Teaching Comparative

A new cleavage in Nigerian politics?

Finding information on the everyday politics in Nigeria and Iran is never easy. But at least the major Nigerian newspapers are published in English. The maneuvering of presidential politics dominates this as well as most other political reporting from Nigeria.

Here's a report from This Day which suggests that there's a new, politically relevant cleavage in Nigerian politics. If there is really the emergence of a younger generation anxious to move up, it adds a new dimension to the already-complex situation. Of course, this might be a case of an entrenched, military-based elite being gently prodded by a civilian elite that wants a bigger share of power rather than a generational competition.

(The "IBB" in the headline is the common press reference to former military ruler Ibraham Babangida.)

Govs, Ministers Move Against Buhari, IBB

"A new twist may have occurred in the political camp of President Olusegun Obasanjo over who succeeds him in 2007 as some state governors, ministers and federal legislators loyal to him and who supported the failed third term project have asked him to look towards what they called the “new school” in picking his successor...


"THISDAY gathered ... that the group comprising the governors, ministers and the legislators, most of who are below 50, already had audience with the President on the need for him to support the paradigm shift and get the country away from the “old school” system.


"The group which is said to enjoy the support of the President’s reformist team, as well as the corporate community that supported the third term project, wants the likes of Babangida and Buhari to be taken out of the political equation for 2007.


"Unfolding the agenda of the group to newsmen weekend, one of the governors at the forefront of the generational change said the search of his group has no ethnic or geographical inclination.

“'Our dichotomy is on generational change not on north or south,' pointing out that the target is to pick a candidate that will fit into the modern system so that Nigeria will not be left behind in the emerging global changes.

"THISDAY gathered that though the group did not present any particular candidate to President Obasanjo when they met him, they however made it clear to him that their preference will be on knowledgeable person under 55 years of age.


"The governor said though the President has also not been too keen on handing over to a younger person, he could not resist the pressure as the group comprises mostly those who funded and openly supported the failed third term project.


"The President was said to have expressed reservation on the possibility of such young person holding the unity of the country because of exuberance but was reminded that all great leaders including himself made the difference as Nigerian leaders when they were at that age bracket, naming Generals Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari, Yakubu Gowon [pictured at right] as well as former President Shehu Shagari.


"But according to information, Obasanjo told them that the situation is not the same today as there are more problems today threatening national stability than the periods these people led the country..."


(The biography that accompanies the photograph of a young Yukubu Gowon on a Nigerian government website, begins, "Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon became head of the Federal Military Government and Supreme Commander of the Armed forces on August, 1966. At 32 he was Africa's youngest head of state. This followed a brilliant Army career which began in 1954, a year after he left college...")

posted by Ken Wedding @ 9:03 AM