The Best Nigerian President

The Best Nigerian President

This theme “The Best Nigerian President” is a critical one. This is because to me, Nigeria has not had a president at its best. Nevertheless, there are the top three Nigerian best presidents. The “Best” will be attributed to these top three for one or more unique thing(s) they did for the good of the nation. Among these top three, I will still choose the best with reasons.

It is also important for me to make it clear in this write up that attributing “Best” to these top three does not mean that they were political saints or free from all the common criticisms against Nigerian political leaders today, rather, the “Best” will be attributed for their unique contributions in one or more areas, which really was for the good of the nation, especially the masses. These top three include:

Top 3

Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua: Former President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (late) became the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007 to 5th May 2010 He won 3rd place in the top three best presidents of Nigeria based on the following factors:

i.  Honesty/Sincerity of Heart: Former President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (late) is the first civilian President that has ever told Nigerians the whole truth, in terms of the electoral system that brought him to power. In his speech, Former President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (late) admitted to Nigerians and the world that the elections that produced him as president “Had shortcoming” and promised electoral reforms to correct the system. This is unique compared to the political leaders we have today. One of the problems in Nigeria which are causing great setbacks in the progress and true workable unity of Nigeria is that our political leaders are prone to telling (political) lies to the masses. Most of them go even to the extent of leading and running the nation in and with lies.

On 28 June 2007, Yar’Adua publicly revealed his declaration of assets from May, becoming the first Nigerian leader to do so. This disclosure, which fulfilled a pre-election promise he made, was intended to set an example for other Nigerian politicians and discourage corruption. This is a high level of honesty and sincerity of heart, compared to other political leaders in Nigeria.

ii. Good heart for Leadership: It is very difficult to see a core Northern  Muslim president give much concern to nonnorthern and Islamic states in Nigeria, especially eastern states. But Former President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (late) was not biased in his leadership as the Nigerian president. He had regard and concern, not only for the Northern people, and the people of his religion, but for all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe and religion. One of the incidents to justify the above claim is his granting the Niger Delta militant amnesty, even though they are not from the north or Muslims. This act was really for the good of the nation since it went a long way to bring peace and order in the nation, especially from that region. Also, it aided to put a stop to the vandalization of the Nigerian pipelines, thereby protecting and boosting the strength of the national economy. In addition, it provided the safety of the foreigners who co-worked with the Nigerian expertise to the managing of the Nigerian crude.

I supposed that Former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (late) has great good intentions for all Nigerians and its states if not the unwanted ill-health that later resulted in his unwanted death on 5th May 2010.

Top 2

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan: Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan became the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 5 May 2010 to 29 May 2015. He won 2nd place in the top three best presidents of Nigeria in this article, based on the fact that he is the only Nigerian President that is what I may call “Extravagant Patriot”.

Former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan may be anything and everything that our Nigerian political leaders and aspirations are. But one thing he is not is a power bloodthirsty monster, and not a political beast who will devour his citizens because they do not really agree with him, he is certainly not a political viper that strikes his political opponents with unrecoverable venom and not a political vampire who kills and suck the blood of his own citizens.

He may have been a weakling as some accused him of. He may have been a drunkard as others rumored about him. And he may not have all the political charisma and the rocky, stony heart and thorny soul to play the game of politics, a game of thrones. Yet, he is and has proven himself a Political Hero, a Democratic Lord, and the best political leader who has ever lived in Nigeria in terms of patriotism, who can rank shoulders with other African and European best political leaders. Former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a political father, who is compassionate and mindful of his citizens. He valued his citizens' lives, especially the lives of the poor, less privileged, and the unlearned, much more than political power, political glory, sit and wealth, and he said sincerely, "My political sit does not worth the life of any citizen".

His goodness of heart and understanding of the value of life, and his respect and believe in democracy and acceptance of the rule of law, made him have all the military and paramilitary forces at his disposal, yet, he gave up the seat of political power for the greater good of and for all citizenry of Nigeria. He is a warrior-hero, a preserver of lives, properties, values, and he is the world-political good example. For the fact that he had tasted the sit of political power and all its glory and wealth, yet he easily gave it up for the greater good; instead of using his power to fight and remove men and women in the high ranks of power that could fight against his political ambition, shows that he is a humanitarian leader. A leader who loved his people, who do not have selfish ambition or personal interest at the expense of the general interest of the masses. He proved himself a leader who does not segregate religiously, tribally, or sociopolitically. What he did in accepting defeat, congratulating his running mate even before he was declared the winner, has become a very big shoe that other political leaders may not be able to fit in.

Top 1

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo became the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from May 1999 to May 2007.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is the number one overall top three of the best presidents of Nigeria. The reason for choosing him as the best president that Nigeria has produced so far is based on the following factors:

i. Development: During the time of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the president of Nigeria, Nigeria was growing daily in development. This development was both on economic and technological development. First, I remember vividly when landline, Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) was the only means of telecommunication in Nigeria, and of course, it was for the rich or wealthy citizens of the nation alone. I also remember when a SIM card was sold over thirty thousand Nigeria, not to talk of the handset itself. All these were only affordable for the rich. It was at this point that the Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo said that soon even a market woman will have and make use of the mobile phones (handset). It wasn’t long he said this that he was able to bring his words into reality, on 6th August 2001 during the 3rd year of his first term, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) was launched in Nigeria, taking over the once-powerful national telecoms monopoly. Today as we can see, we have in Nigeria many quality mobile phones and networks with affordable prices for both the wealthy and poor citizens of Nigeria. Through the availability and affordability of quality handsets and networks in Nigeria, so many Nigerians, especially the youth have been able to employ themselves, thereby reducing the rate of unemployment in Nigeria. This also gave rise to technological growth in Nigeria. In addition, through internet connections, lots of Nigerians have been able to market their products and/or goods and services in Nigeria and around the world. This also aids in boosting the Nigerian economy. Easy access to social media for quick information dissemination and acquisition in Nigeria is as a result of the availability and affordability of quality handsets and networks. Journalists and media bodies in Nigeria, and also every ministry, parastatal, or sector in Nigeria have access to the internet, which makes most of their works easy.

Also, it was the Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo that made it possible that Nigerians can today have and drive tear-rubber (brand-new) cars, motorcycles, and other automobiles, instead of the former over used cars, motorcycles, etc., we used to have in Nigeria. This reduced the high rate of accidents through automobile transportation means. It also saves time and makes a journey near and far distances fast, comfortable, and safe. I can categorically say that the little improvement of internet and technology in general, in Nigeria has its origin in the regime of Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo as president of Nigeria.

Still talking about development, human development was more in Nigeria during the time of Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. It is true that unemployment has been a common occurrence in Nigeria, but it was very less during the time of Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. There were functioning government industries and/or companies, which provided employment for some graduates. Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo with the oil revenue created the Niger Delta Development Commission and implemented the Universal Basic Education Program to enhance the literacy level of Nigerians. He constituted both the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He resuscitated the Fertilizer Company in Kaduna and the one in Port Harcourt. He increased the share of oil royalties and rents to the state of origin from 3 to 13 percent. All these added greatly to the high rate of employment and development in Nigeria.

ii. Nigeria was Debt Free: Before Obasanjo's administration, Nigeria's GDP growth had been painfully slow since 1987, and only managed 3 percent between 1999/2000. However, under Obasanjo, the growth rate doubled to 6 percent until he left office, helped in part by higher oil prices. Nigeria's foreign reserves rose from $2 billion in 1999 to $43 billion on leaving office in 2007. He was able to secure debt pardons from the Paris and London club amounting to some $18 billion and paid another $18 billion to be debt-free. Most of these loans were accumulated from short-term trade arrears during the exchange control period. (Point of correction). Most of these loans were accumulated not out of corruption but during a period 1982–1985 when Nigeria operated an exchange control regime that vested all foreign exchange transactions on the central bank of Nigeria. The naira exchange rate to the US dollar and other major currencies during this period was highly regulated and artificially high. Nigerian importers paid local currency equivalent to the central bank through their local commercial banks but during the oil glut period of 1982–86 when foreign exchange was scarce the central bank did not have enough foreign exchange to pay for current imports. This resulted in short-term foreign trade payment arrears. Short-term trade arrears averaged about $3.0 billion each year between 1983 and 1986 when the new military government of General Babangida floated the naira and imports were thereafter paid for on a current basis.

iii. Security: It is a fact that security has been a great challenge in Nigeria, notwithstanding, security was at its best in the era of civilian government in Nigeria during the time of Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. The issues of Boko Haram, Herdsmen attacks, and other terroristic dispositions which are common in Nigeria today were unheard in Nigeria during Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo regime. Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo was able to manage security to its best in Nigeria and realize a great level of peace, unity, and order in Nigeria from every side of her tribe and religion. 

Haven put forth these points concerning these top three best presidents of Nigeria, I hereby nominate, recommend or choose Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo as the Best President of Nigeria, so far with the above reasons.

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Nwoko Solomon Ikechukwu