Whispering Drums With Maigani
by Musa Ibrahim
Reflections on 31 Dec, 1983
It was then announced that the take-over was for the following reasons
a. mismanagement of the economy;
b. lack of public accountability
c. insensitivity of the political leadership
d. general deterioration in the standard of living as a result of which the common man was subjected to intolerable suffering.
It must be assumed that if the reasons above justified the ascension of the present regime, the presupposition that its objectives were therefore to rectify the state of the nation on those premises would not be overly over-presumptuous. In reflecting over the turn of events since the takeover, these random thoughts suggest that there has been a failure by the new rulers to address the alleged issues that confronted Nigeria in 1983.
The Nigerian situation today, for instance, can be likened to the story of the two Russians who were afraid to return home due to uncertainty. They eventually agreed that one of them should go, and if things were alright, he should write in blue ink, if things were not, to write in red ink. He got home and immediately after he had settled down he wrote to his friend in blue ink, informing him that everything was good and everything was in abundance except red ink. Talk about no other way of sending the correct message!
Spokesmen for the government argue that things are much better now than they were in 1983. That the queues that marked locations where essential commodities were sold in the regime's early days, for instance, are no longer seen. While one may state that true, the queues are no more there, perhaps it is because the essential commodities are not there too! For even though Nigerians may be slightly foolish at times, queueing for no reason has never been one of their foolish characteristics. Certainly, if and when the essential commodities are back, no doubt the queues too will be back. But then, since the absence of queues is a sign of achievement to a few eggheads in government, the best way for them to keep the queues away is to provide no reason to queue! So much for things being better now than in the early days of the takeover.
Let me here attempt to express certain reflections on the reasons advanced as earlier mentioned and state what in my view today obtains:
a. Mismanagement of the Economy
There is no evidence to show that there is an improvement in the state of the national economy, Counter-trade is a desperation without a basis, its supporting arguments notwith- standing, the economic outlook is disparagingly gloomy. It has streamlined sources of industrial raw materials, and severely, if not almost completely, restricted the choice sourcing of Nigerian entrepreneurs. In effect, either you are in business with us, the counter-trading proponents, or not with us, and therefore no more in busi- ness with anybody!
Basic example: Brazil buys sugar at $20 per ton from Tate and Lyle (UK), sells to Nigeria under the agreement at $25; economic sense par excellence, one may say. But who else other than the beneficiaries would agree? Greased palms, sole franchises, and what have you, stories not too strange are heard here and there, often and then, but consistent nonetheless.
b. Lack of Public Accountability
Talk about public accountability, for goodness sake. One thing immediately comes to mind. No doubt, under the civilian government, Nigerians were able to challenge policies and actions as they surfaced. On the pages of newspapers, during television pro- grammes or through radio waves.
These days, most information on the back door deals and unsavoury occurrences by government officials are publicly heard as monitored by the foreign press, or make the private rounds as and when revealed by foreign partners. Overhead hovers Decree No. 4, so how dare we demand public account- ability? If what you hear is not enough for your cars, my advice is to dare to challenge Decree No. 4! An irony of what, would one ask, is this?
c. Insensitivity of the Political Leadership
To talk about Leadership is to suggest there is somebody in charge of affairs. For me, there is difficulty in placing exactly who that person is. Perhaps for that reason I am unable to decide on the matter of insensitivity.
d. General Deterioration and Intolerable Suffering
I am unable to say anything meaning- ful on this point, but do bear with me, a word or two may be found.
Perhaps indefinite detention without trial is not intolerable suffering since you are assured of three meals a day ... one wonders what such meals would be like if they were square!
By the way, prison days, I hear, are shorter than the days of those of them serving sentences outside the prison walls. It seems, at least, that in those days, a certain standard of living did exist, and as such, we could see a deterioration. These days, since there no more is a standard, obviously, no deterioration is perceptible. The slide cycle has been completed, I guess.
As for the common man, it is clear the NTA correspondent who set out in search of him has not found the common man as yet. Until then, we must recognize that we all are common men... unless of course you happen to be a lucky passenger in the black SHQ plated Peugeot!
At this point I wonder. The fella who read out the reasons on December 31, perhaps he made a mistake, or did he have one drink too many? Let's opt for the former option, he made a mis- take. For his mistake was in presenting the mere existence of these reasons as justification for the change of Leader- ship. He failed to state, as he should then have, that rectification was the objective. Sooner than later, an account must be given and a defence must be made.
The siren of No. 2 is getting louder, and I must move out of the way. My chair is blocking the convoy, and 1 cannot write standing up so. I must stop thinking at random, for I must now wave my hand, with all my heart. at our very determined and tough strongman... The one and only Idiagbon.
But for now, thanks be to God for his little mercies, for we all know what these days are....
