Nigeria 2006: Cataclysmic Predictions

by Sabella Ogbobode Abidde

I have no clairvoyant ability. No one does. Psychic and related “abilities” are all bull. No one really knows what tomorrow holds. All we can do is observe, poke the data, mix-and-match, and hedge our bets. And that’s exactly what I am about to do: render educated guesses based on systemic observation of past events and attempt to predict future trends. This year is going to be a trying time for Nigeria. There would be tribulations in scales that will task the nation’s continued existence. Some of these upheavals could be avoided, or the attendant effects mitigated if the president, the ruling elite and her agents do the right things. With that in mind, I hereby render 27 predictions for the year 2006.

Two Attempts on Obasanjo:

Some might say Obasanjo is living on “borrowed time.” Data shows he is more hated than Ibrahim Babangida and the late Sani Abacha. To be this despised, to be this hated even more than the two ex-Generals combined is a monumental “achievement.” Indeed, this president has set the country back two decades in terms of growth and development. If one considers his background, the amount of resources at his disposal, and the amount of prayers and goodwill he received in 1999, this president has been a huge failure. My fear is that a group of people may spew their anger his way…twice…

Adedibu or Ladoja: Death or Alive?

Is President Obasanjo afraid of Chief Adedibu? Everybody but Governor Ladoja is scared-stiff of the man. No one can or is willing to confront him. He acts as though he is bigger than the state. And in fact, he controls part of the government apparatus. What manner of a man is this? He is fighting a properly constituted authority not in a court of law, but in the streets of Ibadan; he is fighting not because the governor has abridged his human rights; no, he feels aggrieved mainly because the governor would not give up part of his constitutional authority and part of the state’ treasury. This crisis will engulf the state — with considerable spillover. But at the end of the day, one man must leave…one will give up his post or his life. Who is it going to be?

Bombings in The Niger Delta:

Without the oil there would have been no modern Nigeria. In other words, if Nigeria didn’t have oil, Western Nigeria would have held on to her cocoa and tell the rest of Nigeria to jump into the Atlantic. Northern Nigeria would have protected her groundnut pyramids and ordered the rest of the country to shove it. But today, with marginal cocoa and groundnut cultivation, the country is greedily feeding on oil. But where is the justice when the whole country is covetously feeding off the oil, and the first-owners of the resources live in abject poverty? Sooner or later, the owners are bound to demand what’s right. Is this the year the majority group in the Delta tells Nigeria: “justice, or shove it!” In the absence of political solution, “Bang…bang…bang.” Is this that year?

Other Predictions:

  1. Rumored, attempted, and successful military coup d’etat?
  2. Two Governors arrested overseas
  3. Three or more Governors prosecuted locally
  4. Three arsons in Abuja: one hotel, two government buildings
  5. Two plane crash…two emergency landings
  6. Inspector General of Police fired or retires
  7. Alhaji Asari-Dokubo: negatively impact
  8. The Bakassi Peninsular crisis is finally resolved
  9. The EFCC or some other organ invites Babangida for questioning.
  10. The encroaching sea or submerging of some part of VI after a heavy rainfall
  11. Two high-profile Ministers — one male and one female — faces marital crisis
  12. Togolese national team eliminated at the 2nd round of the World Cup
  13. Vice-President Atiku leaves…forced or resigns
  14. Uprising in Ilorin…Governor and Emir’s safety in question
  15. The harm being done to the economy by the Lebanese and others brought to light
  16. Indecent romantic dalliance at Aso Rock exposed
  17. One major media house runs into huge financial and ethical crisis
  18. High profile Churches and pastors continues to rip off the weak and the poor
  19. Bribery and corruption scandals hits the Senate and House of Assembly
  20. Inferno on Lagos-Ibadan express way
  21. The Abacha-loot dragnet will ensnare four highly placed Nigerians
  22. Israeli-related contracts and security scandals comes to light
  23. Two literary giants pen essays for the Nigerian Village Square
  24. Continued clash between secessionist movements and the federal government

Concluding Remarks:

What if none of these predictions came to pass? Oh well, don’t feel bad and don’t feel sorry for me; but instead, join me at the Sidney harbor at 11:45PM, December 31, 2006. We’ll drink to it! And if I am right? Oh well, let’s meet at the western end of the Marina, Lagos, t

o usher in 2007…until then be well, be safe and have a great 2006!

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10 comments

Anonymous January 8, 2006 - 4:26 pm

Hey guys, this is looking more like a Nijja thing. We are no "small minds" please. We might not have the concrete data to show who's the most hated among the "fools" that have ruled that unfortunate country. However it's common knowledge that OBJ has performed woefully. Some people need to read between the lines here. It's just a "prediction" based on what's on the ground. And I don't think "attack" means we're fighting. Meanwhile I suggest u all put your email adds, and names to the comments. Otherwise, let all man shut up. Me Well, next time.

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Anonymous January 6, 2006 - 11:20 am

Close enough, Sabbide. Great article. Some of your predictions could put to shame Bishop Olabayo and his Tabora Mountain predictions at Ilorin, some years back. They don't all have to come true. If one or two come true, as sure, they must, you can find Nigerians knocking on your doors for more. Ride on , man, you are doing a fabulous job. That was one hell of an article. I love it. Happy new Year to you and your loved ones.

Dr. Wunmi Akintide.

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Anonymous January 5, 2006 - 3:20 pm

I don't see any ATTACK up there. I only see people disagreeing. Or that is considered an attack now Must everyone agree Sheesh, people, una own go pass OBJ, Abacha and IBB rolled into one if you ever seize power.

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Anonymous January 5, 2006 - 3:06 pm

You did a good job. OBJ is the worst president we've had. In saying this, I take into consideration that no president has had the type of resources and goodwill at his disposal. What have we gotten in return His shameless endorsement of that illiterate in Ibadan–Adedibu, elevation of Chris Uba, a mansion for his son in New York, corrupt enrichment of his in-laws, speculated third term ambition, his courting of the Ojo Maduekwes and the other Abacha apologists, his haunting of the people that saved his sorry life from Abacha's hangman, and so on.

I pray that meeting will be at the western end of the Marina, Lagos.

To the people attacking your ideas—–you all need a tutorial in literary appreciation.

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Anonymous January 5, 2006 - 8:10 am

You have defined the Nigerian problem without meancing words . Obasanjo is the worse evil that happened to Nigeria . By the way is Sabella also amongst the prophets! Keep it up

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Anonymous January 4, 2006 - 7:31 pm

Whatever you say about OBJ, only a memory totally porous would say he is worse than IBB, not to mention Abacha and IBB together. Are we that forgetful The man is NO SAINT, but he is NOT WORSE than the devils you have had already – that's my point. Stop exaggerating and work with the facts.

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Anonymous January 4, 2006 - 1:58 pm

When OBJ visits your state you would know whose fault it is. Big mind.Is´nt it greed that is turning Obasanjo mad

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Anonymous January 4, 2006 - 1:09 pm

And it must be obj's fault that people died in rivers state, not the backlash of their own greed and misdeeds Small minds…

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Anonymous January 4, 2006 - 11:34 am

Sabella,

You are very right.Obj is worse than Abacha and Babangida put together.The man is a monumental failure and a symbol of corruption.It is very annoying when a very corrupt individual like Mr.President claims he is fighting corruption.There is enough data to prove how bad he is.

During his reign sanctions were not imposed on Nigeria and at the same time he sold crude oil at a higher price than any other leader.He also privatized many government agencies.

On violence and the suppression of people´s right he broke all the existing records in this country.The number of people that died in politics related violence in Rivers state alone far excedes the number of such killing in both Abacha and Babangida regime joined together.If our data would cover the whole federation i am sure we would be going close to the civil war figures.

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Anonymous January 4, 2006 - 2:20 am

What data shows OBJ is more hated than IBB and Abacha combined Come on, guys, let's be careful what we peddle. Whatever his problems, he has done things and he can never be compared to the madness that pervaded during IBB and Abacha's regimes.

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