VOX POP On OBJ's Comment: "Nigeria, Fast Drifting To A Failed, Badly Divided State Under Buhari - OBJ"

 

By Nifemi Ormabiyaku

Over the past week, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo made some comments about the state of the nation, in which he condemned the state of the nation under the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari and qualified Nigeria as a 'Failed State'. Our reporter, Nifemi Ormabiyaku spoke with the people about what feel about OBJ's comment and here's what they have to say:

Mr. David King:

   It is inhuman to believe that Nigeria just failed. Nigeria had failed since 1914. It is against the law of nature that demerit should produce merit just as it is impolitic to place the new wine in an old wineskin.

   What Chief Obasanjo said could be regarded as a reflection of himself; a statement made to arouse the pity and attention of unguarded Nigerians. His administration was not totally free of the vices that fly past our eyes today. Have you forgotten the vial escapades of Boko Haram in his days or his self-centeredness in securing a third term? What happened to Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) or the uneven distribution of infrastructural development between the north and the south under him?

   Nigeria was never formed because of the unity of Nigeria. Nigeria was formed because of the unity of purpose of the colonialists. How were we living before we came together, or rightfully, before we were forcefully joined? 

   No government in Nigeria has done beyond the expectations of an average Nigerian. They keep coming with the same contents of manifestos on different sheets of various length and colour every electoral year. What led to the first coup d'etat in 15th January,1966? How about the subsequent coups? We thought the guns will do better but they proved to be worse. Did you hear about the one trillion dollars the Swiss government returned to Nigeria recently? Courtesy of General Sanni Abacha of blessed memory.

  The point is that Nigeria did not just fail, only that it has fallen deeper in the well of failure this time and Nigerians, especially the election foodies are just beginning to realise the extent of damage caused by their unrepentant bellies, insatiable pockets and punctured mouths. All thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari for making it visible in the meanest way he can.

  Folly has no greater expression than to be comparing one Nigerian government to the other. This is what you see newspaper actors do at the vendor's stand. Has it brought the slightest solution possible? Folly will come in its greatest form when Nigerians repeat the set of mistakes that abruptly brought them to where they are today.

    What is needed is a lasting solution that does not come in mere words and comparisons but in gallant strides and heroic escapades!

Engr. Segun Awe:

Except for Yaradua who made a significant change in just two years, every other president has been a failure.

Mr. Faluyi Faith:

I think he's correct but it shouldn't be him saying it, it isn't as if the previous governments can absolve themselves of all the blames.

The failure is a result of bad policies as far back as the first civilian presidency, the military govts were of course, terrible, but no reasonable person would expect different from soldiers.

The least u could ask for is that the government should be transparent and accountable, but we can't even get these basics. 

Dr. Ojo:

Hmm! He wants something...it is just a cheap propaganda. 

Simon Akinlabi Esq.:

Nigeria is not yet a failed state.it is a state experiencing failure currently nevertheless.

It's economic landscape is battered and her borders are quite porous due to corruption that breeds insecurity. These are major pointers to a state in dire straits.

We however should not be quick to tag and bag her as a failed state, because it's a state abounding with great human and natural resources....most failed states like Guatemala, libya and Syria have completely raped...

It will only take this our Nigeria two successive governments with intentional developmental policies to become stable. ....yet, at the scent of water...

Maybe I'm being sentimental due to my love and faith...but what if I'm just being practical?

Ask Zimbabwe and Sudan about state failure. 

Baba spoke based on some parameters, but God's say is more final. There's still hope for Nigeria. May we never sink into the abyss of ignominy.

Mr Tope Oris:

Obasanjo is saying an obvious issue. I don't know the problem of this government, do they expect to be pampered for the way things are going into shambles? Whenever someone comments negatively about them, they usually compare their administration with the past administrations, instead of them adhering to the corrections. Should we because they shouldn't be annoyed and then keep mute even when the country is failed already? Indeed the truth is bitter. 

Mr Emmanuel:

The situation of Nigeria under Buhari is egregious and left one nonplaussed. It's contrary to what we expected when we voted him. Jingoism has not be this pronounced in Nigeria for the past twenty years.

Mr. Segun Amure:

The criterion to judging that Nigeria is a failed state has long existed before the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari. In fact, the failure of Nigeria as a state began with the first republic administration, the Shehu Shagari Administration, the Obasanjo (the return to the civillian regime in 1999), the Obasanjo presidency (1999-2007), from Yaradua to Jonathan, from Jonathan to Buhari. The failure of Nigeria as a state has a long historical relevance or historical beginning.

I'm against what Obasanjo said that Nigeria is a failed state under Buhari. The pillar, the foundation of the failure that besieged Nigeria was well laid during the President Olusegun Obasanjo's presidency. Is it the epileptic power supply, the failure to account for the 16 billion dollars that Obasanjo administration plunged into electricity in Nigeria, is it the mismanagement of the country's resources, is it the illegal engagement with the national asset that was sold off during the Obasanjo's presidency, is it the insecurity in the Jonathan's presidency, is it the insecurity, the bandit, the anti-corruption in the Buhari's administration.

To put this straight the criterion to judging that Nigeria has failed began with the first republic, second republic, return to civillian regime and from 1999 till now, in fact by extension shortly after the independence, Nigeria's status as a failed nation has his history, so I'm against what Obasanjo said. The status of Nigeria being a failure is dated to the back. 

Mr. Gani Salau:

Well, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,, the former president is entitled to his opinion. He is A stakeholder in Nigeria project. 

I will agree with him but what a little moderation. A failed state as a political scientist means a state of the state with collapsed system in which there is no functional apparatus of government. 

However, in a contemporary Nigeria where there is insecurity, economic downturn, ethnicity and nepotism, sectionalism, loss of national value ,promotion of undemocratic values, loss of confidence in electoral umpires, economic hardship and so on, one could say the country is drifting.