General Agwai’s exit

The first thing that came to my mind was that this must be Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau who now serves as the coordinator of security at the APC presidential campaign organisation.To me that was expected of a military officer whose tenure was terminated by share political arithmetics of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration when he […]

The first thing that came to my mind was that this must be Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau who now serves as the coordinator of security at the APC presidential campaign organisation.
To me that was expected of a military officer whose tenure was terminated by share political arithmetics of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration when he wanted to shed off the government he is now disclaiming of the toga of all Yar’adua vestiges. General Dambazau like many others in his shoes, Admiral Iko Ibrahim et-al, got the booting of the new acting government and forces just because they needed to consolidate in power.
I was however shocked but not surprised when a few hours later a friend told me that it was General Martin Luther Agwai, who while speaking at the birthday lecture in honor of General Olusegun Obasanjo that made that statement. The first thing that crossed my mind and I muted was that the government would definitely sack him by Monday. It didn’t come on Monday, but on Tuesday. This shows the predictability of this government and a confirmation to the low and weak character that it is made of.
What General Agwai spoke about at the party represents the general view of majority of Nigerian citizens and it takes courage amongst the upper social class in the country for anyone to dare say anything like that. The general said it and I am sure, knowing fully what the likely implications of that reality would be.
This government is so predictable to the extent that immediately anybody even within its rank takes a position that it feels uncomfortable with, there exists no decorum, tactics or even the political finesse and they will act in a manner predicted. General Agwai said his mind which as said earlier, remains the overwhelming general aspirations of Nigerians who desire that the ‘good work’ this government has been doing and advertising, is just enough for us all.
What Nigerians are saying as captured succinctly by the general is that it is time to give another set of Nigerians the opportunity to try and see if the nation could face the direction of progress. This confusion we all are saying is enough and Nigeria cannot afford anything less than this. This is the minimum we can get from our government. Anything short of this will mean something tragic.
I am happy to note that during the week it was equally widely reported that the presidency is accusing the chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu of what looks like disloyalty or insincerity. Whatever! The reality that Aso Rock and their agents across the nation are not prepared to accept is that the cry all over the country is that of yearnings for change. Nigerians are yawning and the conclusion certainly will be change and peace and reconstruction shall come after that; a renewed attempt at nation building. From all intents and purposes, it does not appear that the state as currently constituted has the capacity to deliver the nation and its people to the ‘Promised Land.’
On Wednesday, the bulldozer in the senate, David Mark, forced Musliu Obanikoro down the throat of Nigerians as a ministerial nominee through confirmation. Obanikoro’s nomination was greeted with steep opposition from Nigerians, especially those who desire to see free, fair and credible elections take place and roots in the country. The PDP and its officers are celebrating what Obanikoro was said to have committed as a minister of defense in the Ekiti elections. They desire to see that replicated in the southwest as the only guarantee to their winning the presidential election on March 28.
Well, the Ekiti saga in my view was committed while the other parties were not aware or not expecting it. The Osun elections however, were a counter to that. I am sure Obanikoro and other executive touts would not have a place in the southwest any more. It is possible that if it were in any other part of Nigeria, it could be repeated but the southwest is way ahead in Nigeria in terms of consciousness and by implication can stand up to any such pranks from no matter what quarters.
General Agwai has said his mind and the government has done its worst. Who the loser is, we soon will see. A government that cannot tolerate dissent from within its ranks is certainly bound to face the wrath of failure in the short or long run. I hope those who direct this government have some elementary lessons in history.
If General Obasanjo, who is the alpha and omega in bringing this government on stream, could be made such an outcast that is despised, those who are on the seat of power today should begin to imagine what befalls them when the Nigerian people eventually choose to elect another set of people into national leadership.
If a government desires to succeed, it opens itself to internal criticism as the first step of understanding the unseen. When a government is criticised from inside, it is likely to do better and reduce possible external criticisms. What we have is a growing dictatorship on the part of those who claim our mandate and democracy.
A lesson in election miracle is what we are subjected to but I’m of the view that this mentality of the authorities in Abuja will not see them through. The line between the citizens and government is thin but could be very thick and I think that is precisely the case in point. When the dividing line thickens, suspicion, anger, frustration and all sorts of things become the order of the day. Are these not the cantors of modern Nigeria under this leadership?
Common sense and logic should tell the government and those who handle it that there exists a certain basic minimum that governance must not fall below. If every action or inaction were given the attention that they deserve, the nation would not have been in the mess that it is in today. The problem with Nigeria is that frivolities often take the place of real issues and vis versa.
To say the least, the removal of General Agwai on the basis of his lecture at the Obasanjo’s birthday party is to say the least very unfortunate and unbecoming of a regime that claims legitimacy, liberalism and the attributes of democracy.
Any person, group, organisation or individuals that is/are unable to accommodate and tolerate lack the basic quotient of democracy. That is what I think is wrong with this government and its drivers. Bravo Gen. Martin Luther Agwai. Nigeria needs more of your type so it can move forward.