The year is almost ended and this writer chooses to focus on Nigeria. An ardent supporter of the economic policies of the current Nigerian administration, this writer is however greatly disappointed the fact that the incumbent Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo may like to stay in office beyond the constitutionally stipulated date of May 29, 2007, as is being reported by mainstream media outlets in Nigeria.

Voices coming out from the Nigerian Presidency (or "Aso Rock," as it is poetically described) are indicative of a place not only filled with sycophants as this writer once thought, but psychopaths as well. For instance, when American State Department Officials warned against Mr. Obasanjo seeking a third term, the response from the Presidential spokesman was that America should mind its business. Quoting him verbatim, as reported by the BBC:

"We in our country, and certainly our president, does not need lessons in democracy, or in constitutional rule, or indeed in interpreting constitutional rule from anybody, least of all people from outside our shores."

The trick being used to silence anyone who speaks against a third-term is the fact that Mr. Obasanjo is yet to come out and state that he intends running for a third-term, though there happen to be groups calling on him not to leave in 2007. A debate on an amendment to the constitution to make this possible is expected to begin in a few weeks time. The Nigerian Punch Newspaper (article may not be archived) quotes a Federal official in Nigeria who states that plans are on the ground to convince the World Bank and governments of Great Britain and the United States as to why Mr. Obasanjo should remain in office. One cannot however think that these bodies/nations are stupid enough to buy into such, and it can only be hoped that the United States would put sufficient pressure on the Nigerian government to respect the constitution by which it was sworn into office.

The Nigerian government needs to be very careful about how it reacts to comments that come from Washington. This is the same government that sells a significant chunk of its oil to the United States and which happens to be currently seeking direct air links between Lagos and New York. Angering the folks in Washington could only be to Nigeria's disadvantage. The United States Congress on its part should not buy into any amendment of the Nigerian constitution that allows the current president to stay in office beyond 2007. Sufficient pressure must be brought to the fore to compel this government to leave office if it chooses not to.

Nobody is indispensable in Nigeria, not even the president, and if the rulers of Nigeria refuse to respect the law, they should be compelled to by external bodies which have the power. Until African societies begin to respect the written words enshrined in their constitutions, economic development and human empowerment, which benefit most people in society and not a tiny elitist clique, would remain mirages.

Happy New Year.

Labels: Government, Nigeria, Politics