Sam Aluko was a courageous man

Obliviously unable to tolerate anyone calling Abacha better than him, Obasanjo descended on the late Professor of Economics, branding him (Aluko) as “senile.” The late Aluko responded that Obasanjo was “feeding on the salad of ignorance.” Professor Aluko said despite the characterization of Abacha as evil, he was able to manage inflation and maintain a […]

Obliviously unable to tolerate anyone calling Abacha better than him, Obasanjo descended on the late Professor of Economics, branding him (Aluko) as “senile.” The late Aluko responded that Obasanjo was “feeding on the salad of ignorance.” Professor Aluko said despite the characterization of Abacha as evil, he was able to manage inflation and maintain a stable exchange rate for the naira. According to the former chairman of Aluko, the late Abacha didn’t have the level of resources available to Obasanjo’s administration, but Abacha achieved impressive results in bringing improvements to national infrastructure.

It takes a lot of guts for any Yoruba scholar to praise General Abacha in a government led by Obasanjo, who detests Abacha with incredible passion. Brutally frank and objective, Professor Aluko was undeterred by ethnic sentiments. He openly told Obasanjo that with the unprecedented oil revenues accruing to his administration, he had no reason to fail to deliver. Rather than disputing the analysis of the late Professor Aluko, Obasanjo resorted to name-calling, which was totally beside the point.

Few Nigerians could follow their courage of convictions to speak the truth to power, but Professor Aluko had no hesitation doing so during the Obasanjo administration. If he was an opportunist that believed in survival at any cost, he would have shifted loyalty to Obasanjo and discredited whatever good legacy the Abacha regime ever built or left behind. He always marshaled his facts and arguments in such a way that even his critics must privately praise his erudition and sincerity.

In one of his newspaper interviews, the late Aluko said contrary to wrongly held opinions, General Abacha’s government was not a one-man show where cabinet members were not free to express themselves on policy issues. According to the departed Professor, General Abacha had always respected his frankness and courage at cabinet meetings. He recalled that Abacha gave every individual cabinet member the opportunity to express themselves. If the late Abacha was the worst dictator as his enemies alleged, Professor Aluko wondered whether cabinet members would have enjoyed the liberty of speaking freely.

Thanks to Aluko’s accounts, many distortions about Abacha’s persona were brought to light. According to the late Professor of Economics, Abacha would never endorse any recommendation that was intended to defraud the government. He recalled a particular case of a Minister who submitted a proposal of 500 million dollars for the importation of bitumen into Nigeria. However, the Management of the Kaduna Petrochemical Company, a subsidiary of NNPC, proposed that with 50 million dollars, they could produce bitumen locally. Professor Aluko said Abacha rejected the Minister’s proposal and accepted the local production of bitumen, which was by far cheaper for the country.

This incident, according to Aluko, had contradicted the allegations of those who attributed evil motives to the late General Abacha. Few Nigerians could rarely have the courage to defend the record of former administration consistently at a time others were falling over their heads to ingratiate themselves with any new government in power. Opportunism was not in Aluko’s nature. He was not in the club of bootlickers who didn’t care if Nigeria collapses to serve their private interest.

Integrity, courage and loyalty will remain Professor Aluko’s enduring virtues. In a country where opportunists rapidly shift their loyalties to a new government in power, Professor Aluko stood up high like a colossus. Good reputation is above gold; it is inestimable. For standing up firmly to Obasanjo’s vilification and defending his analysis of his economic record, Nigeria badly needs such great men like Professor Aluko. Professor Aluko’s son was even denied the chance of coming back to the Senate because of his father’s principles of telling the truth to those in power. But the late Economics scholar was ready to pay that price. Such are the kind of men our country requires to move forward and not chicken-hearted opportunists who could do anything for personal gain rather than the ultimate interest of the country. A life without a good reputation is not worth living. Therefore, the late Professor of Economics will continue to be remembered by Nigerians for several years to come. A good name lives beyond the grave. Professor Aluko was a moral star worthy of emulation by all Nigerians who have genuine faith in the future of this country.

Kasim wrote from Janet Akinrinade Street, Utako District, Abuja