Is Obasanjo running a military-commando type
'democracy' in Nigeria?
By EJIKE OKPA II
Special to NigeriaCentral.com and USAfricaonline.com
Surely,
the invasion of the Apo Legislators Quarters, Abuja, especially of
the official residence of the President of the Senate, on June 2,
2000 by a strong contingent of the Nigerian Police reflected a
terrible case of executive lawlessness by Nigeria's emerging
government. Ostensibly, the police mission was to "capture" the mace
of the senate and to intimidate the person and family of the
President of the Senate by 5 a.m.
My question is, what type of democracy are we practicing and why must the official residence of the Senate president of Nigeria be invaded without his prior knowledge? What role is the judiciary playing in this whole saga? Is President Olusegun Obasanjo (a retired army general) running a military-commando type of democracy whereby he can use all force necessary to get his way?
Has he obasanjo gone to the senate to tell his story why he is not getting along with senate President Chuba Okadigbo? Also why is the Mace not kept at the office under the full protection of the Senate security? Does the sergeant-at-arm take the Mace to the residence after each senate proceeding? Does the speaker of the house also take the House Mace home during such a recess?
These issues and entire development about our type of democracy is disappointing and very 'annoying'. For the past one year, considerable energy was devoted to nothing. In my assessment, the first one year of Nigeria's democracy has been a resounding failure and it does not appear there is any end in sight.
If Obasanjo and other politicians in Nigeria expect that this behavior will endear us to the world, we will find out soon that nobody cares especially in our ability to attract direct foreign investments. Nigeria is like a sick baby and nobody knows what will really work. The baby cannot speak for himself/herself and no one has come close to saying any reasonable thing that would help diagnose the problem before a cure can be prescribed.
I pray that some divine intervention intercedes to help us.
Nigeria, unfortunately I must say, is headed towards a colossal
failure with actions like the recent executive-inspired raid on the
legislature. Our own brand of democracy seems a variation of military
rule. I expressed my concerns long before the 1998 presidential
elections; and many did not pay attention.
Okpa, a real estate businessman and consultant, is based in
Dallas, Texas. He is business bureau chief for The
Black Business Journal
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