Yar'adua, And A Government's Lack Of Integrity.
Prince Charles Dickson


The Yar'adua administration may have been conferred with legality with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court but that does make the government a legitimate one. Despite the best of intentions, the fact remains obvious and has not changed much because at best Yar'Adua's government has remained a 'go-slow' one.

The phrase used to describe the traffic chaos in Lagos and these days Abuja, "A man or woman of integrity cannot be perplexed or frightened, they go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace like a clock during a thunderstorm...Blaine Lee, 1997"

It was Political commentator Paul I. that asked the question, if Nigerians are suffering "Expectation Fatigue"....? I lend my voice to ask further how soon do we forget and when do we remember? What is the difference between an Obasanjo presidency and the present one of Yar'Adua?

Sadly very little and infact if we keep this pace we may begin soon to hail the ex-dictator.

Is it not safe to state that sooner than later we may be grateful to an Obasanjo that respected the Media, infact for all his scorn; he never bothered about them, while we leashed the truth on him? He somewhat persevered, maybe for a lack of shame. However, the present administration seem destined for a journey to nowhere.

In the following paragraphs, I would tell us this story and make a few remarks and allow us be judge.

A mother once brought her child to Gandhi, asking him to tell the young boy not to eat sugar, because it was not good for his diet or developing teeth.

Gandhi replied, "I cannot tell him that. But you may bring him back in a month." She had travelled some distance, and had expected the great leader to support her parenting. She had little recourse, so left him. Four weeks later she returned to the sage.

The great Gandhi took the small child's hands into his own, knelt before him, and tenderly cautioned, "Do not eat sugar, my child. It is not good for you." Then he embraced him and returned the boy his mother. The mother grateful but perplexed, queried, "Why didn't you say that a month ago?" "Well," said Gandhi, " a month ago, I was still eating sugar."

I have often summed up Gandhi's life by saying that he was ready to do what everybody could do but would not do.

I was told by a schoolmate of Yar'adua that he is one whose antecedent started before today, he told me of his days of activism in the old Barewa College, he informed me in few words that Mr. President was always on war path with the school authorities. The picture he painted was not different from those painted by others that believed in Yar'adua.

However today, the problem is that many cannot see that guy that was painted to us. We see a Yar'adua with two birthdays, several inconsistencies, one minute there is the media glitz of the much touted energy sector coming up, and then we end in a traffic jam.

Next it is electoral reform, and we see that as epitomized through the redefinition of rigging as a mistake. There are several pictures, one of a presidency under his control but doing nothing, while there is the Turai presidency, there is equally a presidency of cabinet kitchens their own clout depends on the appetite and food available.

Then we also see the politics of Ministerial slots and personnel..

As for me, I believe history beckons. He either would be better than Obj, (this many of us are beginning to doubt) or we would sooner than later wish that Obj had 'tar zar ched' (continued)...The way and manner that his government has handled his first year leaves more to be desired, many may think otherwise but I believe that the resolutions. The accusations and counters, as shown in the El-classicos involving Ribadu, El-Rufai, Ibori, and so many others speak volumes of the lack of integrity in this government.

A group of Nigerians are advocating more time for this government to settle, another group rightful ask, which time, how long do we want the people to suffer. When all the past hunted and haunted ex-governors suddenly can visit EFFC at their own violation, is there more to it than our eyes can see. Have these men suddenly become men of integrity.

One also is aware of some that already building war chests for the next elections which is by the corner. Integrity now can be seen as steal as much as one can while in Public office, return some and aspire for a bigger pie. A case study on investing in power in Nigeria...

For Yar'adua and the men that have helped him run the affairs of the country, there is acute Acquired Integrity Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Integrity as a matter of wholeness: of being healthy in mind, body, spirit, morals and test is missing, and do I believe we can witness the Gandhi scenario? NO. The barrier is that with the caliber of men and women in both houses of the National Assembly, various State Houses, we are again suffering expectation fatigue.

Is there any hope that workers would be treated fair and square, during Obasanjo it was an ugly President and a largely ugly government, with few exceptions, it was a total lack of integrity in actions.

A nation's Attorney General interpreted the nation's status and laws like a kitchen diet schedule that can be changed at the slightest change of urge by the cook. A Ribadu barked, and bite at his master's bidding and now can hardly bark. In simple terms he has become the hunted.

Today government and governance if anything is a center for stealing, studying of thieves and con-men and these days women, unfortunately even the few sane men amongst the lot have been overtaken by the crooks and sadly the term integrity has been thrown into the gutter.


Even the foreign reserve, not to pre-empt any scandal is reducing, as government is complaining at all tiers that it is tightening its belt...only oil can no longer do the magic. There is problem in the land...any hope in this hopeless circumstance. This short take questions us all, where is the integrity?

I will end with the words of Late Justice J. I. C. Taylor, one time Chief Justice of Lagos "Book knowledge or academic degree is no education at all. What is education is honesty with firm principle. To be able to stand against all odds. In the face of palpable injustice. A single honest and principled man among a thousand standing alone forms a majority. Is Yar'adua and his lieutenants an example of integrity...No I seriously doubt!