In today’s Africa, it is almost unheard of. More so when the news is Nigeria. To the rest of the world, the news that a former Nigerian president can declare his assets and what we find on the list only include two mud houses (inherited from his mother and older sister who are both deceased), 270 herds of cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, a variety of birds, and a number of economic trees comes across as surreal. The palpability of the news itself when placed within the context of the psychographic indices of most African leaders past or present gives cause for hope.
According to the assets’ declaration form just made public, to his name, are two undeveloped lands and such other non-descript personal property, a single bank account with 30 million Nigerian naira (about $150,000 USD) which compared to what we are used to in terms of the wealth and opulence that have come to be associated with many members of Africa’s ruling class, this list sounds paltry and understandably stunning. To pundits this is a poor boy’s portfolio by any African standard.
As part of his campaign promises, was his pledge to fight corruption a malignant ailment that has been threatening to hobble arguably one of Africa’s most important nations. It was therefore expected by all that he, President MuhammaduBuhari will lead by example.
That is why it was made a big deal especially by the opposition when there was a perceived delay in publicly declaring Buhari’s assets and those of his Vice President, former law professor,YemiOsinbajo. The uproarious response from a section of the Nigerian populace whose horrible experiences in the hands of governments with leaders who had in the past sold them a bad bill of goods was expected. We all know how these characters enriched themselves and their cohorts by willy-nilly dipping hands into the till or by outrightly coveting of the commonwealth of the nation.
When Buhari’s assets were declared last week, most Nigerians and others in the international community were pretty flabbergasted. For here is a man, who had the choice of joining the band of looters who still walk or had walked the corridors of power all over Africa but rather opted for an ascetic lifestyle which in itself is very un-Nigerian.
As a matter of fact, space will fail me if I were to detail an inventory of luxury items, mansions, and offshore accounts of African leaders among who are the very notorious ones such as Equatorial Guinea’s Marcia Nguema and his son, Theo; Omar Bongo of Gabon; Denis SassouNguesso of Congo Brazaville who was alleged to have spent 1.8 million euros on shopping for shirts and suits between 2005 and 2011 while his country’s income per capita ranked amongst the worst in the world; Congo Kinshasa’s Mobutu Seseko, and the other not-too-obvious ones, some obviously from Nigeria, whose loots are concealed in coded and secret accounts, in shell companies and of course, by the criminal use of proxies.
It was indeed therefore refreshing to have an African leader who mirrors the sort of ideals that has for years been in gross short supply in our beloved Continent.
That in itself tells me that Buhari meant business when he promised his countrymen and women during his electioneering campaign that the fight against corruption and corrupt practices will form the fulcrum of his agenda as President. In close proximity to him during his visit to Washington DC in July, his body language confirmed that the gentleman means business. And when asked during that trip if he will prosecute members of his own party who run foul of his anti-corruption guidelines, his response was in the affirmative. I remember he did not even pause when he gave that answer to the reporter.
As I write, most Nigerians can already feel the ripple effect of his uncompromising posture in their daily life. Within the rank-and-file of his party itself, the All Peoples Congress (APC), we can hear that the murmuring is fast turning into public outcry.
His party-men are still unsure of what to make of Buhari. Some are even telling party leadership “we told you so”. To them however, one thing has become clear. That this guy will not be pushed around. And he will not be intimidated. Neither will he be blackmailed. They all know deep down their belly that the Nigeria of the past where public offices were doled out to the highest bidder was gone. Especially, under Buhari. Something has sure shifted on the Nigerian political landscape.
With a vociferous opposition in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has literally been on the offensive from day one, my earnest hope is that Buhari maintains a zero margin for error. It is almost common knowledge among Nigerians that the PDP still rues the day they conceded power to APC.
I believe that the doves in the party led by Goodluck Jonathan seem to have been lured into conceding defeat with the belief that Buhari will forget the past and move on with the future. That he will not ruffle feathers. To their consternation, that has not been so. I believe that given the eventful outbursts of one of the PDP stalwarts, GodsdayOrubebe while the Chairman of the electoral commission, INEC, AbubakarJega made the official announcement of the results of the presidential elections that fateful day, the disposition among the PDP hawks had been to create mayhem by contesting the election results.
To his credit however, Jonathan knew better and conceded. Not for national interest but more as an act of self – preservation. He had read the ominous handwriting on the wall. And did not want to go down ingloriously like the knuckle-headed Laurent Gbagbo of the Ivory Coast.
Buhari must in the light all these realize that the ability to effectively execute on his offensive against corruption will be the best defence against the vituperations of the opposition party.
With a lifestyle like his, Buhari seems armed with the moral imperative needed to pursue his cleansing exercise to its logical conclusion. His antecedents from 1983 as military head of state holds him out as the right man for the job.
Those of us old enough to remember, will recall the successes of his War-On-Indiscipline (WAI). Add this to his proven strength of character evidenced by his non- capitulation and unwillingness to compromise during those 35 years in political purgatory, and all you have is a man who has more than mere pecuniary interests in seeking to serve his motherland.
Charles Anyiam
