money (in most instances, physical cash is given to the volume of millions of Naira) which have become "carrots" to influence and despoliate the values and direction of previously sane and honorable men, organizations and communities. These moneybags and agents of sordid influence have become the military's paws to cajole and where necessary insult the elders and traditional authorities in Nigeria. It has been a nightmare seeing otherwise reputable men fawning and falling on their knees for some filthy lucre. 

It is also interesting that while millions of Nigerian children go home hungry and malnourished, late Gen. Abacha's wife lifted tons of food to Sierra Leone and Liberia to play a role in Nigeria's foreign policy and appear as the compassionate opposite of her husband. Afterall, the imagination of their spin doctors would have been, the Abachas care! 

Sixth, the issue of foreign policy brings into question the position of President Clinton and the later role of U.S role in the power play in Nigeria. Clinton said while we were in CapeTown, South Africa in March this year during his joint press conference with South Africa's president Nelson Mandela that: 
- Abacha can run as a civilian if he wished to 
- some other military dictators had done so in Africa (apparently refering to Ghana's Jerry Rawlings and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni) and made good changes in their countries (see usafricaonline.com). 

Fact is Clinton which gave Abacha the green light to cancel the planned August elections and put in its place a one-man referendum on Abacha for civilain president was ill-advised. His envoy to Africa, Jesse Jackson, also was for engaging Abacha, he told me in widening the room for Abacha "it was not the role of the U.S to dictate who runs for elections in African countries." Why, you wonder was former U.S Ambassador Walter Carrington fighting Abacha's anti-democratic schemes, at the continued risk to his personal safety? Was he led in one direction while the White House had other interests? To be sure, Clinton's comment made the democratizing struggles more difficult, even as his staff tried hard to spin the issue. 

I asked his Press Secretary Mike McCurry in Johannesburg why Clinton was "changing" his government's position previously articulated by his Africa adviser Prof. Susan Rice, McCurry did his best to minimize and contain what was obviously, even if unwittingly, a public relations fiasco. Clinton had placed diamond on Abacha's dictatorial and anti-American throne. Nigerians have not forgiven Clinton for that strategic blunder in Capetown, the land of diamonds. For Nigerians, he is "on their (Abacha's) side." 

Let's back to inside Nigeria. It is important to note that if that country's post-Abacha crop of politicians who are, without a doubt, some of the most greedy, unprincipled characters seeking public office anywhere in Africa do not put their selfish idiocies in check, the next military ruler will, after taking over power on behalf of the "Military Ruling Council', continue to play the divide and rule game, extend the transition program by another 24 months, erect some ploy and "march" to democratic elections, and hurl the already mangled destiny of Nigeria back into the wretched, failing, greedy and philosophically untutored hands of the army. Yet, one thing is certain, Nigerians have had enough. Their destiny and interests cannot be left to swing from one end of the extreme banality and shameless games being played by politicians and their soldier-politicians patrons. Both have turned Nigerian into their barnyard to play out some of the most execrable, undignified serio-comical political drama in how to destroy and impoverish run a country. Rememebr that Nigeria has some of the best petroleum resources/products in the world, such as its fine, low-sulphur Bonny Light crude oil, yet there is a perrenial shortage of fuel for cars, cooking gas, kerosine, and all other petro-chemical needs of the country. 

Finally, regarding the future of my country of natural origin, Nigeria, I can only quote the title of the novel and film by South African novelist, Alan Paton. It goes thus: Cry, My Beloved Country! Why, the geometry of political power in the country is yet to change fundamentally towards true, genuine democratic governance. 

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06/08/98