Person of the Year
Part 2
So back to those who made the most significant positive contributions to the progress and development of the Nigerian nation in 2007. My ten nominees, we recall are Peter Obi, Archbishop Peter Akinola, General Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the Supreme Court. What is the basis of these nominations and who will be our eventual choice of Person of the Year?

Peter Obi was the choice of Anambra people as Governor in 2003. The PDP in Anambra State then under the physical leadership of Chris Uba, and spiritual mentorship of Andy Uba rigged Dr Chris Ngige into office. Of course relations between the Ubas and Ngige broke down shortly thereafter and all the things which were done in secret places were revealed in public, notably Aso Rock! The whole weight of Obasanjo’s government was deployed against Ngige and for a long period, Anambra was basically an anarchic society. Meanwhile Peter Obi put his faith in the electoral tribunals, plodding on in spite of significant odds, until three years later in 2006 he assumed his rightful place as governor by the auspices of the judiciary.

The PDP-controlled legislature then illegally impeached Obi and he returned to the courts which again re-instated him. Obi then returned to court asking their Lordships to declare that his term of office did not expire in May 2007. By then the PDP, Obi’s own party (APGA), his party leadership and his deputy had all conspired by various subterfuges to keep him off the 2007 gubernatorial contest. Incredibly the Supreme Court eventually ruled that Obi’s tenure started counting from 2006 when he was sworn in and will run for four years till 2010. Obi deserves recognition for his faith in democracy and the rule of law rather than might, and his tenacity and commitment.

Archbishop Akinola stood for his principles and faith in the face of powerful homosexual constituencies who will rather re-interpret the Bible to suit their orientation. He faced up to a Western Anglican establishment that elevates a notion of sexual freedom above the explicit stipulations of the faith. He demonstrated great leadership and made black and African Christians proud. I found it somewhat curious (and ironical) that while Akinola was excelling on the global stage, his colleagues in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were replacing him as President. General Buhari also showed principle and commitment to his chosen course especially within the murky waters of politics in Nigeria. Of course he has paid a high price in betrayal by his ANPP colleagues for his principles, but his example is worthy of recognition.

Atiku Abubakar did a lot to advance the course of democracy in Nigeria in the last few years, and history may yet be kind to him. He, along with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu created a viable opposition party-the Action Congress (AC) against great odds. He fought doggedly against the whole might of the Obasanjo regime, overcoming obstacle after obstacle and even though he did not win the 2007 elections, it was a major victory for him even participating in that elections. In the process, he helped to advance our constitutional law, and firmly established the principle that no regime can arbitrarily exclude candidates from contesting elections except as prescribed by the Nigerian Constitution, and the Courts.

President Obasanjo should have been the undisputed man of the year, but he blew his chance, and almost subverted his own legacy with his own hands. But in spite of himself, many of Obasanjo’s efforts will endure-a debt-free nation, a new pension system, a revitalized banking sector, a telecommunications boom, the EFCC and ICPC, the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), an incipient solid minerals sector, many private universities, a resurgence of foreign investment and indigenous entrepreneurship etc. His failures in infrastructure especially transport and power, the duplicity over corruption and the mistakes of his last two years in office (third term, electoral sham and reduced fiscal transparency in particular) threaten his legacy, but may not have completely undermined it.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has always been a particular favourite of this column, but for very good reasons. She presided over a transparent finance ministry, institutionalised prudent fiscal arrangements that ensured Nigeria now has in excess of $50billion in reserves, obtained the Paris Club debt write-off, and when people needed money for third-term, elections and personal pensions, she gladly stepped down rather than beg to remain a Minister like many would have done. Today the world has vindicated her, with her elevation as a Managing Director at the World Bank, proving that you cannot keep a good woman down. Governor Fashola has started very well in Lagos-awarding many road and infrastructure contracts, training teachers, revitalizing sports development, investing in education, health, environment and security, and doubling the state’s budget etc. If as they say, morning shows the day, then Lagosians support for Fashola may not have been misplaced.

The EFCC and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu gave us hope especially in the later part of 2007 that Nigeria does not have to live with corruption, their only stain being their role in the unconstitutional impeachments and disqualifications. But Ribadu has done the unthinkable, hurling ex-governors Orji Kalu, Saminu Turaki, Jolly Nyame, Alamieyesegha, Chimaroke Nnamani, Ayo Fayose and James Ibori before the courts to answer allegations of money laundering and corrupt practices while in office. Many others are reportedly in line for similar treatment. Not surprisingly the anti-Ribadu vanguard is up in arms. The Attorney-General, Kaase Aondoakaa has been the arrowhead of the campaign to curb Ribadu’s powers, but the group is getting wider, with IG Mike Okiro now involved and many respected lawyers providing intellectual support. Not surprisingly, the political class is united against Nuhu Ribadu, across party lines. President Yarádua’s capitulation to this admittedly formidable coalition casts a big shadow over his government’s credibility and his commitment to the anti-corruption war!

The Supreme Court has acted as the last bastion of democracy when all else have failed. It is by virtue of its resilience that the unconstitutional impeachments of various ex-governors-Joshua Dariye, Rasheed Ladoja and Peter Obi were reversed. But for those reversals, the manner of impeachments supervised by Obasanjo’s government would have destroyed Nigerian democracy. It is by the grace of the Court that Atiku Abubakar contested the presidential elections and Ifeanyi Araurume the Imo governorship, effectively proving that INEC and any sitting regime cannot determine capriciously who contests elections and who does not. It is the Supreme Court that has restored Peter Obi to office in Anambra, ensuring that victims of election rigging are not denied a remedy. Of course Rotimi Amaechi is Governor in Rivers because the Court stood against arbitrary and illegal actions of political parties. The Supreme Court is our Institution of the Year 2007.