Nigeria: the Contrasting Features of Military Rule, Militocracy and Democracy

Africaphoto.com

In recent times the late General Sani Abacha (centre) has been applauded for his conduct as former Head of State from 1993 to 1998. The late general was initially condemned for his stern stewardship. However recent figures show that his regime was a lot more credible than that of Olusegun Obasanjo.

It was the 29th of May, 1999.  How so proudly Nigerians looked as the green white green smoke emitted by the nations locally made Air Beetle filled the clouds over the Eagle Square, Abuja, signifying an end to military dictatorship and a new era of civilian rule.

The last decade has witnessed Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, transform from military dictatorship, to militocracy and finally to democracy.

The question arising among Nigerians is “are we really on the right track”. It appears the quality of leadership in Nigeria diminishes successively. Comparing the military regime of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, to the militocratic regime of Olusegun Obasanjo and the ‘democratic’ government of President Umaru Yar'adua, it would be fair to note that the General had better control over his currency, the Naira than the farmer or the teacher. Oh! Was it a mere coincidence that under his reign we witnessed the Naira gaining strength beginning from over N100 to the dollar and ending at N86 (on the Black Market)?

Today, the situation in the country is that of a crippling Naira dropping its value to N138, the lowest value obtained ever since Nigeria’s independence. Definitely, democracy is the world’s first love but it produces fruits only when the righteous and intelligent are at the helm of affairs.

Former-president Olusegun Obasanjo has been accused by critics for gross unaccountability as billions remain unaccounted for during his tenure. Nigeria was one of the oil producing countries that gained from the rising oil prices during his tenure as president.

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua’s tenure has been marked with gross inactivity and a deteriorating economy putting to question his ability as Nigeria’s first university graduate president.

One problem causing fear and panic in the minds of Nigerians is the high level of inflation in the country. It was not by divine intervention that throughout the reign of General Sani Abacha, inflation was brought to its barest minimum. One would have expected our current leaders to have built upon this. From an academic point of view, this was most probably due to the fact that there was little money in circulation. Well said, but we must also acknowledge the more effective utilization of funds under the regime of General Sani Abacha, who frowned at the acquisition of foreign debt, which has been largely pin pointed as the tap root of Africa’s ailing economy. In spite of the resultant limited availability of funds at its disposal, the Abacha Regime refurbished and created more roads in the country than the Olusegun Obasanjo lead milotocratic government, which boasted that it had allocated 350bn Naira on improving Nigerian Roads, but in reality ended up turning Nigerian roads to more lethal death traps than the globally banned land mines.

In addition to the above, the massive increase in minimum wage in the civil service has led to new worries in the private sector, which has found it difficult to match such huge salaries. In an “advanced country” such as Nigeria, one would have reckoned that the wages of the civil service would be based on that of the private sector (i.e. slightly lower), thus, encouraging a rapid growth of the private sector as freshly turned out graduates would seek private employment or better still, become self employed.

These problems associated with the private sector can largely be felt in the agricultural sector as, for instance, a poultry farmer, in order to obtain a monthly income of 60,000 Naira (US $440) must have a minimum of 2000 birds. Thus, he would require an initial capital not less than N2.5m, a sum not easy to come by as such agricultural loans are rarely forthcoming. Hence, members of the private sector would prefer to shut down their private investments in order to pursue civil service jobs where they don’t have to sweat much to get paid at the end of the month. The above has lead to a sharp reduction in production, further resulting in the reduced demand for the Naira and consequently, its present weak status. Economists have thus accurately predicted a gradual reduction in non-petroleum export in the forth-coming years. In spite of Nigeria’s continued reliance on oil, the nation still parades an epileptic petroleum industry, despite the Olusegun Obasanjo administration’s claims to have invested 800m on the Nigerian Refineries. Nigeria still imports a large volume of crude oil. This has had its toll on the nation’s economy.

Due to this crippling effect on the private sector, there has been a sharp increase in the price of conventional feedstuff used in livestock production. An example of such feedstuff is maize, which was sold at a cost of N15/kg in the Abacha era and now sells for N115/kg, increasing by over 650%. The price of table meat produced locally can no longer compete with that of imported meat. Nigeria’s ban on imported poultry products could therefore be classified as “slightly unintelligent”. This would only result in less food and subsequently malnutrition. It would have been wiser to ask, where are our agriculturists? All working in banks, telecoms and oil companies (I guess). That is okay considering the fact that the militocratic government of Olusegun Obasanjo had a geologist at the helm of affairs in our power and steel ministry. Well, his predecessor was a lawyer and guess what? Till date, the entire Nigeria enjoys 24 hours of uninterrupted power supply (?).

With the new democratic government being headed by an ex academician, the university system in the country still retains its topsy-turvy status. It is still rare in Nigeria to have a year go by without a disruption in the academic calendar. Well, this was achieved under the General’s rule. It might be better though as strikes give parents ample time to put together their money (through legal business or by mounting of road blocks) in order to pay huge school fees for their dependants. The present administration of President Umaru Yar'adua really has done nothing and has remained inactive since its inauguration. People are calling on the Nigerian president to at least buy his children a dog so at least we can have some activity.As a former university teacher, one need not wonder the quality of students the President had produced in the past. This democratic administration is a far cry from what we expected.

The private sector is still under heavy battery. This is slow poison for any country as the private sector is the backbone and driving force of any economy. It is a platform in which innovative ideas are actualized. Sad but true, this fact is alien to the present democratic government.

In all fairness, it might not be fare to use the current leaders in Nigeria as a measure of the effectiveness of democracy as the country’s current leaders are comprised chiefly of the old and spent. Yes, the youth have visions. The youth of any country are the empowerment of that country. It might dawn on you that Nigeria’s great leader, Obafemi Awolowo was a youth at his peak. This led to the founding of the Obafemi Awolowo University, (formerly called the University of Ife) as well as the building of Cocoa House located in Ibadan Nigeria.  It took West Africa over two decades to erect another structure of the equal magnitude.

Well, using militocracy as a major keyword in this article might appear a little absurd, but fair enough, we find ourselves still surrounded by retired soldiers who hold the future of Nigeria in their palms. What is sad about democracy is the thought of waiting for 4 years in order to make a change. Hence, no stones are left unturned. I guess it was for this reason that the last democratic election in the country, in which Maj. Gen. Buhari lost to President Umaru Yar'adua was tagged a priceless drama, guaranteeing Nigerians the entire human race unending laughter for the next 4 years. Certainly, the Nigerian political scene is a record breaker. Lots of excitement in the scripts! Winners lose and losers win. Some are not sworn in on June 12 others are still in court. Nevertheless, there is a general awakening of all sectors particularly the judiciary which appears to be getting its act together as 2008 witnessed the removal of some governors based on electoral malpractices.
 
The Nigerian populace can also be held accountable for the colourful nature of Nigerian democracy as re-electing the former President Olusegun Obasanjo five years ago was a mile from smartness. If a man promises light and water, says inflation would be reduced, the naira would gain strength and security would be guaranteed and he cannot fulfil any of his promises in four years, should common sense not tell individuals to vote for someone else no matter how unintelligent he or she may be? Mathematically and logically speaking, it implies that giving another four years, the probability of achieving one (not two) of his promises would be the same as finding Osama Bin Laden. I’d rather had voted for someone who has not tried. It must also be stated here that under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the world witnessed a sky rocketing of oil prices. Yet such huge funds where unaccounted for during this tenure. The current democratic government now claim the current drop in oil prices has distorted the nation’s 2008 budget. Whenever I hear this, I long not to live. Oil prices began to drop a month ago. That makes it 11 months out of 12 months. The budget was based on the current price of crude oil for the beginning of the year 2008. It rose from January to November. Hellooo!!!!!

I have compared the 3 sytems of government in Nigeria: Dictatorship, Militocracy and Democracy. I have been fair in passing judgement as I surrender to the fact that the above governments are reaping the evil fruits of the General Babangida’s administration which ranks as one of the most corrupt regimes in the history of mankind and largely held accountable for Nigeria’s record on corruption. All well and said, I have to admit strengthening the naira from over N100 to N86, bringing affordable healthcare to all, ensuring effective sharing of the nations wealth, etc I know my decision would shock you but before making such a decision, I have considered all leaders to be my fathers and brothers, my true blood! This calls for an open mind. Now to shock you all I have to admit, the General Sani Abacha Regime tops the charts. Dragging behind by a wide margin comes the milotocratic regime of Olusegun Obasanjo. I feel sad having to include the democratic government of President Umaru Yar'adua as nothing has been done under this government. Judging from the cars they drive, for sure they can see. However, I wonder if they can think.

Oh well, these are just a few observations made by me and subject to my own interpretation. Hence different individuals are bound to come up with different opinions. It is allowed for the saying goes, “it’s different strokes for different folks”. You’ve got Seven Up, Pepsi and even Coke.