It was the military President General Babangida who said, Nigeria politics was all about Awolowo and those who were against his policies, and it was confirmed by Ikemba of Nnewi, Emeka Odumegu Ojukwu the leaders of the defeated Biafra movement who said, Awolowo was the best president Nigeria never had, but, in truths and facts, the story of political giant of the siege of Nigeria or Yoruba politics died with the emergence of General Olusegun Obasanjo, firstly, as Nigeria Military Head of state in 1976 and other subsequent events of Nigeria politics, even at most of Nigeria council of states meetings, those with eyes could see that Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo in and out of office Nigeria was and is the undisputed leader, even General Gowon he served under as a Federal Commissioner knew the hero of current political dispensation was OBJ.
The 1979 Federal election was marred with controversy over 2/3 majority which neither party met the lines of the constitution but the military, under Obasanjo, for the sake of administrative peace gave the victory to President Sheu Shagari, the man General Gowon said, the only thing he could do without supervision or contact guard assist was to light his Benson and hedges cigarette. How would such a man with little knowledge or understanding of the founding fathers of Nigeria lead the most populous black nation was the problem yet to be defined by all.
However, the warm embrace General Olusegun Obasanjo expected from his people the Yoruba was not there, he was seen more like a saboteur of the Dreams of Awolowo than a soldier who put Nigeria unity above all narrow mindedness of Nigeria politics since the death of Hubert Macaulay in 1946, for those who read the part one of this article, Nigeria unity broke into pieces before the Nation had the independence in 1960, the British had used divide and rule strategies to split the country into three administrative regions, East, West and North, it encouraged the North to focus more on the military recruitment with many of the children of the Emirs and opinion leaders as young military officers, while in the south, the military was for those with no family head start in life, those were the bulk of the military personnel from the south, they did not command the same respect like their Northern counterparts from the organization that was first called the British frontiers, West African frontiers and later Nigerian Army.
President Sheu Shagari, was a disaster from day one in office, he did not even know what to do with the leadership of the nation given to him, his Party signed accord with NPP of Azikwe to form the government, the platform of his style was based on parliamentary system instead of executive leadership or presidency in the constitution, and Nigeria wallow in ignorance of knowledge and ideas on how to move the nation forward.
This writer referred to one of the best articles by Dele Giwa of the Newswatch magazine titled “Bicycle Government” the article explained how President Sheu Shagari combined stupidity with ignorance in affairs of Nigeria and by the first term of his directionless government, Nigeria had lost all the foreign reserves which the government of Obasanjo made the whole country to labor from through the so called “Low profile” and policy of “Cut your coat according to your cloth”.
In a civilized society like the United States of America, the presidency is the embodiment of the hopes and goals of the country, that is the reason for primaries debates within parties that are organized by various bodies at least 18 months to the election, including press release and the citizens are required to ask questions from any aspirant, he cannot refuse to attend debates or answer questions, his or her answers, books and articles read or written in past would be used to understand his or her goals for the country in most cases unprepared and stupid leaders are done with at the primaries before the general or presidential election
However, in Nigeria under the President Sheu Shagari, there was none of the above, some party leaders like AMA Akinloye said, they talked to God or Allah in Mecca and God or Allah had selected Sheu as Nigeria President, what a God would allow his people to continue to suffer for the sake of nothing was enough ground to doubt everything religion stood for.
NPN members were celebrating billionaire’s status on the pages of newspapers, some even had Champagne brand names for themselves, and banks were opened at nights to withdraw money to spray at nights parties. It was more than what Chief Awolowo could stomach, he wrote an open letter to the Nation and the Presidency of the danger ahead and how the future was being mortgaged by careless spending, NPN called him a frustrated politician, AMA Akinloye asked Awolowo to see the robust cheeks of its members and all the siege needed to do was to join the party.
In between all these, General Obasanjo could do nothing, he knew he made the mistake of handing over government to a man not up to the task of a nation like Nigeria, but it was too late for him, President Shagari had cut off communication with the man from Ota farm and the whole country waited for the October 1983 Election to kick NPN out of office, the NYSC program was done in fear, everyone knew it would be the worst time in Nigeria election year but Nigeria in their wisdom or otherwise through massive rigging elected Sheu Shagari as President, as usual, Chief Awolowo went to court, again he lost like he did in 1979 and three months after General Buhari became Nigeria Military leader.
President Sheu Shagari’s government was like having cancer and degenerative disease at the same time, it marked the beginning of every that was evil about politics in Nigeria, the corruption and ignorance of political dispensation never left the nation, it was the foundation the future politicians transitioned to the steps that became a monster for many years to come, such a man must never be respected or seen in political arena of any civilized society, yet in Nigeria he shamelessly attends the council of states meeting like every other past leaders, was he an Oriaku or Opataku?(wait for Part five
The Oracle 