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The Impropriety of That Otta Farm The Impropriety of That Otta Farm Invasion Page 1 of 12 The Impropriety of That Otta Farm "Invasion" By Mobolaji E. Aluko, PhD Burtonsville, MD, USA INTRODUCTION Since president Obasanjo takes foreign views about himself far more seriously than home-constituency views – recall his exasperated admission of pro-Sufiya Husseini "harrassment" by foreign heads of states - let me begin this piece by quoting how a foreign media outlet (Agence-France Presse) reported that Ot(t)a "Animal Farm" event, an April 2, 2002 event in Nigeria which thoroughly immiserated my birthday here in Burtonsville, USA: QUOTE Ruling party governors urge Obasanjo to seek second term Tue, 2 Apr 2002 12:50:04 PST LAGOS, April 2 (AFP) - Ruling party governors and senior ministers in Nigeria met Tuesday with President Olusegun Obasanjo to publicly urge him to seek re-election next year, as he stepped up his as yet undeclared re-election campaign. The 65-year-old former military ruler has so far refused to officially declare himself a candidate in the polls due in 2003, but that is now considered a formality. In a staged event somewhat reminiscent of campaigns held under past Nigerian regimes, dozens of officials, from Obasanjo's main political fixer, Works and Housing Minister Tony Anenih, to governors of states controlled by his Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), met with Obasanjo at his country home in southwest Nigeria. The event, which Obasanjo's officials sought to claim was unsolicited, took place in front of television cameras and was reported widely by TV and radio. The PDP governors presented Obasanjo with a letter urging him to contest the presidency again in 2003, following his victory in elections in 1999. On Monday, Obasanjo had met with a group of prominent leaders of his ethnic Yoruba people from southwest Nigeria who had also pushed him to stand. The main Yoruba political grouping, known as Afenifere, has not officially backed Obasanjo for re-election but has not said it will campaign against him, as it did in 1999. Radio reports said Tuesday Obasanjo had promised Monday to take a decision within two weeks on whether or not to http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/iarticles/impropriety_of_that_otta_farm_in.htm 7/18/2008 The Impropriety of That Otta Farm Invasion Page 2 of 12 seek a second term. "The next two weeks will be intensive in this regard and when I make the pronouncement, God will guide me to do what will be in the interest of the nation," said the president, who frequently invokes God in his decision-making. Obasanjo said last week that his decision would be "monumental" and that there would be "serious implications for Nigeria, west Africa and Africa" if he failed to contest. UNQUOTE There you have it: "The 65-year-old former military ruler has so far refused to officially declare himself a candidate in the polls due in 2003, but that is now considered a formality. In a staged event somewhat reminiscent of campaigns held under past Nigerian regimes…. The event, which Obasanjo's officials sought to claim was unsolicited, took place in front of television cameras and was reported widely by TV and radio….." Re-enactment, deceit, distrust…. Well, not quite believing the first paragraph of the AFP report – a foreign news agency which I have accused in the past of embellishing news about Nigeria in the negative direction - I had to wait till the following day to see the pictures. "Irohin ko to afojuba" – as the Yoruba would say, or "A picture is worth a thousand words", in English vernacular. THE GALLERY OF ATTENDEES – AND SOME NON-ATTENDEES Lo and behold, there they were! I have since not failed to stare endlessly at a particular gallery of pictures of the attendees, which had the following cast of characters, in no particular order: http://www.vanguardngr.com/images/2002/April/week1/Sat06.jpg http://www.thisdayonline.com/news/liyel.html The Obasanjo Endorsement pictures The Gang of 60 President Olusegun Obasanjo (Waiting for God, not Godot) Chief Tony Anenih, Minister of Works and Housing ("Mr Fix-It" and "Leader of All Delegations") Chief Solomon Lar, former PDP Chairman ("Red Letter" presenter. Ehn?) Chief Barnabas Gemade, immediate past PDP Chairman (looking worried) Chief Tom Ikimi, Abacha’s Foreign Minister (looking serious in dark glasses, like his former boss) http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/iarticles/impropriety_of_that_otta_farm_in.htm 7/18/2008 The Impropriety of That Otta Farm Invasion Page 3 of 12 Dr. Joseph Wayas, former president of the Senate (smiling) Chief August Meredith Adisa Akinloye (smiling broadly) APP Governor Mala Kachalla of Borno State (apparently the very first governor to arrive) APP Governor Abubakar Audu of Kogi State (and also of Potomac, Maryland) PDP Governors: Plateau Gov. Joshua Dariye (smiling) Kano Gov. Musa Kwakwanso (smiling?) Governor Diepre Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa (smiling?) Gov. James Ibori of Delta States (smiling) Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, Governor of Kaduna State (post-Otta Chief apologist) Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State Cross Rivers Gov. Donald Duke Imo Gov. Chike Udenwa Ebonyi Gov. Sam Egwu Akwa Ibom Gov. Obong Victor Attah Bauchi Gov. Adamu Mu’azu Enugu Gov. Chimaraoke Nnamani Governor Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa Edo Gov. Lucky Igbinedion and father… -- Others: Chief Gabriel Igbinedion Lt. General T. Y. Danjuma, Minister of Defence Minister of Special Duties Yomi Edu Mr Damishi Shango, former Minister of Sports Chief Sunday Afolabi, Minister of Internal Affairs http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/iarticles/impropriety_of_that_otta_farm_in.htm 7/18/2008 The Impropriety of That Otta Farm Invasion Page 4 of 12 Dr. Mohammed Bello, Minister of Communications Chief Dubem Onyia, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs Chief Kola Jamodu, Minister of Industry Professor A.B.C Nwosu, Minister of Health Chief Segun Agagu, Minister of Power & Steel Alhaji Lawal Batagarawa, Minister of State, Defence (Army) Professor Jerry Gana, Minister of Information Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Minister for Transport Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Deputy Senate President Alhaji Mohammed Shata, Minister of State, Internal Affairs Mr. Dan Chuke, Minister of Special Project Dr. (Mrs.) Kema Chikwe, Minister of Aviation Mrs. Iyabo Anisulowo, Minister of State for Education in the Abacha era Commodore Dan Suleiman (of NADECO fame) Alhaji Lawal Kaita from Katsina State Dr. Sam Ogbemudia, former Minister of Labor in the Abacha era Alhaji Gambo Lawan, former Chairman of GDM, one of the "five fingers of Abacha’s leprous hand" Chief Richard Akinjide (of "12 2/3rd" fame) Not in the pictures referenced above, but mentioned as present in various news reports: Ibrahim Hashidu, Gombe Governor – was this APP governor present or not? Jolly Nyame, Taraba Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Anambra Governor Chief Olabode George, National vice-chairman, (PDP) South West zone Senate President, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor Tinubu (?) Former National Secretary of PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/iarticles/impropriety_of_that_otta_farm_in.htm 7/18/2008 The Impropriety of That Otta Farm Invasion Page 5 of 12 Yoruba Council of Elders Chairman, Pa Emmanuel Alayande Alhaji Waziri Mohammed (former APP chairman) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Alhaji Alimi Abdulrasaq Alhaji Idi Farouk Alhaji Yahaya Kwande Of the fifty-nine names listed above – which I have meticulously listed so that they cannot deny their presence in the future, and/or so that their boss does not accuse them of non-attendance - only six or so seemed to be smilingly enjoying themselves. All the others – except perhaps the president himself – looked as if they would prefer to be elsewhere. Commendably absent were the following, among hundreds of millions of other Nigerians absent: VP Abubakar Atiku himself (why not?) PDP Party Chairman Audu Ogbeh (why not?) Alhaji Abubakar Rimi (won’t be caught dead near Otta) House Speaker Ghali Na’Abba Senator Chuba Okadigbo Senator Gbenga Aluko Afenifere Leader Mr. Abraham Adesanya (has since denounced the show) Absent PDP governors: Niger Governor Abdulkadir Kure (ditto) of PDP (an IBB protege) Orji Uzor Kalu, PDP Governor, Abia State (of Igbo president fame) George Akume, Governor, Benue State (of Zaki Biam/Gbeji fame) Boni Haruna, Governor Adamawa State (of Veep Abubakar Atiku’s state, and his "successor" as governor) Absent APP governors: Sokoto Governor Attahiru Baffarawa http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/iarticles/impropriety_of_that_otta_farm_in.htm 7/18/2008 The Impropriety of That Otta Farm Invasion Page 6 of 12 Zamfara Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima Katsina Governor Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Jigawa Governor Ibrahim Turaki Kwara Goveror Mohammed Lawal Yobe Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim Kebbi Governor Adamu Aliru Absent AD Governors: Ekiti Governor Niyi Adebayo } Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu } But which of these AD South-West governors signed the Ondo Governor Ade Adefarati } "Red Letter of Otta"? Every one is denying now o! Oyo Governor Lam Adesina } The investigation continues about signature authentication. Osun Governor Bisi Akande } Stay tuned. Ogun Governor Segun Osoba } THREE SOURCES OF MY PARTICULAR DISCOMFORT I have been most uncomfortable about three aspects of the Otta visitation to President Obasanjo by these politicians: its impropriety its irreligiosity, and its arrogance. Let me explain. Impropriety Let us first look at the impropriety of the event. So many people invade a man’s farm to "beg" him to run for an election. Would this EVER have been appropriate? Yes, but only under the following circumstances: If The Man was being asked to run for the VERY first time - for example as in 1999, when he was "begged" – upon showing great reluctance to contest. If The Man had run the course of his constitutionally-stipulated TWO TERMS, and, due to his "fantastic record," the plea was for him to agree that the constitution be amended to let him continue as president. If The Man had run only ONE TERM of his possible maximum of two terms, but he had announced in in the time being that he would not seek re-election, or he was showing GREAT RELUCTANCE to seek re-election.
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