Great Presidents of Nigerian 4Th Republic: Democratic Nigeria from 1999

Contents

DEDICATION

MAP OF NIGERIA

THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

THE NATIONAL PLEDGE

THE NIGERIAN COAT OF ARMS

NIGERIA

MISSION STATEMENT

NIGERIA, MY NATION, MY PRIDE HAS ARRIVED

POEM: NIGERIA IS THE BEST

POEM: NIGERIA IS BORN AGAIN

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

EPILOGUE

APPENDIX

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

IGBESA GREAT PIONEERING FAMILIES

IN MEMORIAM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BIBLIOGRAPHY

IGBESA ASSOCIATION

WITH MANY OTHER LEADERS LISTED IN THE BOOK!

MILITARY HEADS OF STATE IN CIVILIAN DRESSES

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my entire family members and all great people of Nigeria with special references to my father, Chief R. A. Aka, a traditional doctor; my mother, Mrs. A. Aka and my wonderful children, Miss S. Olubunmi Iyabode Aka, (MSc) in UK; Miss Z. Olayide Aka (MBA) in UK; Mr. I. Olufemi Oloyede Aka in UK and Miss Makayla Tokunbo Aka in USA.

The happiness about seeing my family members succeeding in their various spheres of life endeavours gave me the inspiration to write this book about their fatherland, Nigeria which is rising fast to become one of the world’s economic super-powers before the end of the second decade of the twenty-first millennium-’Vision 2020’. I am proud to be a Nigerian and an African. Nigeria is my home. There is no other place I can call my own. Nigeria is the best land of promise.

I thank God Almighty for giving me wonderful family members. All of them are exceptionally brilliant with wonderful accomplishments that make me happy and proud of them.

The book assures them about Nigeria’s socio-economic and political reforms, the rapid progress and development going on in Nigeria, as well as enormous available opportunities that can make them proud of Nigeria that emerged as the Fourth Republic in 1999. May the Souls of my Parents Rest in Perfect Peace with God (Amen)!

I wish all Nigerians God’s Enormous Blessings. This wonderful and interesting book enjoins all Nigerians to be patriotic and always put Nigeria’s best interest first in all their life endeavours. There is no place like Nigeria!

Nigerian people and the leadership earned tremendous congratulations for the wonderful conduct of the 2011 general and presidential elections which were declared most credible, just and fair in the annals of Nigeria by the International Community unprecedentedly. The journey to the ‘Promised Land’ has begun.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, V. P. Namadi Sambo and INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega deserve international honours for a good job.

WAKE UP ALL NIGERIANS!

JOIN

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN & V. P. NAMADI SAMBO

IN THE FORWARD MARCH TO THE ‘PROMISED LAND’!

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

MAP OF NIGERIA

THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

Arise O’ Compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey

To serve our fatherland

With Love and strength and faith

The labours of our heroes past

Shall never be in vain

To serve with heart and might

One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.

O God of Creation, direct our noble cause,

Guide (thou) our leaders right,

Help our youth the truth to know

In love and honesty to grow

And living just and true

Great lofty heights attain

To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.

The final words of the national anthem were formed from the entries of the best five picks: John A Ilechukwu, Erne Etim Akpan, B A Ogunnaike, Sotu Omoigui and P. O Aderibigbe. A total of 1499 entries were submitted in a competition organised by the National Publicity Committee on the Draft Constitution/Return to Civilian Rule.

THE NATIONAL PLEDGE

I pledge to Nigeria my country

To be faithful, loyal and honest

To serve Nigeria with all my strength

To defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory

So help me God.

THE NIGERIAN COAT OF ARMS

The coat of arms is represented by a shield, two wavy bands, two horses, an eagle and some plants at the foot of the shield.

The shield, which is black, stands for the rich and fertile earth the country is endowed with.

The wavy bands represent the River Niger and the River Benue which flow through Nigeria.

The two white horses represent dignity and pride.

A common wild flower (Coctus spectablis) in Nigeria covers the ground on which the symbols stand, and it stands for the beauty of Nigeria.

The motto of Nigeria Unity and Faith is written on the Coat of Arms.

The wreath is in the national colours (Green and White) and the eagle represents strengths.

NIGERIA

MISSION STATEMENT

NIGERIA, MY NATION, MY PRIDE HAS ARRIVED

Our mission is possible to make Nigeria one of the greatest countries in the universe in 2020. We can do it! Nigeria’s Great Spirit will live for ever to eternity.

I salute ‘Great People, Great Nation, Nigeria The Beautiful’. There is no place like Nigeria. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and Professor Attahiru Jega deserve commendations, national and international honours for April 2011 Nigerian elections which were declared most credible, just, free and fair beyond expectations by the International Community. President Jonathan won landslide with 23 million votes across all parties unprecedentedly.

Nigeria has arrived! Nigeria is born again! Nigerians should move forward in togetherness, oneness, unity and indivisibility in the best interest of Nigeria. Always remember that there is no better place than Nigeria for all Nigerians.

It is not uncommon that some Nigerians see the country’s cup as half empty, but I see the cup optimistically as more than half full, mindful of the arrival of a ‘New Nigeria’, its abundant resources, the unprecedented credibility of Nigeria’s 2011 elections, Nigeria’s potentiality and its ‘Vision 2020’.

Some pessimists wrongly see Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations in the world, but with more than two decades of residency in the Diaspora, I have not seen any country, which is free of corruption, discriminatory practices and election complaints.

Lobbying in developed countries represents well organised, sophisticated corruption at top levels of government (Presidency, Legislature and Judiciary); and it corrupts absolutely. Lobbying effects in developed countries are worse than effects of corruption in Nigeria.

Worthy examples include:

(1) Jack Abramoff, an imprisoned lobbyist and US Congressional Leadership scandals during the time of 43rd US President George W. Bush.

(2) Bernard Madoff of New York, USA was arrested in December 2008 and imprisoned for committing about $75 billion fraud, which was one of the highest ever in the world. His son committed suicide in 2010 for pending related cases.

(3) Bernard Ebbers, former Chairman of WorldCom was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in New York, USA on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 for corporate frauds which resulted in the loss of about 30,000 jobs.

(4) Similar worse scenarios occur in Russia, China, Japan, UK and world-wide daily committed by those who are not Nigerians. Nigerians are not the worst as being stereo-typed.

Many people see Nigeria as the most difficult to rule, but I see Nigerians as the smartest, highly intelligent, highly educated and most blessed, compared with many other countries. Nigeria can be the easiest to rule if the leaders are transparent and exemplary.

Nigeria’s great people are not perfect, but the country is moving forward. Let pessimists wherever they may be, remove the specks in their eyes before telling Nigeria about the dust in its eyes.

Nigerians appreciate God for His enormous Blessings on Nigeria with abundant natural resources as well as His Mercies and Protection of Nigeria from seasonal natural disasters of Tsunami, Katrina, earthquake, volcanic eruptions, deadly thunderstorms, floods, mudslide, landslide and terrible inclement weather situations which wipe-out settlements and kill thousands of people seasonally in many other parts of the world. God loves Nigeria and Nigerians incomprehensibly.

Nigeria’s problems are simple resulting from human imperfections. With socio-economic, financial and political reforms embarked upon relentlessly, the problems will minimize and evaporate sooner than anticipated. There is no utopian country in the world, and above all, there is none without plethora of problems including the developed, civilized and so-called advanced ones.

Nobody is perfect and/or saintly; utopia is illusory; Nigeria is a microcosm of the imperfect world. Always place Nigeria first and be part of the solution rather than being part of the problems.

East or West, Home is the Best! Nigeria is Our Sweet Home! There is no other place we can proudly call our own natural homeland! Nigeria is the Best!

Please Join President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan And Vice President Namadi Sambo In The March To The ‘Promised Land’.

God Bless You!

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

By

Dr. Jubril Olabode Aka (DMS, MBA Aviation, PhD).

Texas, USA.

POEM: NIGERIA IS THE BEST

1

Nigeria, Our Country, Our Noble Fatherland, Is Our Homeland.

Nigeria, The Beautiful, The Resourceful, Is Our Nativeland.

There Is No Other Place We Can Call Our Own Homeland.

East Or West, Home Is The Best; Nigeria, Our Home Is The Best.

God Bless Nigeria; Our Beautiful Homeland Of Blacks.

2

Nigerians Are Great Lovers Of Nigeria; Nigerians Are Patriots.

Nigerians Are The Faithfuls, Ready To March Nigeria Forward,

With Nigerian’s Great Leaders To The Promised Land—The El Dorado.

East Or West, Home Is The Best; Nigeria, Our Home Is The Best.

God Bless Nigeria; Our Shining Homeland Of Blacks.

3

Always Put Nigeria First And Work In Nigeria’s Best Interest.

Contribute To Nigeria’s Development Socio-Economically & Politically.

Promote Nigeria’s Image To Be One Of The Best Among Comity of Nations.

East or West, Home Is The Best; Nigeria, Our Home Is The Best.

God Bless Nigeria; Our Sweet Homeland Of Blacks.

4

Maintain Nigeria’s Polity Unheated, With Due Process And Rule Of Law.

Promote Nigeria’s Tolerance In Diversity Of Ethnicity, Religion And Tradition.

To Become The Greatest In Unity, Oneness, Indivisibility And Prosperity.

East Or West, Home Is The Best; Nigeria, Our Home Is The Best.

God Bless Nigeria; Our Lovely Homeland Of Blacks.

5

Nigeria’s Economic Resources Of Oil, Gas, Bitumen, Iron Ore Etc;

Should Be Protected, Well-Harnessed And Judiciously Managed.

Stop Nigeria’s Brain Drain And Illegal Emigration To Europe & America,

For Green Pastures And Golden Fleece Are Abundant In Nigeria.

God Bless Nigeria; Our Joyous Homeland Of Blacks.

6

Stop Economic & Financial Sabotage—Fraud, Corruption & Treasury Looting.

Stop Capital Flight, Money Laundering & Illegal Oil Bunkering.

Stop Sex Discrimination, Violence, Arson, Militancy & Election Malpractices.

For Nigeria’s Image May Suffer & Drown To The Lowest Ebb.

God Bless Nigeria; Our Gracious Homeland Of Blacks.

7

Uplift The Masses Empathically And Exemplarily; Failure Is Not An Option.

While Living, Strive To Bequeath A World-Class Nigeria To Posterity;

No Procrastination; For You May Never Pass Through This Way Again.

East Or West, Home Is The Best; Nigeria, Our Home Is The Best.

God Bless Nigeria; Our Blessed Homeland Of Blacks.

By

Dr. Jubril Olabode Aka (DMS, MBA Aviation, PhD).

POEM: NIGERIA IS BORN AGAIN

(1)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Congrats, Our 1999 Democratic Nation, 4th Republic, Reborn May 29, 2003.

The Mystery Date, Representing Milestone of Civilian-to-Civilian Transition.

When President Matthew Okikiolakan Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo Launched,

A United, Strong, Prosperous, Peaceful, Just, And Indeed A Great Nigeria.

We Envisage Numerous Bumps Ahead; But United, We’ll Triumph Gracefully.

Wake Up All Nigerians; Glorify God, Credit Obasanjo & Iweala for Debt Relief.

(2)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, The Federal Republic Of Nigeria, Our Fatherland.

Nigeria Stands On Quadruped Pillars: Presidency/Senate/House Reps/Judiciary.

Emulate Zik, Awo, AT.Balewa, A.Bello, Gowon, Obasanjo/Yar’Adua/Jonathan.

Let Nigeria’s Interest Reign Supreme: Presidency, Legislature & Judiciary.

With Team-Work, To Wax Nigerian Polity Stronger & Unheated.

Wake Up All Nigerians; To Turn Stones Unturned & Cross Rivers Uncrossed.

(3)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, The Federal Republic Of Nigeria, Our Fatherland.

The Only Country On Earth, We can Call Our Own, Our Motherland.

The Black Peoples Nation of Nobles, Kings And Queens, Our Homeland.

Though Tribe, Tongue, Religious Faiths & Political Affiliations May Differ,

In Brotherhood We Stand, Indivisible, In Godliness, Forgiving & Forgetting.

Wake Up All Nigerians; Change ‘Business As Usual’; Trust Our Leadership.

(4)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, The Most Populous African Nation Of 160 Million People.

Shun Ethno-Religious Riots, For Godliness Is Peace, Mercy, Grace and Love.

With Tolerance As Key To God, The Peaceful, Omniscient, Omnipotent.

Let Us All In Togetherness Patriotically Strengthen Our Nascent Democracy,

For Democracy Is Catalyst, Pivot, Fulcrum & Aircraft To Our Promised Land.

Wake Up All Nigerians; Be Selfless Best In Serving Nigeria And Humanity.

(5)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, The Benevolent, The Peace And Power Broker In Africa.

Place Nigeria First & Change Behaviour Inimical To Nigeria’s Best Interest.

For That’s What Guarantees Our Economic Survival, Growth And Prosperity.

Translate Our Diversity Into Unity, Strength, Trust, Oneness & Greatness.

Like Legends-A.Bello, Awo, Zik, Balewa, Gowon, Obasanjo, Shagari.

Wake Up All Nigerians; March On Relentlessly To Greatest Heights.

(6)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, The Blessed And Wealthiest Black Nation On Earth.

Stop Corruption, Smuggling, Money Laundering & Illegal Oil Bunkering.

To Sustain And Enhance Nigerian Dignity And Respect In Comity Of Nations.

Always Strongly Emphasize Your Nigerianism More Than Regional Ethnicities.

For One Nigeria Is Bigger, Stronger & Better Than Any/Sum Of Any Parts.

Wake Up All Nigerians; Say, Never To Corruption, Divisionism & Terror.

(7)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, Our Wonderful Land Of Rich Cultural Heritage.

Ask Not, What Nigeria Can Do For You Ask, What We Can Do For Nigeria.

Be Righteous, Faithful, Empathic, Responsive, Accountable, And Peace-Loving.

For Blessed Are The Righteous And Peaceful; The Kingdom Of God Is Theirs.

Help Disadvantaged And Less Privileged; Your Reward Is Abundant & Eternal.

Wake Up All Nigerians; Support Fiscal, Socio-Economic & Political Reforms.

(8)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, Land Of Abundant Human, Material And Natural Resources.

Keep The Nation Indivisible With Freedom, Where No One Is Oppressed.

That The Independence Struggles By Our Nation’s Fathers Are Not In Vain.

Protect Niger Deltans From Vandals, Exploitations & Illegal Oil Bunkering.

For They Are Our Great Kiths, Kins and Hens That Lay The Golden Eggs.

Wake Up All Nigerians; It is Honourable To Be Keepers Of All Our Nationals.

(9)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, Beautified By Atlantic Ocean, Rivers Niger and Benue.

Let Educators Stop Resorting To Incessant Strikes And Lock-Out Tendencies,

For Those Who Suffer Most Are Students, The Future Leaders Of Our Nation.

Please, Ponder More On Students’ Plights And Less On Earthly Gratifications.

For Your Heavenly Rewards & Blessings Are Invaluable, Abundant And Eternal.

Wake Up All Nigerians; Invest Positively And Qualitatively In Nigerian Youths.

(10)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, Land Of Hope & Opportunities For Economic Prosperity.

Help Students Shun Cultism, Gangsterism, Killings & Other Violent Crimes.

For Youths Are Our Hopes And Legacies To Glorious Nigeria Of Our Dreams.

Always Follow Due Process & Rule Of Law Instituted By President Yar’Adua.

For If You Are Not Exemplary, Your Prospective Leadership Chance Is Slim.

Wake Up All Nigerians; Give Our Youths Enabling Environment For Success.

(11)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, One Of The World’s Seven Largest Suppliers Of Oil & Gas.

Ask, What Kind Of Nigerian Are You? Exemplary, Transparent, Optimistic!

Or Pessimistic, Corrupt, Fraudulent, or Economic And Financial Saboteur?

Who Suffers For Labour Disputes, Strikes And Lockouts? The Masses Do!

Evolve Dialogue/Consultation, Conciliation, Non-Violence Of MLK & Gandhi.

Wake Up All Nigerians; Stop Strikes Jeopardizing Nigeria’s Prosperity Goals.

(12)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, Blessed God’s Land Flowing With Milk & Honey.

In 2003 Blessings, Obasanjo Became AU Chairman & Okogie Cardinal.

Nigeria Rose From Pariah Status In 1998 To Most Beloved Nation In 2003.

Hosted 8th African Games & Won, CHOGM & Became Chairperson In Office.

Enyimba Surprised CAF & Universe; We launched Our Satellite Into Space.

Wake Up All Nigerians; To Champion Nigeria’s Advancement To Prosperity.

(13)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, The World’s Largest Concentration Of Black People.

Where One Out Of Every Ten Blacks In The World Is A Nigerian.

Whose Soldiers Sacrifice And Ensure African Socio-Political Stability.

On Peace Missions In Congo, Sierra-Leone, Liberia, Sudan, Lebanon etc.

Engaging In Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation & Security.

Wake Up All Nigerians; You Are The Pride Of All Blacks In The World.

(14)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, The Most Resourceful Nation Of Black People On Earth.

Become Part Of The Solution To Nigeria’s Socio-Economic, Financial; Ethnic,

Political, Religious Problems; For United We Stand, Divided We Fail & Fall.

President Goodluck E. Jonathan, VP Namadi Sambo & INEC Chairman Jega

Got World Accolades For 2011 Elections Declared Most Credible, Just & Fair.

Wake Up All Nigerians; Congratulate Nigeria, Where New Dawn Has Risen.

(15)

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Nigeria Is Born Again!

Wake Up Nigeria, The Blessed Land Of Rising Hope For Prosperity.

Where Oil, Gas, Bitumen & Gold Flow Abundantly In Ogun State, Homeland Of

Awo, Obasanjo, Oyagbola, ‘Tunji Olurin, ‘Kunle Amosun, Aka Olupana, Olagbaye, Banuso, Akinde, Ajo, Odagi, Odunsi, Ojugbele, Odu, Aina, Apesin, Fadun,

With Kings Awujale, Alake, Olota, Olu-Ilaro, Onigbesa & Alado Of Ado-Odo.

Up Nigerians, Join President G.E Jonathan & VP Sambo To The ‘Promised Land’.

May God Bless The Federal Republic Of Nigeria!

Long Live Nigeria!

By

Dr. Jubril Olabode Aka (DMS, MBA Aviation, PhD).

PROLOGUE

Great people, Great Nation, Nigeria has arrived; Nigeria is born again with the 2011 election declared as the most credible by the International Community in the annals of Nigeria, and in its over 50 years of independence. President Jonathan won landslide with 23 million votes. In solidarity and togetherness, the journey to the ‘Promised Land’ begins in earnest with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo leading the way.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, VP Namadi Sambo and INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega deserve commendations, national and international honours for their accomplishments and history-making. They remarkably provided Nigeria with the most credible, freest, fairest and most transparent Nigerian elections in over 50 years of Nigerian Independence and boosted Nigeria’s international image beyond expectations.

This book titled, Great Presidents of Nigerian 4th Republic is meant to appraise Nigerian Presidents and leadership of the Fourth Republic with their contributions to modern Nigerian Nation.

It is to assure all Nigerians and the whole world that Nigeria’s democratic dispensation of the Fourth Republic is working inspite of its bumpy and teething problems in its gestation period. It is on the right trajectory, moving steadfastly and consistently towards the ‘Promised Land—The Eldorado’.

The consolation is that Nigeria’s democratic experiment during its teething, gestation period compares more favourably with the developmental problems encountered by the developed and advanced countries during their revolutionary periods of wars, segregation, discrimination, apartheid and divisionism which almost sank them.

Nigeria has a lot for which to appreciate God for His blessings, safety and protection when compared with other countries that are afflicted by seasonal natural disasters like Tsunami, Katrina, earthquake, volcanic eruptions, thunderstorms, iceberg, landslide, mudslide, floods, wild fires etc. which wipe-out settlements and kill thousands of people seasonally. Nigeria has not witnessed such devastating, seasonal, natural disasters. There is no inclement weather situation or winter in Nigeria.

The hopes and aspirations of many Nigerians were jeopardized by socio-economic and political problems coupled with religious intolerance, coups d’etat, leadership indiscretions, corruption, fraud, militancy, violence, economic sabotage and threats to national security interests during three decades of military dictatorship between 1966 and 1999. Thank God that another era for remarkable changes, hope, aspirations, progress and development has dawned in Nigeria.

The inauguration of the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999 represented the exit and end of the military administration, which was prone to incessant military coups d’etat between January 15, 1966 and May 29, 1999. It marked the beginning of Nigeria’s fourth democratic experiment and Nigeria’s prosperous future.

The road of Nigerian progress effective 1999 was bumpy, full of artificially created impediments, and looked impassable, but with utmost determination to succeed, Nigerians have turned the stones on their paths, crossed the rivers that were deemed uncrossable, climbed the mountains on their way and surmounted most encumbrances that were clogs in their wheels of progress.

Nigeria was tagged a pariah state and ostracized by International Community for human rights violations, corruptions and economic crimes (1993-1998). Nigeria regained its wonderful image within a record time and became beloved world-wide.

This book assures all Nigerians that with a little bit of perseverance and additional sacrifice for the sake of their country and its posterity, their efforts, dreams, hopes and aspirations will be actualized and fully rewarded sooner than anticipated.

Nigeria’s promise, dream, hope, aspirations and prosperous future are achievable goals judging from the efforts and strides of the Fourth Republic to solve Nigeria’s socio-economic, political and religious problems resulting from human imperfections.

Nigeria is blessed with enormous wealth of human, material and natural resources in abundance to make it one of the world’s economic giant nations before the end of the year 2020.

The establishment of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), The Code of Conduct Bureau and other anti-graft bodies are strong valid steps to rid Nigerian society and leadership both in public and private sectors of fraud and corruption.

Once fraud and corruption, the bane on Nigeria’s progress and development is effectively controlled, eighty per-cent of the nation’s problems would have been solved.

The ‘Amnesty Programme’ established by Yar’Adua-Jonathan Administration and continued by Jonathan-Sambo Regime has effectively curbed militancy and insurgency of the South-Southern zone which almost drowned the economies of Nigeria in 2007 and 2008.

The cessation of hostilities with stoppage of vandalization of oil and gas infrastructures has resulted in the restoration of production of oil and gas to full capacity of Nigeria’s quota within the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Nigeria with a population of 160 million people is the largest concentration of Black People in the world. It is one of the seven largest suppliers of oil and gas in the world and one of the five largest suppliers of oil to the United States of America.

Other natural mineral deposits of commercial quantity and world-class include bitumen, bauxite, steel, iron ore, gold etc. The wealth from Nigerian natural resources if prudently harnessed can catapult the country to become one of the wealthiest in the world before 2020.

Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora are versatile, very intelligent and usually out-class those from other countries. Their versatility is sometimes beyond human comprehension. Nigerians often have succeeded where other nationals have failed in academia and many other professions.

Since the end of military administration on May 28, 1999 and the advent of the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999, hope, changes, progress and development have been steadfast, consistent, conscientious and beneficial with unique strides. Nigeria’s forward march has not been an exception to human imperfections and problems which are manageable.

The book dilates on Nigerian political climate pre-dating the advent of the Fourth Republic, which represented almost three decades of military dictatorial rule from January 15, 1966 to October 1, 1979 and December 31, 1983 to May 28, 1999.

This book examines the regimes of the Fourth Republic represented by:

(1) Obasanjo/Atiku Administration (May 29, 1999-May 28, 2007);

(2) Yar’Adua/Jonathan Administration (May 29, 2007-May 5, 2010); and

(3) Goodluck Jonathan/Namadi Sambo Administration beginning from May 6, 2010 after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Each regime of the Fourth Republic was a continuation of the other under the rulership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Prior to the Fourth Republic, the military dictatorial administration (November 17, 1993 to June 8, 1998) under General Sani Abacha of Nigeria was ostracized and Nigeria was declared a pariah state for human rights violations by the International Community for assassinations and imprisonments of political opponents. As at then, the image of the country within Comity of Nations was at its lowest ebb.

Hence, one of the first assignments of the Fourth Republic was to restore Nigeria’s drowned international image and encourage local and foreign investments in the country for its socio-economic and political survival.

Sooner than later, Nigeria’s Fourth Republic under President Obasanjo restored the great image of the country, became peace and power broker in Africa and restored the confidence of International Heads of Governments and foreign investors in Nigeria. The good trend has continued with considerable successes.

The book commends the regimes of the Fourth Republic for establishing anti-graft agencies and laws that confront economic and financial crimes of elites. In the past, Nigerian elites were regarded as ‘sacred cows and untouchables’ for their crimes which they committed with impunity under the false assumption that Nigerian elites were above the law.

The book discusses the benefits derivable from war against economic and financial sabotage, illiteracy, disease, poverty, disunity, divisionism, political intolerance, religious intolerance, secessionism, militancy, insurgency and terrorism. It lays emphasis on Nigerian’s indivisibility as well as what unites Nigerians (Nigerianism).

This book is important to be read by students, graduates, youths, leadership aspirants, leaders, politicians, academicians and other professionals. It appeals to Nigerian society and the leadership to motivate the youths with gainful opportunities that can make them the best that they can be and want to be.

Nigeria’s future depends upon the quality and motivation of the youths who represent future leaders. The book assures Nigerians of a brilliant, progressive and prosperous future.

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

CHAPTER 1

SYNOPSIS OF NIGERIA’S BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The successful and transparent outcome of April 2011 general and presidential elections which were declared most credible, freest and transparent by the International Community in the annals of Nigeria and its 50 years of independence, shows that Nigeria has arrived.; Nigeria is born again. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and Professor Attahiru Jega, the INEC Chairman deserve commendations, national and international honours. President Jonathan won landslide with 23 million votes.

Nigeria with a population of 160 million Black People is representing the greatest concentration of Blacks in the world. It is situated in West Africa with land area of about 356,669 square miles. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the South, Republic of Cameroon in the East, Niger and Chad Republics in the North and Republic of Benin in the West.

Nigeria was a former British Colony principally regionalized into East, West and Northern Regions. It attained independence on October 1, 1960. On May 5, 1967, the Military Head of State, General Yakubu Dan-Yumma Gowon created the country into 12 states in order to encourage and promote self-development, and eliminate the incidences of the domination of the minority ethnicities by the major ones.

Nigeria has 36 States and one Federal Capital Territory (FCT, the Centre of Unity), Abuja. The country is divided into six sub-regional zones of North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East and South-South.

Nigeria is an indispensable member of the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth of Nations and many other distinguished world bodies.

Nigeria is developing a gas potential to become one of the world’s largest producers of gas. Nigeria is one of the world’s seven largest producers of oil and one of five largest suppliers of oil to the United States of America. Nigeria’s diversification into bitumen production will make her the second largest world producer of bitumen next to Venezuela.

It is projected that bitumen, will fetch Nigeria over 1.34 trillion naira annually with estimated deposits of 42.74 billion metric tons covering about 120 kilometres of the coastal belts of Ogun, Ondo and Edo States. Steel deposits also abound in commercial quantities that rank among the largest in the world. The country is also blessed with fertile land that supports mechanized agriculture and large scale food production toward self-sufficiency. The country is very attractive to foreign investments.

The country is a conglomeration of many groups of varying ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural diversities, with three regional dominant languages of Yoruba in the West, Igbo in the East and Hausa/Fulani in the North. The main languages also embrace over 400 dialects.

Four most prominent fathers and champions of Nigerian independence and nationhood on October 1, 1960 included the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, First Premier of Northern Region; Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, First Premier of Eastern Region, First Nigeria Governor-General and First President of Nigeria; Chief Obafemi Awolowo, First Premier of Western Region; and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, First Executive Prime Minister of Nigeria under parliamentary democracy system of governance. On October 1, 1963, Nigeria became a Federal Republic.

Nigeria witnessed bloody coups and counter-coups in retaliation between January 15, 1966 and May 28, 1998, and fought a civil war ended with the spirit of ‘No Victor, No Vanquished’, the declaration of general amnesty, followed by Rehabilitation, Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Reabsorption into Nigerian public and private sectors.

Dialogue, compromise and diplomacy could have avoided the deaths of thousands of Nigerian people as well as sufferings of millions of innocent people before, during and after the civil war. The philosophy of non-violence propounded and applied by Mahatma Gandhi of India and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of the USA to solve socio-economic, political and human problems should have saved Nigeria from the terrible problems created since the first Nigerian coup d’etat of January 15, 1966, master-minded by Igbo young military officers, Ifeajuna and Nzeogwu.

The first military coup that killed Northern (Hausa/Fulani) and Western (Yoruba) military and civilian leaders was organised and championed by young military officers of Eastern Nigeria (Igbo) ethnicity, while their own leaders and kinsmen of Eastern Nigeria were safeguarded. Hence, they allowed loopholes and justification for retaliations from the Northerners.

If the coup was bloodless, non-tribalistic, non-sectional and non-selective, perhaps Nigerians in general would have welcomed it and celebrated it without bitterness for retaliations generationally. Unfortunately, the coupists’ good intentions were mishandled, made bloody, looked discriminatory, appeared selective, and thereby created more problems than they wanted to solve, as a result of their inexperience and youthful exuberance.

The coup d’etat resulted in the assassinations of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, First Premier of Northern Nigeria; Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, First Executive Prime Minister of Nigeria; Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Premier of Western Nigeria; Chief Festus Okoti-Ebor, Minister of Finance; Brigadier Ademulegun, Colonel Kur Muhammad, Colonel Abogo Largema and many others of Northern and Western Nigerian ethnic nationalities with the exception of leaders of Eastern Nigeria (Igbos).

The military coup leaders spared their tribesmen’s lives like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owelle of Onitsha, First Nigerian Governor-General and First President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Dr. Michael Okpara, Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, Senate President Nwafor Oritzu, General Aguiyi Ironsi and many other Igbo military and civilian leaders of Eastern Nigerian ethnic nationalities.

On Sunday, October 3rd, 2010, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Babankowa (ASP, rtd.) was interviewed by Abdusalam Muhammed, a Vanguard Pressman in Kano (Northern Nigeria). He described how he discovered the decomposing body of Nigeria’s First Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa with five (5) others who were abducted in Lagos by the military coup leaders, who dumped them in a forest near a village along Ota-Abeokuta road going northward from Ota City.

He confirmed that the six bullet-ridden, decomposing dead bodies discovered in the forest, were identified as those of the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; Chief Festus Okoti-Ebor, Colonel Kur Muhammed, Colonel Abogo Largema, and two other important associates of the Prime Minister.

The brutal, condemnable assassinations were carried out by heartless military coup collaborators led by Ifeajuna/Nzeogwu, who overthrew the first Nigerian democratic parliamentary experiment and handed power to military dictators beginning with General Aguiyi Ironsi on January 15, 1966. That was the genesis and bane of Nigeria’s plethora of complex problems from which the country has not recovered generationally from the complications created.

Nigerians must forget and forgive the wrongs done to one another and move the country forward in solidarity. Nigerian problems will not solve with violence, coup d’etat or killings with bombs and guns for leadership change. Leadership must change constitutionally and democratically through transparent, just and fair elections.

The overthrow of the First Republic on January 15, 1966 brought in Major-General Aguiyi Ironsi as Military Head of State from January 15, 1966 to July 29, 1966. He was assassinated and Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon was given the opportunity to lead the military government from August 1, 1966 to July 29, 1975. He was thirty-two (32) years old.

He was regarded as the most suitable and acceptable to lead the military government because he was considered neutral, a Christian and because his Senior Officers fled to save their lives. General Murtala Mohammed who could have led the military government was alledged to be involved in the retaliatory coup of July 29, 1966 and could not be as acceptable to lead as General Gowon.

General Gowon prosecuted the civil war with compassion, empathy and Godliness providing chances for negotation and applying diplomacy to avoid the war. Initially, he instituted a police action to arrest the secessionist leaders. The bitter lesson learned is that Nigerians should avoid wars and violence which disrupt investment, progress and development.

General Gowon created 12 states to stimulate self-development and stop the domination, occupation and exploitation of minorities by the majority ethnicities. It is recalled that the majority ethnicities in Northern, Western and Eastern Regions dominated and exploited the Mid-Beltans, the Mid-Westerners and the South-Southerners respectively before the creation of states.

General Gowon paid the Udoji Salary Awards, which provided excess money for Nigerian workers. He won the admiration of Nigerians because the arrears of salaries collected made workers and traders happy in their exchange of money for goods and services. The author of this book used his Udoji Salary Award to pursue postgraduate studies in Brighton, Sussex, UK 1975/76. Ever since then, he has remained grateful to General Gowon, and praising him daily for his leadership and vision. Petroleum was discovered in commercial quantity in Nigeria during the tenure of Dr. General Yakubu Dan-Yumma Gowon as Military Head of State. Nigeria became a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1971.

General Gowon popularly known as ‘Jack’ was overthrown on July 29, 1975 by General Murtala Mohammed. General Gowon was then in Kampala, Uganda attending an Organisation of African Unity (OAU) meeting. General Gowon proceeded to Britain and studied for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Political Science at Warwick University, Coventry, UK. The Doctorate Degree awarded to General Gowon closed the insinuations of August, 1966 that Chief Ojukwu, who had Masters Degree as at then, was more educationally qualified and could not accept General Gowon to lead as Military Head of State and take orders from him.

General Murtala Mohammed took over the military government on July 29, 1975 until February 13, 1976. He created six more states which became 18 in number. Assisted by General Olusegun Obasanjo, he demobilised the military, trimmed down the Civil Service and ensured strict discipline within the Civil Service, the Parastatals and other government agencies.

He restored sanity to the Civil Service. He retired and dismissed thousands of civil servants and parastatal workers who had disciplinary problems as well as those who had reached the age of retirement, but refused to go voluntarily. His six months regime was remarkable for which he will be remembered eternally by all ethnicities in Nigeria. He was assassinated by his own kinsman, a Northerner, Lt. Colonel Dimka.

General Olusegun Obasanjo succeeded General Murtala Mohammed on February 13, 1976. The coup d’etat which killed General Mohammed was foiled and its perpetrators were arrested and executed by General Obasanjo’s regime. Lt. Colonel Dimka, the chief suspect implicated General Gowon by saying that he visited London and discussed the coup with General Gowon. Hence, General Gowon was stripped of his rank and benefits but the civilian regime of Alhaji Shehu Shagari which succeeded General Obasanjo, pardoned General Gowon and restored his full benefits and ranks. The pardon gave him the opportunity to come back to Nigeria without having to answer any case of treasonable felony.

If General Aguiyi Ironsi, Head of State (January 15 to July 29, 1966) had prosecuted and sentenced his kinsmen who staged the January 1966 coup as General Obasanjo did in 1976, Nigerian history today would have been different. Perhaps there would have been no retaliatory coup of July 29, 1966, no mass killings of the Igbos in the North, no secession, no civil war and no dictatorships with attendant dehumanizations that plagued Nigeria for over three decades. All those evils that befell Nigeria might have been avoided, deterred or minimized. ‘A stitch in time could have saved nine.’

General Olusegun Obasanjo continued on the path to return to democratic governance, end military rule, approve a constitution, conduct elections and hand over government to a civilian president. He pursued the agenda and achieved it unprecedentedly. He organised a conference of 50 wise men to produce a constitution for the country in 1979. On October 1, 1979, he handed over the presidency to Alhaji Usman Shehu Shagari who was cleared by the Supreme Court of Nigeria as winner of the election.

President Olusegun Obasanjo could have used the same ignoble tactics and stratagem employed on June 23, 1993 by the Military Administration of General Ibrahim Babangida to annul Alhaji Shagari’s election, if General Obasanjo were a tribalist, a religious bigot or an unpatriotic leader who would prefer his Yoruba tribesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a Christian like himself from the same Ogun State of origin instead of Alhaji Usman Shehu Shagari, a Northern Muslim of Fulani extraction from Sokoto State. It became easy to see how General Obasanjo excels all Nigerian nationals when talking about Nigeria’s best interest, equity, justice, fairness, unity and indivisibility of one Nigeria.

With impunity, General Obasanjo could have installed his Yoruba kinsman, Christian, Chief Obafemi Awolowo from the same Ogun State of origin like himself, as Nigerian President on October 1, 1979. On the other hand, he could have annulled the election on flimsy excuses to rob Alhaji Usman Shehu Shagari of the presidency, just as the Northerners did to Chief M.K.O Abiola on June 23, 1993 and damned the consequences.

Regrettably and sadly, Chief Abiola, a Yorubaman, who won the presidential election of June12, 1993 against his northern opponent was imprisoned and not allowed to come out of prison alive. Above all, his wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was assassinated by the enemies of her husband from the North. It is difficult to imagine how the ‘Judgement Day’ will be and how individuals will defend their actions of inhumanity to humanity while on earth.

Second Republic President, Alhaji Usman Shehu Shagari, Turakin Sokoto, assumed office on October 1, 1979. He was described as follows by the former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroko Nnamani, You are an exemplary figure and represent a clear subjugation to the Will of God. You represent non-aggressive pursuit of political power. You represent man surrendering to the destiny and the Will of God. You represent the good in our society which we want back.

Alhaji Usman Shehu Shagari was toppled on December 31, 1983 when he was just preparing for a second term in office after winning the 1983 presidential election. His kinsman and General Officer Commanding, General Muhammadu Buhari, a Northerner, toppled him and declared war against indiscipline, fraud and corruption. General Buhari and his Deputy, General Idiagbon were successful in their war against indiscipline (WAI). They pursued corrupt politicians who fled the country.

Most politicians and political office holders who were suspected of wrong doings were incarcerated. Nigerian society stood firmly behind the military government of Buhari-Idiagbon.

Then, the military government announced that it would start to probe military contracts that were suspected to be inflated which had corrupted many military officers and civilians. Hence, within a short time, Buhari-Idiagbon Military Administration was toppled by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) on August 27, 1985.

General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida became Military Head of State on August 27, 1985. The regime was characterized with some unresolved controversies like the assassination of Mr. Dele Giwa, a newspaper editor with a letter bomb and the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola, a Yorubaman from Ogun State, in South-Western Nigeria.

Babangida Administration was said to be not well-disposed to newspaper editors who were very critical of the regime. The conflict was so pronounced to the extent that the newspaper editors accused the government of complicity in the assassination of Mr. Dele Giwa, one of the newspaper editors with a letter bomb.

In 1989, Babangida regime adopted a constitution that was fashioned in the United States of America Federal System for transition to democratic governance. It provided for president, bicameral legislature (Senate and House of Representatives) and an Independent Judiciary. Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, a Yorubaman and Muslim won the presidential election of June 12, 1993 that was described as one of the freest and fairest in Nigerian history but it was annulled by Babangida regime on June 23, 1993 without constitutional justification.

The entire country became disturbed and violent. Hence, the military government decided to hand-over to a civilian administrator to prepare the country for new elections within six months. Hence, Military Head of State, General Babangida handed over to Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan on August 26, 1993 to head the Third Republic.

General Babangida remarked that the death of Mr. Dele Giwa was unfortunate but that those who were linking his regime with it were operating from two regrettable perspectives—ignorance and mischief. He explained that the former Deputy Director of State Security Service, Brigadier-General A. K. Togun (rtd.) revealed persistent efforts of security agents to probe the letter bomb episode but encountered frustrating non-cooperation from those whose contributions were crucial to the investigation.

He added that Pastor Chris Omeben, ex-Deputy Inspector-General of Police, a man of God, who handled the investigation, highlighted the frustrations encountered in his book that revealed the whole truth about the investigations conducted on Dele Giwa’s death.

He declared that it was inappropriate to accuse leaders of governments of all things that happened during their regimes. He queried the sanity of blaming every sudden and unnatural death on the government in power. He reiterated that it was idiotic to think that because there was a government in place, it must know about all such deaths. He explained that his administration appreciated the deep national passion elicited by the death of Dele Giwa and offered to help in the burial arrangements, but his regime’s gesture was rebuffed by those concerned.

On November 17, 1993, Chief Ernest Shonekan was toppled by General Sani Abacha who ruled the country until June 8, 1998 when he died unexpectedly. General Sani Abacha ruled the country from 1993 to 1998. He was often described as pathologically ruthless, cruel and brutal, an apotheosis of evil, human rights abuser and nemesis of dictatorship. He was said to be usually dark-goggled and rarely or never smiling. Those who advised him, designed and carried out his policies, thought differently.

Some of his aides and advisers revealed at his death that they operated within the whims and caprices of their boss, General Sani Abacha. When General Abacha died on June 8, 1998 unexpectedly, it was revealed that people jubilated and danced in the streets proclaiming, Never again should the dark days of Abacha ever return; never again should the years of the locusts ever return.

What is equally disturbing is the billions of Nigerian government money of about $5 billion that General Abacha was alleged to have stashed away in foreign private bank accounts. Such money could have been utilized for investment purposes to establish small and medium scale industries in Nigeria to generate employment and thereby create economic stabilization, enhance the standard of living and extend the life expectancy of Nigerians.

Regrettably, some of Abacha’s advisers, aides, associates and friends who rejoiced at his death, curried his favours when he was alive, and they used him to intimidate and exterminate their own opponents. They showered false praise on him out of sheer hypocrisy, and they deceived him by saying that they wanted him to stay on in office and become an elected civilian president.

They told him that he was the best and that he was doing a good job when Nigerians were really suffering, dying of human rights abuses, hunger, poverty and assassination for opposing the maladministration of his dictatorship. As soon as his death was officially announced, those who were benefitting from his dictatorship changed gear and joined the new government to escape reprisals from Nigerians.

During the regime of General Gowon, there was a popular saying, There are not many bad leaders, just advisers. General Sani Abacha did not do all those wrong things by himself, but when he died, most aides, advisers and friends who assisted him, advised him, dined and wined with him and carried out all the nefarious operations which were adjudged to be human rights violations, disowned him and evaporated as if they were never accomplices.

General Sani Abacha did not carry all the stolen government money to foreign private bank accounts by himself, and no close aide or adviser complained during his life-time. His closest advisers used him selfishly and misled him for their personal benefits. Soon after his death was announced, many of his cronies denounced him and joined the government that succeeded him.

In one of the publications of Nigeria Today in 2000, an eminent Economics Professor Aluko was quoted to have said that General Sani Abacha was misunderstood. The Professor was the Chairman, National Economic Intelligence Committee during Abacha regime. He described General Abacha as a disciplined, ‘large-hearted’ leader who was misunderstood by some members of the elites.

He was reported to have confessed that he had pretty ‘bad impressions’ of Abacha which stemmed from the initial impressions he formed of the army and the police soon after leaving Oxford University. He said that his impressions changed soon after interaction with General Sani Abacha.

He commended General Abacha as the most disciplined who travelled out and returned same day. He said that he was surprised by Abacha’s intellect and curiosity. He added that Abacha could take one on some minute details discussed a few years back which could have escaped some other persons dealing with such vast subjects. What a great appraisal of one’s boss!

As Chairman, National Economic Intelligence Committee, what did he know about the truth or false-hood of Abacha stashing about $5 billion of Nigeria’s money in his private bank accounts overseas as well as the high level of economic and financial crimes, fraud, corruption and human rights violations which resulted in the ostracization of Nigeria by the Comity of Nations?

What valuable advisement was given to save Nigeria from economic and financial maladministration and human rights abuses which so much embarrassed the whole world to the extent that the Comity of Nations sanctioned and ostracized Nigeria? What did the advisers and Abacha’s close aides know that they were not telling the world? Was everybody else in the world wrong about Abacha regime except his government officials, advisers, aides, relatives and friends? Did Professor Aluko not smell any rat?

It is human to protect one’s job and be loyal