Nigeria: An Unfinished State —Sola Odunfa

I have had the privilege of meeting at close quarters with nearly all Nigerian heads of government so far, and one thing I can testify about them is that they are all well-intentioned.

They mean very well for the country and they believe sincerely that their only problem is the incapability of Nigerians to identify and appreciate what is good for them.

There was “Gentleman Jack” who after nine years of hard labour as military head of state decreed that his promised 1976 handover date was no longer realistic and he would therefore, with utmost reluctance, remain in office until a more convenient date in the – preferably distant – future revealed itself in his crystal ball.

Presto, Nigerians turned against him!

Yet that was the man who, to break the monotony of daily battle front news from the civil war, gave Nigerians an unprecedented state wedding, into which huge resources were invested to raise the spirit of the nation.

That was the same man who concluded that his country’s problem was not money but how to spend it, and he proceeded to really spend and spend and spend.

There was this other leader who invited me to State House for private discussions one evening shortly after his assumption of office.

He received me in his bedroom because that was apparently the only room to which the large crowd of patronage seekers had not laid siege.

He complained that he had not had a single day’s rest since the election whereas his opponents had travelled abroad on holiday.

He was tired, he confessed, and he would appreciate understanding from Nigerians that he too was human.

His countrymen were far from being that charitable. Rather than pity the poor man, the question was being asked everywhere why he fought for the office when he knew he hadn’t the wherewithal – physical and otherwise.

It turned out that Mr President merely glorified the office throughout his tenure. No-one could accuse him of doing anything wrong because he did nothing.

In Nigeria the road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions! Enter the “evil genius”.

I heard that long before he had access to the big pot, his nickname in the officers’ mess was “Bank of England”.

What is the responsibility of government if not to take care of the people’s welfare?

The genius did just that – smiling at those who embraced his policy of better life for all.

I don’t think it was his fault that the majority of the people could not access his paradise – it was not meant for all.

After him came an imposter who was not even allowed to settle into office, before he was shooed off.

I really did not know his successor, because I had decided I should stay as far from him for my safety. He was Satan personified.

My experience of him was during a short private interview I had with his legitimate predecessor at the presidential wing of Abuja Airport when he was the heir apparent.

At the end of the interview he stepped from behind his boss and told me point blank to the hearing of their aides: “Sola if you write a wrong report I will kill you.”

One of his aides came back minutes later and warned me that his boss was not joking and I should be very careful. When he seized office, I decided never to go anywhere near him. He turned out to be a monster.

We’ve also had Mr Patriot. Whether clad in khaki green or in voluminous robe, our man is the epitome of patriotism, knowledge and wisdom.

Another quality he drums into whoever cares to hear is that he is the chosen one of God, therefore he cannot be wrong. Well, I don’t like superhuman beings, I cannot trust them.

I remember the first time we met after a long separation. It was at an official event.

As he was being ushered towards the hall entrance he stopped at about an arm’s length from me, faced me, faked a smile and said: “Sola, so you are still alive?”

What dry humour, I wondered. So I replied with exaggerated courtesy: “Sir, I’m still hanging around to write your obituary.” He turned and marched on.

If only he could shed his bloated ego! He is today his own political orchestra.

Nigeria has just celebrated its 51st independence anniversary: The newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations have been full of analyses why the nation is likely to disintegrate sooner or later.

To me, this country is like the organ of the ram in Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s song which swings wildly when the ram runs but will never fly off.

The elite have so much common interest in looting the treasury that neither tribe nor tongue nor religion allows them break up the country.

The Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah says Nigeria is “an unfinished state”, not “a failed state”. I agree.

•Odunfa wrote this article for the BBC