On clouds hanging over Abacha, Jr.

His acerbic comments on the “Society Happenings” page of THISDAY were product of ignorance, prejudice and mischief.  For example, the writer was warning the people of Kano State against electing Mohammed Abacha as Governor in 2011 because his late father, General Sani Abacha unleashed a reign of terror on Nigerians.  According to him, apart from […]

His acerbic comments on the “Society Happenings” page of THISDAY were product of ignorance, prejudice and mischief.  For example, the writer was warning the people of Kano State against electing Mohammed Abacha as Governor in 2011 because his late father, General Sani Abacha unleashed a reign of terror on Nigerians.  According to him, apart from “terminating human lives, the late Abacha had inflicted “terroriism and “cruelty” on Nigerians.

Lanre Alfred also alleged that General Abacha ruined the economy and that his son, Mohammed Abacha was an accomplice. For that reason, according to his warped logic, the people of Kano State should reject Mohammed Abacha if he ever stands for election as Governor.

False allegation is the hardest stone your enemies can throw at you. Considering the level of corruption and the mismanagement of the national economy through multi-billion dollar contacts that were never executed under the former Obasanjo administration, Lanre should tell us whether Abacha was responsible for the mismanagement of 18 billion dollars debt relief, the diversion of the monies allegedly recovered from the Abachas, the collapse of refineries, despite the 800 million dollars purportedly spent on them, massive corruption in privatization and the sale of federal Government houses.   

In fact, was Abacha responsible for the current unprecedented mismanagement of Nigerian banks, which almost brought them to the verge of collapse?  According to CBN, 747 billion non-performing loans were recorded as a result of reckless lending and unethical conduct by Bank CEOs that were in the good books of the former Obasanjo administration while they were insidious destroying the economy?  In fact, even the former CBN Governor who protected these crooks, is now being rewarded with a Governorship ticket rather than accounting for this role in the current crisis afflicting our banks.

Abacha was able to improve the conditions of hospitals, roads, schools and other critical infrastructure with about 10 billion dollars in his foreign reserve.  However, Obasanjo, despite recording a foreign resource level of 68 billion dollars, could not deliver in eight years.  The condition of public infrastructure got worse and worse under him, which is why President Yar’Adua himself is bogged down by the problems he inherited from Obasanjo.

Is Lanre Alfred beetle-eyed to notice the level of corruption and the mismanagement of the national economy by the Obasanjo administration?  Throughout his rule, Gen. Abacha  avoided the temptation of incurring foreign loans and was able to stabilize the naira and thereby containing inflation.  In fact, foreigners had no problem doing business in Nigeria because of the fear of insecurity. Didn’t Obasanjo dismiss the former Auditor General of the Federal, Mr. Vincent Azi for exposing the lack of transparency by his administration?

It utter rubbish for Mr. Lanre to question Mohammed Abacha’s right to contest because of his father’s alleged misdeeds.  It seems the writer has poor memory if not, he could not have accused the late military ruller of cruelty.  Did he forget that it was General Sani Abacha who lifted the proscription imposed on some media houses that ran into trouble with a previous government? If Abacha had no respect for human rights and press freedom, he could have conveniently allowed the media ban to stay.

One is amazed why any meddler like Lanre should take the moral high ground to disqualify Mohammed Abacha from seeking the mandate of his people in kano State.  Why didn’t Mr. Lanre Question the right of Iyabo Obasanjo to seek the office of Governor in Ogun State or Chief Fani-Kayode, the former Aviation Minister, who has also declared his intention to join the governorship race in 2011?  Fani Kayode is currently under prosecution by EFCC and it is surprising why Mr. Lanre didn’t question his right to seek his election.

Mohammed Abacha is a free citizen of Nigeria and he, therefore, has the right to seek public office.  If his people love him, Lanre has no right to interfere with their freedom to choose their leaders.  Our democracy should not be tainted by busy-bodies like Lanre who assume that they know best what is good for the people of Kano State. Democracy confers sovereignty on the people and therefore, they alone should be allowed to decide the fate of any aspirant.

As a committed PDP member and a politician who has identified with the aspirations of his people, Mohammed Abacha is entitled to seek the mandate of the people. With the love of his people, one wonders why self-styled moral judges like Lanre should attempt to discredit anyone out of sheer bias and prejudice. Since he indicated his interest in the governorship race, has Mohammed Abacha has not questioned the right of any person to join the race. Such is the spirit of a true democrat and Lanre should mind his own business.

Yahaya Kassim Kazaure, Block 27, Yahaya Road, Kaduna.