It is non-contestable that between May 29, 1999 and May
29, 2015, “PDP”(in quote) occupied the seat of power in
Abuja and controlled majority of the states in the federation.
However, we have to get our fact right with respect to “who
destroyed Nigeria between 99 and 2015”. I believe we
should do a holistic analysis on this subject.
# PRESIDENT AND VICE Between 1999-2015
Nigeria had three presidents between May 29, 1999 and
May 29, 2015. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Late Mallam
Umaru Yar’adua and Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Of the three,
Obasanjo spent eight years in office(1999-2007), Yar’adua
three years (May 2007-May 2010) and Dr Jonathan five
years (May 2010-May 2015). Obasanjo with highest number
of time spent(Eight years) denounced PDP to become APC
and Buhari’s navigator to office. Similarly, of the three vice
presidents between the period, Atiku Abubakar spent the
most number of years in office (Eight, 1999-2007). He not
only moved to AC/APC while in office in 2006, he also
aspired to rule Nigeria on APC platform in 2014 and is a
member of APC’s Board of Trustees.
# SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPS Between 1999-2015
Between 1999 and 2015 Nigeria had six Speakers of Federal
House of Representative. They are Salisu Buhari (June -July
1999), Ghali Na’aba(July 1999-June 2003), Aminu Bello
Mansari (June 2003-June 2007), Madam Patricia Etteh
(June 2007-November 2007), Dimeji Bankole (Nov 2007-
June 2011) and Waziri Tambawal(June 2011-June 2015).
Of all Six former Speakers, FOUR are members of APC
(Na’aba, Masari, Etteh and Tambawal) with a combined
period of TWELVE YEARS in office out of the sixteen years.
Mansari and Tambawal are APC Governors of Katsina and
Sokoto states respectively.
# PROMINENT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS:
Nasir Elrufai was DG Bureau for Public Enterprise and
Secretary of National Council on Privatisation between 1999
and 2003. He later became minister of FCT between 2003
and 2007. As DG BPE and Secretary of NCP, he supervised
the privatisation of NEPA, NITEL etc..ALL were emershed in
controversy. By virtue of his office, Atiku Abubakar was the
Chairman of NCP
between 1999 and 2007. Both men supervised the
privatisation of public companies for the period. They are
APC members.
Danjuma Goje, was the minister of state for power between
1999 and 2003. Rabiu Kwankwaso was minister of Defence
between 2003 and 2007. Both are
members of APC BoT and Senators. Samuel Orthom served
as minister of state, trade and investment between 2011 and
2015. Nasir Elrufai was minister of FCT between 2003 and
2007. They are now Governors of Benue and Kaduna states
respectively. Should we wash all these away?
# STATE ADMINISTRATION Between 1999-2015:
Between 1999 and 2015, Gombe has had three Governors,
Abubakar Hashidu (4years), Danjuma Goje (8years) and
Ibrahim Dankwambo(4years). Both Hashidu and Goje are
members of APC. That is a combined 12years.
In Kwara state, all governors since 1999 are APC members
save late Lawal who ruled under APP. In Anambra state, ex-
Govs Mbadiniju (4years),Nwabuweze Chris Ngige (3years),
and Peter Obi (8years) were Governors. Mbadinuju and
Ngige are APC members. That is a combined 7years
between 1999-2014. Peter Obi held sway for 8 years.
Similarly, in Benue state George Akume was held sway from
1999-2007(and Senator 2007 till date). Is APC chieftain.
All Governors of Osun state between 1999 till date are APC
members. Also in Ekiti state, of the 16 years, PDP’s Fayose
only had four. Otunba Niyi Adebayo (4years), Segun Oni (3
years) and Fayemi (4years) are BoT members of APC.
In Abia state, Uzo Kalu that held sway between 1999 to 2007
is a Chief of APC. APC Govs has been in power in Lagos
state all through the period.
In Zamfara state, APC Govs held sway for TWELVE out of
the 16years. In Rivers state APC Chieftain Rotimi Amaechi
was not only Governor for eight years(of the 16years), he
also served as Speaker for the other part of 8years. Plateau
state Governor Simon lalong was a Speaker during the
Dariye administration. The list is endless.
# We all know/saw that between 1999 and May 2015
individuals occupied various political offices, the actions
(and inactions) of these office-holders contributed to the
decline of Nigeria and her economy. Majority of these
people were at one time or the other indicted for corrupt
practices and fraud while in office.
Most of these people are members of APC and some
appointed into offices. ALL of them combined are
responsible for the sorry state of things in Nigeria. We can’t
forget so soon that it was Saraki and Amaechi(as NGF
Chairpersons) that moved for the Sharing and depletion of
the Excess Crude Account, which GEJ bowed to between
2007 and 2012. In fact, they also pushed for the sharing of
One Billion Dollars in Soveriegn Wealth Fund but was
resisted by Jonathan.
Today, Saraki is not just APC Senator but also the Senate
President, while Amaechi is a minister. Can we
forget so soon that Audu Ogbeh, a minister and
APC Senator Barnabas Germade were PDP National
Chairmen between these period.The claim by APC defies
logic in every sense.
Finally, the continuous claim by the Buhari administration
that “PDP destroyed Nigeria” for sixteen years only shows
that the present administration is yet to understand the
problem of Nigeria. Worse still, it is an indictment on all
those that held one offices or the other since 1999
especially at federal level. With Buhari having some of these
people in his government and other positions of leadership,
shows the insincerity of the government and ruling APC.
I will advice that Buhari save Nigerians these excuses and
focus on the job he was elected to do. PDP is not the name
of any official, APC Chieftains have been part of the system.
