When the centre no longer holds

When I signed off this column four weeks ago, I did so on the note that President Umaru Yar’Adua and his largely confused team should end the dangerous act of ruling the country from Saudi Arabia. It was clear that with the roadblock in virtually all economic activities at the end of last year, no thanks to an absentee President, starting the year 2010 on the same note could spell disaster for an economy as sick as Nigeria’s.

It was, however, a rude shock that despite the deepening crises in all key sectors of the economy, I resumed from a four-week vacation to meet an even more confused, or better put, insensitive, cabinet wandering through Jeddah and Abuja without a solution to a simple matter under the Constitution like handover of power. Yet, the President’s health is obviously not improving after 73 days in King Faisal Specialist Hospital. Despite promises that he would return to work in January, with or without life support machines as widely speculated, his seat in the Villa is still empty.

No rational Nigerian would think that the lawmakers or the Federal Executive Council are oblivious of the economic implications of Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence; after all, some of those ‘lucky’ to have found their ways to these seats, in spite of marked ‘greed,’ are intellectually sound. The apparent dilemma for many of the citizens’ representatives is balancing self interest with that of the nation.

With public sector activities almost grinding to a halt, fuel crisis mounting, power sector almost unable to light a bulb and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta signalling the resumption of hostilities, Nigeria may pass for a country in a war situation. When these are added to pains from corrections going on in the banking sector, uncertainty in the political environment, local and foreign investment scare and rising unemployment, hope for survival becomes dimmer.

Is it not then callous for anyone, in this unmistakable chaotic situation, to insist that the leadership vacuum in the country is in order, and that the President could take a permanent leave if he so wishes? Yet, those who should know add insult to citizens’ injury with embarrassing pronouncements that question their competence as leaders. It is incredible that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, said recently, amid calls from various interest groups for the President to step aside, that it was not mandatory for him to hand over power.

He said it was a unanimous decision by “men of high integrity” that Yar’Adua, not minding his inability to attend to crucial national issues as a result of his protracted sickness, was fit to discharge his duties as President. What manner of integrity? With the situation on ground, many of our supposed leaders might have unwittingly exposed themselves as opportunists in the corridors of power, who have refused to be sensitive to the plight of this nation.

That Nigeria has managed to survive despite the lack of purposeful leadership for 49 years confirms the fact that the country is blessed, both in human and natural resources. But I am afraid of the consequence of stretching its population and resources advantage beyond bearable limits.

Zambia was, at independence in 1964, described by the World Bank as a country with one of the richest economies in sub-Saharan Africa. About 45 years later, it became one of the poorest with the greater part of its population wallowing in abject poverty. What happened to the bright prospect? The lack of competent leaders to initiate and implement viable policies capable of taking post-independence Zambia to the next level, threw its economy into the abyss.

It is time Nigerian leaders shifted towards responsible governance to save the country the horror of watching while world economic featherweights dictate the tune. Why, for instance, will a President hold on to power when he is incapacitated by ill health? Whose interest is he protecting? The country’s or his associates’? And what is the motive of apologists that have insisted on leadership-by-correspondence despite the odds? Is it sentiments? That will be a stupid consideration where the well-being of 140 million citizens is concerned.

Reports have it that it is a cabal that is afraid of losing relevance with a change of government, however temporary, that has continued to swallow pain killers for the President’s headache. This is in addition to allegations that some close relations of the President want him to hold on to power, no matter the turmoil created.

Whatever the case, the economy cannot continue to suffer while a minute percentage of the population continues to play a selfish game of wits with the economy. It is clear now that if no one is empowered to act in the capacity of the President in the next few days, the centre may no longer hold. Already, the house is divided. Our own dear Information Minister, Dora Akunyili, who, right from her pre-NAFDAC days, had distinguished herself as a stickler for rules until her latest appointment, is on the march to stardom again.

She dared the tiger where men failed on Wednesday with a memo, reportedly seeking for the President to hand over to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan until his return from Saudi Arabia. Although the memo was rejected in an acrimonious situation created by Yar’Adua’s apologists, the event shows that this government may disintegrate if Yar’Adua remains in Jeddah and no one steps into his shoes without further ado.

Whether this was a last minute attempt by the information minister to redeem her waning reputation in a largely corrupt government in preparation for greater heights, or a genuine concern for an ailing nation, that singular act from an appointee of the President is commendable, particularly when one considers the fact that apologists are only saving their soup pots.

However, Nigerians, I am sure, would rather not wait for another presentation of the same memo to see the end of this nightmare. The President should leave now. Haba!