by Jackson Ogbonna Ude, a Nigerian Journalist is based in New York
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in every move he makes, he shows the trappings that characterized the dark- goggle wearing late General Sani Abacha, who ruled Nigeria with iron fist and bowed to death in a manner yet unknown to Nigerians. General Olusegun Obasanjo, a glorified democrat and current Nigeria President is a dictator, an absolutist, a despot whose legendary quest to perpetuate himself in power has continued to dominate headlines in recent times.
In his unquenchable hunger for continuous stay in power, General Obasanjo has hoodwinked corporate Nigeria that the support for his third bid will take the country to the Eldora do.
In the manner reminiscent of the General Abacha era, when corporate bodies and private individuals were falling over themselves to throw support for the late Generals continuous stay in power, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, the umbrella body of manufacturing companies in Nigeria, recently announced it support for a third term for General Obasanjo, citing successful reform programs of his regime.
Nothing can be most unpatriotic, callous and shameful than the decision of MAN, an association that is supposed to galvanize economic growth, to support a regime that has no respect for human rights, human life and workers rights.
Where was MAN when Obasanjo arbitrarily increased pump price without the resolution of the National Assembly? Where was MAN, when Nigerian workers were beating and some shot dead by overzealous security men for protesting Obasanjo's insensitivity to workers plight? Where was MAN when thousands were killed in Odi, Bayelsa State in 1999 and the Zaki-Biam, Benue state by military men on the orders of General Obasanjo?
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For goodness sake, this group of politically minded manufactures must apologize to Nigerians and go. They have outlived their usefulness and they are like stale milk! We do not need an association like MAN in our Nigeria of today. A group that will only remind Nigerians of the General Abacha days when boot-licking, sycophancy and the art of showering praises to evil regime was the hallmark of men, women and groups in corridors of power.
When a group like MAN begins to campaign for the continuous stay of a discredited regime that has done more harm to suffering Nigerians, it goes to show that the group has lost touch with its functions and objectives in a country that is begging for a vibrant economy and buoyant manufacturing firms. To all who cares, MAN is a disgrace, an albatross and a messenger of evil that must be rejected.
How many manufacturing firm in Nigeria is buoyant with the daily increase of unemployment? MAN sees nothing wrong with the alarming unemployment rate; they see nothing wrong with the hundreds of manufacturing firm closing shop daily, they see nothing wrong with the seeming clamp down on small scale industries, rather they want to be the flagship in the quest for an Obasanjo's third term in the presidency. What a shame!
This is just the beginning of the many endorsements yet to come. Soon the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, which is noted for donating handsomely to the presidency, will join the queue of the pro-third term bid for Obasanjo, then the Dangotes, the Odogwus, the Adenugas, the Arisekolas and the Michael Ibrus.
To those who do not know, the aforementioned men and their cronies are the ones who control MAN. They control the Nigerian economy by virtue of owning major companies in Nigeria that have benefited from Government patronage through award of contracts and other areas. These were the same men who donated over $6 Billion to the infamous Obasanjo library in May 2005. The same men, the same willing tools for the destruction of Nigeria, had lined behind the late General Abacha's self succession bid.
There next move now will be the formation of groups across the states in the country to drum up more support for a third term bid for Obasanjo.
Soon, we will begin to hear and read about Youth Earnestly Ask For Obasanjo, YEAO and Daniel Kanu of the infamous Youth Earnestly Ask For Abacha, YEAH and the Two Million Man March, will be consulted to organize same for Baba Iyabo. Sunny Ade, Oliver de' Coque, Dan Maraya Jos, Onyeka Onwenu and Charley Boy will be co-opted to release an album for Obasanjo and mobilize PMAN. Obas, Ezes, Igwe, Emirs and community leaders will be intimidated to lead the support and Ghana-Must-Go will be in surplus!
Who can stop these men whose selfish motive is just to continue to build financial empires at the expense of poor Nigerians who are not sure of the next day's meal? Who can liberate Nigerians from the tyranny of this minority who are bent at ensuring that a dictator continues to rule over a nation that have been under the jack boot of military dictatorship in the last 35 years?
Like Abacha, Obasanjo has intimidated MAN and corporate Nigeria to believing that without him in power there will be no economic boom. In return, MAN has patronized him, romanced with him as he sits back in his colorful Agbada, dishing out others on the modus operandi for his return to power for the third term.
For MAN to indulge in such a senseless endorsement of an Obasanjo's third term aspiration without his public disapproval is an indication that General Obasanjo is in the know and has approved the decision of the association that had donated financially during his second term bid.
Like Abacha enjoyed all the ceremonies and endorsements associated with his self-succession, General Obasanjo is no doubt enjoying the same, sipping champagne with his cronies in anticipation of another four years.
Until there is another death in Aso Rock, emerging Hitlers of our time in Nigeria will never learn!
Drag & Drop Champion!
btw, i'm glad for u that your husband is back for a while, enjoy!
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