THE PILOT LOST THE PLOT

It's yet another wonderful opportunity to cast a spotlight on the fortunes (or misfortunes) of our dear country; to bring into focus some of the recent happenings in the country and examine the turnaround (or lack of) in the prospects of the citizenry. Before I face an accusation of persistent negativity about the activities of this government, let me state without reservation that upon this writer's recent visit to Nigeria, he was mildly impressed with the increase in power generation and onward transmission. Not trying to be negative again, in terms of power supply, Nigeria is exactly where it was more than 30 years ago. Kudos to the government on that front. See? It's not always negativity. Now, that's cleared up, back to the day job. 

Unfortunately, improvement in electricity supply alone cannot assuage the debilitating economic, social and political effects of Jonathan's inept handling of this government. While I hold it true that one tree doesn't make a forest, the fact is that the buck stops with him. Even if he is not directly connected with the mammoth and unchecked corruption going on around him, he is giving an impression of complicity and that is an indictment on his character and judgement. When it comes to putting the right people in the right positions in government, he possesses about as much accuracy as a blind sniper. When it comes to rallying the troops both inside and outside of government, he has less than the agility and cognitive ability of a cadaver. He is simply bereft of any quality you'd wish to see in a President of any modern-day country. Let me tell you, my perceived acerbic criticism of this man and his stewardship to date is nothing compared to the anger and frustration being shown on a daily basis by the overwhelming majority of Nigerians, at home and in the diaspora. He's proved himself to be a plunderer of hopes and fortunes. The facts speak for themselves, and the realities being faced by Nigerians are a testament to his ineffectualness. 

There's no need to repeat his distaste for any notion of the prevalence of corruption among his clan of political appointees, affiliates, and dare I say, hangers-on. He is doggedly hooked on the belief that corruption is not our major problem. While his belief is just that, what justification is there for his continuous occupation of Aso Rock? Just to keep criticisms at bay, he launches probes after probes; investigations after investigations, even multi-layered and overlapping investigations. All which have proved to be a colossal waste of our money and an absolute waste of time. He's simply a pilot who has lost the plot. How we never saw this coming is beyond me.

Nobody wants to see any form of meddling with the judiciary, but when the judiciary is clearly displaying evidence of corruption then which President in his right mind wouldn't have a look, either at the way the law is constituted or at the integrity of the presiding judge? How, on earth, would Yakubu Yusuf, who admitted to pilfering N23.3billion be given an option of 2 years in jail or a fine of N750,000? How about Abdulrasheed Maina (Chairman of the Pension Reform task Team), who stands accused of wolfing down N100billion? He has repeatedly defied the Senate's request to appear before it, but yet, this President is unconcerned. One could spend a whole day writing down the different instances of Jonathan's inept disposition to governance, and his criminal indifference to corruption.

By the way, the recent Global Financial Integrity (GFI) report provides yet another grim reading for Nigerians: in 2010 alone, $19.66 billion (yes, American dollars!) was illicitly moved out of Nigeria. On average, $12.9 billion in stolen funds by corrupt politicians, businessmen and other criminals is exported annually. That equates to $1.075 billion per month; $35.8 million per day, and at this minute's exchange rate, that is N5.6 billion per day leaving our shores illegally and fraudulently! If this does not concentrate the mind of this sot in Aso Rock then, nothing ever will.

In the meantime, we'll continue to live in hope and just wish this man out of our lives.