Soludo challenges Nigerians

Soludo challenges Nigerians
By Olu Obafemi

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Even in the most barbaric of human acts, you see a bit of wisdom. You and I may question the Japanese ritual killing – harakiri on the reason that it is condemnable to take one’s life. However, among the Jains, it is the reverse. You are not to take any life whatsoever, but you can take your own.


Soludo


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Talking about harakiri, once, the Americans took a decision the Japanese considered hostile to them as a nation, the next morning, when the American representative in Japan opened his door, he saw dead Japanese. Behold, they had committed harakiri as a protest to what they considered as harsh American policies.

The foregoing may be barbaric, but the fact is that the Japanese reacted when their honour was assaulted. Though differently, it was in line with what Gabriel Marcel said a long time ago. “A man who believes in nothing and a man who depends on nothing is a man without correction.” In Nigeria today, can we say we are ready to go out of our way to do certain things for the sake of honour and for one’s love for the country? If this is not patriotism, what is?

Recently, the country had a Central Bank Governor in the person of Prof. Charles Soludo. He is brilliant but certainly not the most brilliant among other Nigerians. Soludo was the National Economic Adviser under Obasanjo. He was also appointed the Governor of the Central Bank under Obasanjo. He was one of the founders of the Transcorp. Soludo changed the garb of Nigeria banking from conservatism to an institution hungry for awards, with himself awarded the Best Central Bank Governor in the world. Other magician bankers, even when like him they were presiding over failed institutions, won award as the best bank, and all that.

Today, God will bless Lamido Sanusi, he is cleansing the banking industry. Where Soludo saw no problem, Lamido is seeing something graver than problem. Those banks that won the best laurels under Soludo are now certified as clinically dead, the very banks he boasted might buy other distressed banks in other parts of the world.

As a result of Soludo’s recklessness, many Nigerians are in distress. Banks being one of the sectors that drive the economy, he made Nigerians to buy all manner of shares and today shares have crumbled.

When Soludo’s tenure was about to expire, Nigerians clamoured for his retention not knowing that he confused and confounded everybody. When the presidency appointed another person instead, we cried blue murder, not knowing that there were things they saw, which we did not see. Today the presidency is justified.

What is very surprising is that even in the midst of Soludo’s exposure as having failed Nigerians and the economy of the country, he is still prancing all over the place in the name of wanting to contest the Governorship. What type of country is this? He has not even apologized to the people of Nigeria for misleading them, rather he talks arrogantly and proudly. In some countries, his first class will be taken away from him.

Were Soludo to be from Japan, by now the country will be witnessing an epidemic of harakiri. Many people would have killed themselves in protest of what Soludo did. Many people would have even killed themselves not out of what he did, but for the fact that he is still threatening to continue leading the people as a Governor.

At this juncture, you will agree with me that Soludo is a challenge to Nigerians. How can a man preside over the collapse of the economy and to add insult to injury he wants to be Governor and the press is keeping quiet. Where are our columnists? Is the journalist no longer a watchdog of the society? To prove the type of man he truly is, look at the way and manner he became the candidate of the PDP.

How can Soludo without inherited riches, and after five years as the Central Bank governor have the money he is spending today in the name of politics?

Where did he get the money to buy hundreds of vehicles he is distributing to people? Where did he get the money to buy houses in London, Abuja, Enugu, Isuofia and more? Where did Soludo get the money, as reported by the newspapers, to pay off millions to some of those who were contesting against him? Where did he get the money with which he is “terrorizing” Anambra State?

From the foregoing, it is clear that Soludo has many questions to answer and he should answer them. Many Nigerians are disappointed that these questions are not asked. I am constrained to point this out because if care is not taken, his annoying swagger when he actually should be out of circulation, may get some of us think about hara-kiri. The odour is unbearable.

Ifemesia, a public Affairs analyst, wrote from Awka