I was not here when state of emergency was declared in the old Western Region during the famed ‘Operation Wetie’ that led to region being labeled ‘Wild Wild West’ but thanks to the story telling ability of my Geography teacher in SS1, who relished us with tales of those times, I guess I could beat my chest to say, I know about what happened then. Thanks to him. No doubt, my teacher’s tales left nothing to be imagined, but I have always had my own active imagination of what could possibly lead to a declaration of a state of emergency over a region or state. Perhaps, I’m not the only one with such an imagination. This imagination of state of emergency - which I got from watching American Movies – is something like this. Please don’t go thinking that I’m dumb!
Something goes wrong in a particular region or state – maybe an alien invasion or arrival of UFOs – that requires extraordinary solution that can’t be handled by the Police, so the President calls in the National Guards… sorry the Army, to maintain law and order, thereby restoring peace. Okay that was what I thought state of emergency entailed, until Emperor OBJ showed up. Certain development that occurred in Plateau and Ekiti states led to his first declaration of state of Emergency – Plateau I can understand – serious argument broke out about the ad-hoc procedure adopted. There was talks about him having the power or not to do so, other critics balked about requiring the consent of the National Assembly or if the Gov. and State Assembly should be suspended or not, the talks where as inexhaustible and complex as Nigeria itself. The ensuing debate rolled on for months, lawyers fell over themselves arguing from both sides of their mouth. There was even so much noise about it that we joked that if two people argued, Emperor OBJ could declare an emergency and suspend everyone from continuing their daily chores. Those who have experienced state of Emergency doesn’t see it as an option to crisis, but the very last resort after other options have been thoroughly explored. No right thinking person ever looks forward to a state of emergency especially if you were there during the Wild Wild West era, or you are Joshua Dariye, his cronies and State Assembly with their hangers on, or if bitterly you are Ayo Fayose and his Ekiti Company.
Yeah! No one – including me – looks forward to an emergency of any kind, at least until Yar’Adua started his campaign – that Emperor OBJ put him up to – for the Presidency. I remember watching most of the campaign rallies on TV especially those prime time Presidential Debate Comedy Shows. One quick confession here! The candidates I would have voted for Presidency in 2007 were not those you gave a thought during that campaign and I have my reasons, call my reasons whatever you like, I don’t exactly care. They are Olopade Agoro because he promised every citizen 1million Naira – I couldn’t let that money pass me by – and late Major Moji Obasanjo because she promised to give everybody land – I had hoped that I will be fortunate to get a water front land in Victoria Island, Ikoyi or even Lekki.
But Emperor OBJ’s candidate still held my attention for the free comedy they were providing. One day as I watched this campaign with a friend, Candidate Yar’Adua took the mic – as the main act of show OBJ took a brief break – to talk about his Seven Point Agenda. He ran through the list quickly to give chance to comedian OBJ to continue his jabs at his enemies. One thing caught our attention as Candidate Yar’Adua enjoyed his 5 minutes of fame. He said he would declare a state of emergency in the power sector. He emphasized that he will give priority to power by doing this within the first few months of his administration. At first we were quiet when he said this until my friend asked me how the emergency in the power sector would work. I told him didn’t know! He then asked if it will mean that soldiers will be deployed to power stations, distribution lines and NEPA… sorry PHCN offices nationwide to ensure regular power supply. How I wish that would just be the solution to this darkness we live with. Again I told him I didn’t know oh! You see now that I’m not the only one that thought that state of emergency involved only the deployment of soldiers.
As we talked more about the possible ways the deployment of soldiers will solve our power problem, the more curious we got about what this candidates exact plans were. It didn’t help that they normally don’t give details about their campaign promises so we can gauge if their plans sorry promises are practicable. Isn’t that why they will turn around to tell us that they didn’t anticipate that our problem is that enormous as if they just arrived here from the moon. We even thought - and this was on a serious note – that the soldiers will probably break up the syndicate that was sabotaging government’s effort as Emperor OBJ claimed then. [At least we thought they were faceless but now know that it was led by the Emperor himself]. When we got tired of laughing at the statement, we agreed that we will have to wait to see how it will work knowing that he will win despite my supporting Agoro –because of the 1 million Naira bounty which I had started spending using anticipatory approval. Thank goodness I didn’t run myself into debts.
It’s been 2 years since Emperor OBJ’s anointed Candidate - Yar’Adua - took over power and is yet to declare the emergency; maybe he has realized that it was meaningless. Oh I just got it! He has realized that deploying soldiers will run against his mantra of ruse of law… pardon me abeg! rule of law. The power situation has since gone from bad to worst and they have tactically skipped it from their 7-point Agenda soap opera running on the network service of NTA. Meanwhile it seems like this agenda was put together to provide program content for NTA considering how regularly they run the adverts as if it will implement itself through the TV.
I had set out to ask our President when he intends to declare this state of emergency in the power sector but have long shelved the question because it will turn out to be a rhetoric question. This emergency will never be declared or was never intended to be declared as it was a campaign gimmick. This President was never ready for this job or never wanted this job. He is simply a plan gone wrong. I can bet that a week before he picked a nomination form, he never gave becoming a President a thought. He never prepared for this job.
Okay take a look at their projections to solve this problem. It used to be that we will generate 6000 megawatts by the end of 2007 and 10000 megawatts by 2010, but it has been reviewed since they realized that it was no longer attainable. The reviewed projections are now 6000 megawatts by the end of 2009 and 10000 megawatts by the end of 2010 and I can guarantee you that this is still not feasible. At least if the signal to its feasibility is what we are currently getting in terms of supply right now, then we had better forget it. In fact I will proceed on exile to Iraq or if I can’t afford it, I will go to Darfur if we generate 3000 megawatts by the end of 2009. Talking about Iraq, even at war time, they are still generating over 4500 megawatts of electricity and Nigeria has been at peace for the past 10 years. Its really a shame on our leadership. I have deliberately refused to think about how much has been spent on generating darkness because I don’t want a heart attack. In trying not to dwell on the problem but on finding a solution, the scientist will start from asking questions. So the nagging question is who will save us from this darkness? Who will save us from the power of darkness? I know! Yes I know! I know it’s not this Yar’Adua! Or do you think otherwise?
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