Reign of the naira men

Reign of the naira men

It's quite easy to understand why many foreign nations do not take Nigerians seriously especially when our leaders talk effortlessly about the poverty in the land. You cannot talk about poverty in Nigeria when foreign creditors see state governments and private individuals throw around wads of naira notes in complete disregard and contempt for the value of the currency. That's exactly what happened when Shehu Shagari recently launched his long-awaited book. Shagari's book Beckoned To Serve long kept in the closet but discussed in private and public fora was finally released for public inspection, reviews and analyses on February 22. The launching ceremony was historic in many ways. There was the inescapable odd mix of political foes and friends, the presence of some ageless military dignitaries, some serving, some retired, some removed through coups. They were all there, battling to be noticed, to make themselves relevant in the present political uncertainty.

If popularity should be measured by the amount of money raised at a book launch in Nigeria, Shagari must be declared the most popular politician or ex-politician in the 21st century. At the end of the book launch, over N70 million had been raised. By all standards, Shagari is riding the waves of upper class high approval rating. But we must not confuse popularity with performance in office. As president, Shagari looked more like a political weakling, appropriately a weather-beaten fowl than a strong, decisive leader. Perhaps his outward appearance, forever closeted in his babanriga, must be blamed for giving the man the image of a frightened but wide-eyed leader. Fact is that Shagari was not blessed with that kind of stature which is common among charismatic leaders. He lacked charisma. He also presented an image of a weak leader.

Some of the guests who attended the ceremony did so for purely selfish reasons. The book launch was an occasion to meet the quiet politicians, the loquacious politicians, the evasive politicians and those who prefer to move about with sirens or the onomatopoeic sound of elephant tusks. Put aside for one moment the tributes that were heaped on Shagari at the book launch. Nigerians have a reputation for exaggerating their importance on the world stage. History will judge later whether or not Shagari was the Tarzan of Nigerian politics as his courtiers would have everyone believe, or indeed whether Shagari was a mediocre president who shut his eyes while his ministers plundered the economy.

Consider what happened at the occasion. Of all the nauseating events that occurred at the book launch none was as distasteful and revolting as the disregard with which the high-profile guests, including (would you believe it) our own state governments, the Senate and the House of Representatives, treated the naira. It turned out that what the crowd gathered to witness was not a short reading of some paragraph or chapter from the book but the locking of horns between the rich and the super rich in Nigeria, a contest between the state governments and individual millionaires. The list of donors and the amount of money donated portrayed Nigeria as a nation of wasteful, careless and financially irresponsible leaders and ex-leaders.

Nigeria is indeed a nation made up of inexplicable members of the upper class. Which nation of affluent citizens would throw money around with such careless abandon during a mere book launch in the midst of grinding poverty, penury, disease and the parlous state of the economy? Which nation of financially prudent leaders and ex-leaders would test their popularity rating by the amount of money they donate to an already rich ex-president? Let's get this right. These rich donors were not donating so much money because Shagari had suddenly become poor or has suddenly produced a work of literary excellence (a magnum opus) overnight. The reckless display of affluence had other hidden objectives. The donors were playing a political game, indeed positioning themselves for the 2003 elections. They were, like Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, announcing their availability to potential presidential candidates cum borrowers who might be strapped of cash now but might be willing to redeem their debt at an unimaginably fixed interest rate as soon as the presidential inauguration ceremony is over. Quite simply, today's highest donor should not be perceived as the greatest philanthropist in our country but simply as an opportunistic future investor who has already calculated what he would reap from his investment in about two years' time. That is the root of corruption.

There is something in the Nigerian politician which defies human and psychological analysis. In affluent societies, where it is harder to make money, everyone understands the value of money and most importantly respects the currency. But in a country such as Nigeria where basic amenities are lacking and where a majority of the population can hardly afford three decent square meals per day, the upper class treat money as if it is something they pluck from a tree in their backyard. Why would anyone donate a staggering amount of naira at an ex-president's book launch? What is the moral behind the bizarre donation? Is it a repayment for a previous unrequited service rendered? Wouldn't it be worthwhile to donate such huge sums to universities and polytechnics to advance research and teaching in the country? Wouldn't it be wiser to donate the money to charities providing food and shelter to the poor, the hungry and the homeless? Where do our priorities lie in Nigeria? We profess to be a religious nation but we prefer to worship mammon in practice. Obviously rich people are entitled to spend their money any way they can but the public also has the right to be outraged by the manner in which this money is displayed in the open.

Diplomats and foreigners who are unfamiliar with the arrogant show of wealth by affluent Nigerians must have been appalled by what they saw at Shagari's book launch. There is also something bizarre in the roll call of the guests. Past and current military officers, who plotted the exit of Shagari and his dunderheaded ministers and advisers, came to pay homage to Shagari. Was that an act of genuine reconciliation or a reminder that the past is only the present transformed? When did the stone rejected by the builders become the chief pillar of the house? If Shagari were to mount the presidency again, the same military guys would attempt to have him removed perhaps by violent means. Shagari would be foolish to assume that everyone who attended his book launch was a true friend. Some of them were like serpent in human clothing. Some people came to praise him. Others came to ridicule him.

Individual donors can afford to be reckless in the manner they choose to donate but certainly not our state governments and political institutions. I am particularly appalled by the open lack of financial responsibility and lack of accountability displayed by the various state governments which donated millions at the book launch. Equally disgusting and reckless was the manner in which our political institutions ñ the House of Representatives and the Senate ñ donated huge sums of money which ought to have been used for other nobler causes. There is no way the Senate and the House of Representatives can morally justify throwing away the taxpayers' money in such a senseless manner. Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives must summon the courage to demand clear explanations from their leaders. If Obasanjo is serious about accountability in office, this is an opportunity for him to engage the prodigal states that donated taxpayers' money at Shagari's book launch.

Prof. Obijiofor is of Queensland University, Australia