Nigeria At 52: Who’s The Best Head Of State?

Nelson Chukwudi, with reports from Enoch Epelle, Beemene
Taneh, Amadi Akujobi, Kevin Nengia (Port Harcourt), Fyneface Aaron (Yenagoa),
Nkpemieye Mcdominic (Lagos), Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi  Abuja).

Since independence on October 1, 1960, Nigeria has had 14
heads of state and Commanders-In-Chief. As Nigeria celebrates 52 years of
nationhood, today, The Tide felt the need to ask Nigerians to assess successive
leaders and how they shaped the country. Our Reporters from across the country
interviewed many. Here are excerpts.

Takeem Anderson, a sales representative says: To me, Nigeria
fared well under the government of Ibrahim Babangida.

Nigeria suffered under the regime of General Sani Abacha,
and I will score him the worst leader Nigeria has ever produced. Abacha ruled
to the glorification of his administration. He was insensitive and hunted many
prominent Nigerians to death.

Akanimo Udosen, a businessman said: I will score Olusegun
Obasanjo as Nigeria’s best leader. Obasanjo made a lot of effort to stabilise
Nigeria. He was a symbol of honour and security throughout his tenure. But
Jonathan has not done well at all.

For Architect Gibson Agabi: I will score the late President
Yar’Adua as the best president Nigeria has ever produced. He was open, sincere,
and had the people at heart. Yar’Adua introduced the Amnesty Programme to
assuage the neglect and marginalisation of the Niger Delta, and showed serious
commitment to its implementation but death terminated his goodwill for Nigeria.

But on the contrary, his successor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan
appears the worst president because no tangible achievement can be counted for
him since he assumed office.

Philip Nwata, a trader says: To me, Babangida is the best
president Nigeria had produced because his military regime made things cheaper
and affordable for the common man.

Obasanjo is the worst president Nigeria has produced. He did
not behave like a statesman and democrat.

Paul Nwanikpo, a civil servant argued that: The late
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is the best leader Nigeria has produced since
independence.

However, Abacha was the worst leader. He was inhuman. He was
not in control of his senses, and his regime was characterised by killings.
Nigeria lost most of its potential leaders under Abacha. He was totalitarian.
Nigeria was alienated from the world. Politics during Abacha was almost impossible.
He brought economic backwardness and stagnation to the country through his
draconian policies.

Micheal Chuku, elder statesman noted that: General Yakubu
Gowon is the best leader Nigeria has ever had. He was passionate about the
unity of the country, and showed commitment to safeguard the unity and
corporate existence of Nigeria as one indivisible entity. He was not a
vindictive leader, like Obasanjo.

But Obasanjo is the opposite of Gowon. He remains Nigeria’s
worst leader.

Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Rivers State
Chapter, Dike Emmanuel said: Obasanjo is the best leader Nigeria had ever
produced since independence while Sani Abacha is the worst. Obasanjo had better
people-oriented policies and programmes, and opened up Nigeria to global
politics and economy by restoring international confidence in Nigeria. On the
contrary, Abacha’s policies almost pushed Nigeria into oblivion, with his
economic policies crippling Nigeria. Abacha was a tyrant, and did not do anything
to develop the country.

President, South East and South South Forum of Chamber of
Commerce, Dr Iyke Oshia said, apart from the insecurity in the Niger Delta area
during his administration, Obasanjo had touched many lives, including Nigerians
in Diaspora. Late Yar’Adua would have performed better, if not for his sudden
death in office. President Jonathan’s tenure is still premature, being less
than two years in office. But he has to overcome Boko Haram and the general
insecurity of lives and property of Nigerians, who are killed every now and
then by these heartless bigots.

Prince Garic, international fashion designer: President
Obasanjo is the best leader Nigeria has produced, in terms of his achievements
in infrastructure development, anti-corruption war and the ICT revolution,
including GSM phones’ access to millions of Nigerians. However, Sani Abacha was
the worst leader in Nigeria’s political history, at least, since
independence.

Founder, African Youth Foundation for Peace and Development,
Dr George Matthew Ela said: It would be improper to compare the Jonathan
administration with previous ones because it is just barely one year in office.
I rate Jonathan low in infrastructure development, especially in the area of
healthcare and roads. For Jonathan to excel, he has to tackle insecurity in the
land and wipe out Boko Haram, create employment opportunities and address power
supply problem.

Barrister Chinedu Omesurum said, the Federal Government has
not shown enough commitment to good governance and genuine development of
Nigeria. Insecurity in the country is a very serious problem the president must
tackle to win the hearts of Nigerians and he must address the challenge of poor
power supply across the nation. If he delivers on his promises to Nigerians,
then, he is likely to be the best leader we have had since independence.

Dr Greg Ezea, university don: For me, the best leader after
independence is Obasanjo while the worst is Abacha. In rating Jonathan’s
government; I give education- 60 per cent, health- 30 per cent, transport – 40
per cent, road/rail- 10 per cent, housing/agric- 20 per cent and the rest is 10
per cent or even less. There is nothing to celebrate except poverty and
corruption.

Mr Fredrick Worgu, Pharmacist: Gen Aguiyi Irons, Murtala
Muhammed and Yar’Adua’s administrations were short-lived and cannot be clearly
rated now. I think Abacha’s is the worst so far. It was a period Nigerians
experienced the highest brutality and human rights abuses.

Though he had his own ugly side, Obasanjo remains the best
of the lot. Jonathan has a good heart and the zeal to make Nigeria great but
seems to lack focus as his approach to appointments into very important
positions is more of compensation than what it takes to move a nation forward.

Mrs Medina Sambo, civil servant: I give it to Gen Buhari.
His focus on anti-corruption and war against indiscipline could have saved
Nigeria her present bad condition. But his regime did not last long. Obasanjo
was the worst. He featured treachery and was too vindictive.

Mrs Brenda Okeke, Abuja-based business woman: I think
Jonathan is the best so far. The worst period was during Abacha’s tenure. There
were so much corrupt practices and bloodletting.

Former Governor of Plateau State and chieftain of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomon Lar: President Goodluck Jonathan
has been focused. He made his views public while speaking with newsmen in Port
Harcourt. For me, I think Jonathan is doing well and he needs our support and
Boko Haram is trying to distract him. But I believe Nigerians are behind him.”

All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and House of Assembly
candidate during last year elections in Opobo/Nkoro, Hon. Boma Brown:  President Jonathan should give less attention
to Boko Haram. The group will go extinct with time. You can take away anything
from Jonathan but you can’t take away the aspect of humility and sensitivity to
the needs and cries of the people.

Nigeria’s worst leader is military President Ibrahim
Babaginda.