Nigeria, June 5 -- For the average Nigerian politician, to be out of power is to be jobless, if not absolutely useless. The amount of worthlessness being out of power evokes in Nigerian politicians explains why they would do anything to hold on to political power or at least maintain some relevance.

To remain relevant, they usually do anything and everything.

As the treacherous transience of power hastens the twilight of their time in office, they take measures to stay put. They sacrifice their political parties, allies, public funds, and everything else just to hang on. Often, they don't care who goes down or what is irreparably broken to, as long as they perpetuate themselves in power.

Between 1976 and 1979, Olusegun Obasanjo served ...