Buhari's isolationist crusade
By Ben Mensah
The Federal Military Government has ordered unions of the Nigerian Labour Congress to abide by the government's policy of non-affiliation with international labour unions. What could be the rationale behind this order given in Maj- Gen Buhari's May Day address?Despite the continued closure of the country's borders, mass expulsion of foreigners and a clamp down on the media through Decree 4, it would still have been premature to conclude that Nigeria has suddenly become Africa's most closed society. But then the military rulers who seized power from the constitutional civilian government in 1983 persist in policies which make such a conclusion irresistible.
Reference is made here of the new policy of the Supreme military Council which was carried in Maj-Gen Buhari's address to the country's workers on May Day. The drama surrounding the boycott of the traditional May Day parade by workers this year distracted attention away from the import of Gen Buhari's address; but now that the dust raised by the workers' booing has subsided, let us take a look at what Gen Buhari's address contained.
The General's speech, read on his behalf by the Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity, Maj-Gen Solomon Omojokun first called on Nigerians to limit the sizes of their families. According to the Head of State if the sizes of families were manageable, the quality of life and the standard of living would be enhanced.
This indeed is a very naive way of seeking to improve the living standard of Nigerian workers. But the greater concern is expressed in relation to Gen Buhari's order to affiliate unions of the Nigerian Labour Congress to abide by his government's policy of non- affiliation with international labour unions.
As pointed out, the workers who were more concerned about rising unemployment, high cost of living and lack of medical attention for the sick in the society gave no hearing to what they considered as the General's balderdash. But since they are dealing with men who wield guns over defenceless civilians, officers who betrayed the trust put in them by the constitutional government, muzzled the media and jailed two journalists, crippled student unions, disbanded the Nigerian medical association and jailed its leaders, dismissed thousands of workers without sympathy and executed drug peddlers, the Nigerian labour unions are well advised to take a serious note of the ominous warning from their government that their activities would be "properly monitored".
In the absence of an official explanation, it is difficult for anyone else to assign a reason for the ban on the unions to affiliate with international organisations when the government which has imposed the ban itself remains a member of the United Nations Organisation, Organisation of demonstrated African Unity, a host of other international organisations and maintains diplomatic relations with almost every country on earth.
Or is it a question of Gen Buhari, having just learnt of the achievements of the President of Albania, Enver Hoxha who died last month wanting to adopt him as his hero? A man who ruled his country from 1944 till his death certainly presents an example of stability which will be the envy of leaders like Gen Buhari whose less than 18 months old regime is meeting with widespread public disaffection as was demonstrated at the May Day celebration
Viewed however in relation with the other decisions of Gen Buhari and group, the plausible pattern that emerges, albeit faintly, is that the military regime, having virtually succeeded in intimidating the local voice of opposition to its harsh policies, is determined to insulate itself from possible criticisms and pressure from the international community. And since such pressures could easily be canvassed by Nigerians who are members of international organisations the only way out for the military regime is to prevent Nigerians from affiliating with such organisations.
Or is it a question of Gen Buhari, having just learnt of the achievements of the President of Albania, Enver Hoxha who died last month, wanting to adopt him as his hero? A man who ruled his country from 1944 till his death certainly presents an example of stability which will be the envy of leaders like Gen Buhari whose less than 18 months old regime is meeting with widespread public disaffection as was at the May Day celebration.
But before Maj-Gen Buhari sets about to turn Nigeria into Africa's Albania it must be pointed out to him that the Albanian factors which possibly aided Enver Hoxha to succeed in isolating his country from the rest of the world are different from the Nigerian situation.
Firstly, unlike Nigeria which has the largest population in Africa, Albania harbours within its borders one of the smallest populations in Europe with only 2.9 million people. Secondly, Nigeria is a member of the oil Producing Exporting countries (OPEC) and is among the richest in Africa while Albania is Europe's poorest nation with an annual per capita income of $830.
Beyond these two fundamental differences which make it impossible for any ruler to turn Nigeria into an Albania, there are the varying credentials of the two leaders which will prevent Gen Buhari from achieving what Enver Hoxha succeeded in achieving.
Born in 1908 and after his university education in France, Enver Hoxha did not only teach and help found the communist party in his country but also led a guerilla force against the German occupation of his country. It was after the Germans withdrew that Hoxha became the leader of his country.
On the other hand Gen Buhari's credentials including a stint as Minister of Petroleum under Obasanjo and success in staging a coup on the night of December 31, 1983 are not the type that impress Nigerians. But sadly therein lies Maj-Gen Buhari's inability to recognise that as a leader without the explicit consent of his people he cannot implement policies that would isolate Nigeria from the rest of the world and lead it into backwardness and ignorance.
