ASUU, Mbeki And Jonathan

The former President of South Africa, (Uncle) Thabo Mbeki, is quoted as saying that ordinary Nigerians deserve as much blame as the politicians for the leadership failure in the country, and that it is indeed only the citizens themselves that could put a stop to bad leadership. From one of my submissions on this page earlier, I feel somewhat justified in his words.  

  I remain appreciative of the Academic Staff Union of (Nigerian) Universities (ASUU) for the immense sacrifice it is making to show the government that responsible people keep agreements. And can anyone really owe the rulers any allowances; say the sitting allowances of the legislators, or whatever allowance is due to Mr. President? 

  Oduduwa University honoured the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, who are behind Nigeria’s economic woes. University education, bribery and corruption in Nigeria; what hope for the future? 

  Governor Babangida Aliyu is lamenting the election charade in Anambra, but what did he say to his Kwara colleagues who annexed Offa local government? I warned Nigerians against Prof. Attahiru Jega! Some other leaders are clamouring for regional autonomy rather than Nigeria’s unity.  Hence some prophets of doom predict Nigeria’s division; there are no patriotic, visionary leaders across the country to put heads together and establish some unifying policy. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his supporters truncated party’s rotational presidency arrangement; obstructed electoral reform, and is now to waste billions on national conference!

  Ordinary Nigerians cannot protest because they are divided by several factors, including Christianity, Islam, ethnicism; and they are ravaged by corruption and abject poverty. Too many workers’ union leaders also compromise as traitors, bribed by the dictators, including some university vice-chancellors. Yet, the ASUU case demonstrates that Nigerians are not lunatics; if they see good leadership they will cooperate. Ancestrally speaking, Yorubaland witnessed Agbekoya (Farmers reject suffering); today, it is witnessing religious fanaticism and political opportunism.

• Pius Abioje, 

University of Ilorin.