OBJ the fox and tale of the lesser evil

By Joseph Edgar…

Obj’s ‘hatred’ for the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar is quite legendary. The relationship had soured during the second term of their very critical administration. Before the collapse, the duo superintended one of the most progressive and viable administrations the country had seen.

Atiku heading the economic team oversaw a credible economic reform programme, which saw an increased tempo in the privatization of government institutions, thereby creatinga jobs, opening up more revenues for government and opening up the system for more FDIs. The main success attributed to this team was the banking consolidation which saw the emergence of huge Nigeran financial institutions and the berthing of GSM telephony which both contributed to the emergence of the mass affluence. This was the best we have had as a government in a long time. They even paid off our National debt and reformed the pension industry wich today is worth trillions.

They were able to do all of this because of OBJ’s strong personality and Atiku’s exposure and clear understanding of the economy. This partnership attracted the very best in human capital which in itself was a major factor for their success.

Do not let me bore you with the issues that led to their fracas, but ever since that breakdown OBJ has not been reluctant in seizing any opportunity he has to lambast and call Atiku names. Nothing was too heavy for him to label him with. Corrupt was the usual moniker and he swore by whatever he was worshipping to stop Atiku from emerging President of this country.

But politics is a very dynamic field of human endeavor. Issues and dynamics shift just as issues continue to move in various positions leading the whole thing into a complicated maze of moving objects. As a result, there are no fixed positions as positions and persons move as events dictate.

Today, OBJ who in my estimation remains a grand statesman well respected and highly influential having been faced with a situation of two evils have chosen the lesser evil. Anybody who knows OBJ very well and his strong democratic credentials would not be surprised at this eventuality.

I had read his thirteen-page epistle to the President in which he detailed his grievances against the President and his system of government. Nepotism, non-inclusive government, lop sided appointments and rudderless leadership. So OBJ would have simply just compared notes with what he knew of Atiku and took a position.

Read also: This is Nigeria

So the question now is would we prefer continuation of this government which has amongst others treated the very vast majority of Nigerians as orphans? Just see the last appointment of the DG of DSS. This was so arrogant and annoying in its devil may care attitude that Nigerans began to feel like they really were under an occupation force cloaked as a responsive democratic government.

So, to OBJ he would have looked at Atiku and his sins. Atiku is allegedly corrupt, but beside what we are seeing here Atiku’s corruption is childs play. So, Atiku cannot enter US but these ones are entering and nothing really is coming out of it despite the billions being wasted on estacode and useless trade agreements. The incestuous economic policies berthed on nepotistic and feudal structures as against an evidenced Atiku open-ended, free-enterprise based economic model that he has eschewed in and out of government plus his de-tribalized approach to policy initiation and execution and the strong potentials of once again building a strong team that would be all inclusive and with better understanding of the issues instead of the agrarian pastoral approach that seems to be taking our economy back into the abyss of recession.

So, to OBJ Atiku came across as the lesser evil and since our democratic structures have thrown up these two, he must then take a position. He has chosen the lesser evil of the two, I would do the same.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now