25 REASONS I WON'T VOTE FOR PRESIDENT JONATHAN

Voting is not child’s play, it is an action a people do when they willingly surrender the ability to determine the direction and the pace in which the country will go (towards development or damnation) into the hands of one man/people. Apart from being a reflection of our intelligence, it is also the only major opportunity a people have to choose their leader peacefully. Once that is done especially in Africa, we are left with complaining and protests. We are about to put the scepter and the staff in the hands of someone and I think it is an insult for us to vote without a careful and objective thought and how it affects our daily lives.

I have decided not to vote for the PDP in the next elections. They’ve had the opportunity to deliver the dividends of democracy to my nation and her people and they have largely failed. They have continued to over-promise and re-promise the same things without doing anything significant to make the life of the ordinary Nigerian better. For 12 years they have allowed our cousins, friends and neighbours become sacrifices on roads they habitually collect money to repair – ok, they repair it when their close relatives die. They have consciously slaughtered every public infrastructure created to make our lives better only to tell us they will be better when we sell it to them and their cronies. We have empowered them by not voting and they punish us for voting them into power (with our silence) by building an island of prosperity in the quicksand of poverty. Without telling us their ideology they have demonstrated it, they have shown they care more about having power than doing something with it.

In 25 ways PDP won’t have my vote and in 25 ways I will demand we vote not for anything and anyone that represents the same ideology (PDP or not); we must vote and ensure the people we are voting for have the capacity to cause a reversal in our fortunes. Nigeria needs drastic and aggressive reforms and we need leaders with the heart, courage and capacity to do that.

1. Firstly? I gave up long ago about getting President Jonathan to willingly appear for any presidential debate, I still hope he does. In the past 12 years, no PDP presidential aspirant has featured in a presidential debate. After watching Lagos Gubernatorial on Channels TV, I think you should know why …
2. The PDP has demonstrated over time and across situations that they are not interested in solving the Nigerian problem except staying in power… their solution? throwing money at problems (check here http://tinyurl.com/5rbtmtp)
3. In 1999 Petrol was N22 per liter and 12 years after, after billions being pumped into refineries and papers written, the price of petrol per liter is almost competing with that of a liter of bottled water (N65)
4. Though crude oil has witnessed a boom and has sold well above the benchmark price for a better part of the last 12 years, the PDP-controlled government had not been able to address the critical issues of power and poverty
5. In the last 12 years, PDP has mouthed its commitment to the rule of law on one hand and the certification of illegality on the other e.g. President Jonathan’s South west Campaign Manager (OGD) runs his state without a Legislative arm and his Bauchi counterpart has two deputies, he has made no single statement about this.
6. PDP hasn’t stopped using state resources to harass its political opponents. After clearing allegations on Tinubu, Ribadu and El-Rufai over some time, they have begun to unleash every state parastatal at its disposal to distract these people from the electoral process.
7. Under PDP’s watch in the last 12 years, Education has nose-dived and is collapsing. In all public examinations Nigerian students failed with an average of 92% with the NECO exams having Nigerians having up to 98% failure rate. PDP’s solution - Throw more money at problems again by building one university in each state while the existing ones are barely surviving. Duh?
8. If a list of 100 people were to be compiled, with the names of people that have pauperized Nigeria and reduced the country to a theatre of unending tragicomedy, 80 of the names would probably be PDP top shots. – apologies to Salisu Suleiman
9. Few years ago, webcasts were seen as archetypes of the Middle East. Today Nigerians are whipping up every reason in their minds to maim and fight one another. Our NYSC members posted for national service are being turned into sacrifices to the god of disunity. Insecurity has reached frightening proportions. Yet the Jos they refused to go when people were being slaughtered is the place they thronged to when they needed votes. Security? I score PDP 25%
10. Nigerian presidents have been characterized by the people surrounding them. People said Abacha was a good man who had bad advisers. The difference between Obasanjo’s first and second term ministers and advisers have proved this. I really may not be against a Jonathan as a person, but I wonder the kind of president he will be with the kind of new friends he has (Have you read “My REAL friends and I?)
11. Asking about their plan for the next four years, PDP has said nothing different from what they have been saying. More money, more committees and they smile to the bank
12. Despite admitting they have made income that will make all other African nations grow with envy, Nigerians have continued to groan under the yoke of inconsistent economic policies, lack of electricity and an abysmal results in maternity and mortality rates – Nigerians are dying, PDP is dancing
13. I remember Mallam Muhammadu Buhari for WAI; Abacha for PTDF; Abusauhlami for handing over; IBB for Third Mainland Bridge and Abuja …. The only landmark PDP will have me remember it for is telecommunication…Then they reduced our indebtedness and they’ve got us into debt again.
14. Forget the mouthing of campaign rallies and promises to fight corruption. Corruption rate in1999 was 50% and 95% in 2011. Haven’t the PDP reflected its ideologies in celebrating the ‘achievements’ of an ex-convict? OBJ said he was tricked, what has Mr. President said?
15. Despite huge budgets allocated to the transportation and the awarding and re-awarding of contracts, I still cannot mention a major road in Nigeria that has witnessed a transformation within PDP’s rule in last 12 years. Oh ok, the Sango Bridge in Ogun State – it took them 10 years. But, must some Nigerians die so that others can live?
16. Manufacturers also agree with me, more companies have moved out of Nigeria under PDP’s watch than at any other time. In the textile industry alone, the 129 companies have abandoned factory, infrastructure and disillusioned staff to begin again in neighboring countries. We have been turned into a country that imports everything.
17. Brazil built a power plant of 120,000 MW in 3yrs with a loan which they also paid back in 3yrs. South Africa gave a contract for a 5,000 MW power plant at a cost of just $3b!!! PDP spent $17b in 12yrs yet electricity remains a priviledge.
18. The PDP doesn’t believe our political system needs adjustment. OBJ allowed reforms to push his third term agenda, Yaradua said he was elected to make that decision, and Jonathan said it is 96 years late. Will we continue in this macabre dance? ( apologies to Igodomigodo)
19. While people might say the reason why PDP’s weakness is pronounced is because they are in power, their culture of impunity is unprecedented and they are gradually dragging the judiciary into the fray. Can we just try someone else?
20. While the average Nigerian employee is fighting for the approval of NGN 18,000 as minimum wage. Our House of Assembly men were busy milking the nation. They remain the highest paid employees in the nation (yes also in the world!). Yet, evry tenure, the House allocates money for Officers’ quarters only to offer it up for sale to themselves at the tail end of their tenure. The next set of Assembly members come in and the cycle goes on again … presently, official quarters of key official are up for sale and Mr. President hasn’t said anything
21. While we have recorded successes in terms of reforms within the financial and economic sectors everyone admits it has not translated into economic progress for the average Nigerian. The key issue? Infrastructure. But then PDP’s approach is to award more contracts to cronies? Will this ever work?
22. Of course everything is hitting the roof and income sources are dipping fast; Fertilizer: N1,200/bag in 1999 and N4,800 in 2011; Sugar:N2,500/bag in 1999 and N8,500 in 2011; Cooking Gas:N450 in 1999 and N3,000 in 2011; Rice:N2,500 in 1999 and N9,000 in 2011. Well the people benefiting from the system will never know the difference.
23. In a country where people were complaining and finding difficult to eat, my President expended 17 Billion Naira to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of a nation to which he admitted that the only thing to celebrate was our being together. ( CNN interview: - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYj9coCZpc8)
24. Of course Jonathan seems like the good guy with all the luck, but then he is learning the ropes fast. The people he has been encouraged to approach for donations don’t give donations, they make investments
25. Finally I look at the myriad of challenges and courage it will take to lead Nigeria. I look at our multifaceted challenges and the amount of gusto the next leader will need to have. I look at the multitude of varied interests and opinions that need attention in Nigeria. I look at the contestants and I have decided to do President Jonathan a favour and not vote him into power.

In the last few weeks I have seen people give support because they want an honest man. I have seen the eyes of the okada man brighten with the possibilities of a new Nigeria. I have seen Christians go for meetings in a mosque (and vice versa) for a new system of leadership. I have taken time to be on the streets, I have seen the efforts of someone’s NGN1000 and another’s NGN50 make a difference in our efforts. I have seen the enlightened and the uneducated agree to pull our efforts in the direction we believe in. We can never remain the same again, we have seen the light; we have embraced the new Nigeria from afar. I see it; I smell it, a nation where your diligence makes a difference; a nation of equal opportunities to succeed. A nation we will believe in and not the one we will be leaving; a nation where sound character can stand as legal tender. Between that dream and our present realities are our votes. I have decided to cast mine for the Buhari-Bakare ticket, what about you

HEAVEN OR HELL!

While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator was tragically hit by a car and died. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance."Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.""No problem, just let me in," says the Senator.."Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.""Really?, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator."I'm sorry, but we have our rules."And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St.Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven.."So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.Peter returns."Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity." The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers:"Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell...Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders."I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"The devil smiles at him and says,"Yesterday WE were campaigning. Today, YOU voted.."

Vote wisely in Elections 2011

BODE, TIBI TIBI NKO?

SAW THIS ON A FRIEND'S WALL.... COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING!!!!! “Madam Roli, Madam Roli, can you tell our people outside to reduce the noise? I am trying to have a word with Bode on behalf of the elders’ caucus of the PDP. We need to debrief your husband.”
“Ok, Baba, I will tell them. I hope your people are fine in Otta sir”

“O kare iyawo wa. Well done, our dear wife. Ku afoju ba once again. Your husband is looking younger even after the enemies have done their worst.”

“Em... Baba, Roli is my wife o. Not our wife. I’m still alive abeg. I only went to jail. Anyway, Roli, se awon supporters won yen ti jeun? They’ve eaten? Good. Tell them to reduce the noise like Baba said. Tell them we are expecting twelve more trailers of cows tomorrow for distribution to each ward. The remaining five trailers of aso ebi should be reserved for the women’s delegation coming from Abuja.”

“Bode, once again, ka’abo. You are welcome. We thank God. Where are the traitors behind your travails today? Awon da loni? One languished in a hospital in Saudi Arabia before returning home to meet his maker. The rest of that rude and power drunk cabal is history. They did all this to you just to get at me. Awon afore su ni se buruku.”

“Baba, e ku ile once again. I am so happy to be back with you and I am moved to tears by all the support from our people. Our convoy could hardly move through the crowd of supporters. We even performed better than when Alamsco returned from London to the warm of embrace of his people in Akwa Ibom. God has really honoured us. But where are Gbenga and Ayo? They came to the church and should have followed us home in the convoy.”

(Baba laughs)

“Why? Am I missing something?”

“Ah, Bode, see what prison has done to you. God soda Yar’Adua’s mouth wherever he is. I thought they allowed you to read newspapers and watch TV in the presidential wing of kirikiri that we arranged for you?”

“I still don’t understand what I am missing here.”

“Well, all lizards lie prostrate. How to tell the one with a bellyache?”

“Meaning?”

“Haba, Bode, you no longer know the meaning of all lizards lie prostrate? A ni gbogbo alangba lo danu de le. Just because you saw Gbenga Daniel and Ayo Fayose in church does not mean that they are still with us.”

“O ti o. Those are our boys now”

“Ah, Bode, things happened while you were away! Iya je mi! You won’t believe that Gbenga became so power drunk and arrogant that he started pointing in the direction of Otta with his left hand!”

“Haba, Baba, Gbenga cannot do that to you. He cannot do that to us! Mo j’eri e. Gbenga is a river that came into being before our very eyes. How can its currents sweep one away?”

“That’s what my eyes saw o, Bode, but I still dey kampe sha.”

“So Gbenga is truly misbehaving? What happened? We were around when that boy was born. Oju wa na se bi. We even watched him grow up. Awa la wo d’agba. How can he turn against you, Baba?”

“That is life for you, Bode. Osoba won that election but we did our usual do and gave Gbenga egusi soup but he has now drenched his chest with palm oil. But Gbenga’s own is even small o. The arifin I have been receiving from Fayose is worse”

“Ehn, Ayo Fayose too?”

“Yes o, I don’t even know the mouth with which to tell that one’s story. That bastard saw me in Okuku and called me a father of bastards.”

“Eewo! Abomination! Fayose said that to you?”

“Look, Bode, today is not the day to talk about all these useless boys that we picked up from the gutter and made governors. We have work to do. We have so much lost territory to reconquer. We lost most of the southwest in your absence. And Fashola has been behaving here in Lagos like the rat that became a landlord in the absence of the cat.”



“This is all so depressing, Baba. How did we lose Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun? Where was Goodluck Jonathan?”



“Jonathan? Bode, please don’t mention tails in the presence of frogs. I have been trying hard to use patience in my dealings with that man.”



“And it’s not working? Didn’t they say that she controls the man?”



“Who is talking about his wife? I mean one needs patience to deal with Goodluck because of his perpetual sme sme. He has been misbehaving on the do-or-die front. He is not delivering at all. For instance, he was supposed to have announced a presidential pardon for you as part of a process of national healing before our convoy arrived here from church. That is what we instructed him to do. We also asked him to upgrade your national honour to GCON. Once your rehabilitation is complete, I am thinking of retiring and handling over the mantle of Founder of Modern Nigeria to you.”



“That is true o. I am surprised that he hasn’t announced my presidential pardon yet. Maybe he wants to announce it when I join him for breakfast in the Villa next week.”



“He has surrounded himself with too many drunken fishermen sailors who are talking nonsense and making him wobble and fumble through every assignment we give him. Just imagine what he did with our winning formula for the April elections.”



“What’s the formula, Baba?”



“As you know, we are going to win the election the usual way and we expect Buhari, Ribadu, and Utomi to go to court as usual after addressing press conferences with my friend, Jimmy Carter. We know what will happen when they get to the Supreme Court because the judgement to be read by Katisna-Alu and supported by Ogebe will be written by some of my boys in Otta. In fact, we already have anticipatory drafts and Katsina-Alu will be in Otta to practice judgement delivery next week. Our only problem is the Court of Appeal where Justice Ayo Salami has refused to play ball so far. We asked Goodluck to take care of that problem.”



“That’s a small problem now.”



“That’s what we thought. Jonathan outsourced the assignment to Katsina-Alu and they somehow bungled it. The whole thing exploded in our faces, causing untold embarrassment. Now, the man is still there as President of the Appeal Court and that could cause a lot of problems for us in April.”



“That’s true Baba. That is one problem we need to solve immediately. Why didn’t they just use the Esa Oke protocol? Didn’t anyone think of that?”



“Of course we thought of the Esa Oke protocol. One of my boys even mentioned it to me again recently during Oyinlola’s birthday thanksgiving in Okuku but after careful consideration we decided to just leave that option on the table for now.”



“That’s good, Baba but I hope that Anenih, Andy Uba, Ahmadu Ali, Babangida, and all our other people are aware that we may need to put that option to good use after April...”



“Yes, our people are fully aware of that. Let’s talk serious business jare. Bode, tibi nko?



“Tibi?”



“Yes, Bode, what about tibi? Where is tibi?”



“Baba, I don’t understand the tibi that you are talking about o.”



“Bode, you just love to joke with serious matters. Abeg, talk better jare. The day is far spent. A o r’ojo mu so l’okun. I still need to get to Otta today.”



“Baba, I’m serious o. I don’t understand the tibi that you are talking about. Unbind me. E tu mi nle.”



“Bode, are you serious?”



“Baba, I’m not joking o.”



“Bode, you are starting to annoy me. Must I speak with the full complement of my mouth?”



“Baba, I honestly don’t understand what you are talking about.”



“I am talking about the eighty billion naira.”



“Eighty billion?”



“Bode, you are misbehaving o. Did the judge who sent you to prison ask you to refund kobo? Look at what happened to Tafa Balogun, Lucky Igbinedion, and Cecilia Ibru who all went through the injustice of having to refund a small part of their jibiti to the Nigerian state. You think your head is different from theirs? When did monkeys start boasting of a better destiny than gorillas?”



“Baba...”



“Don’t baba me at all Bode. Did Balogun, Igbinedion, and Ibru offend God? No. But they were asked to refund various sums of money. Who do you think worked the miracle that allowed you to keep all of your own tibi and to return to it and all the interest accumulated after thirty months in prison?”



“Baba...”



“I am still talking, Bode. Who do you think worked that miracle for you? Enoch Adeboye? David Oyedepo? Chris Oyakhilome? No, my friend. Some of us pulled a lot of strings during your trial. The judge didn’t wake up and allowed you to keep eighty billion naira just like that.”

“But Baba...”



“No need to argue any further, Bode. Here is what you will do. You will do omoluwabi to me with five billion naira; you will do omoluwabi to the Jonathan/Sambo campaign with five billion naira; you will do omoluwabi to the PDP national secretariat with five billion naira; you will earmark another five billion naira for omoluwabi to other deserving stakeholders, elder statesmen, and chieftains of the PDP. That still leaves you sixty billion naira and interest accrued. Go and sin no more with that one.”



“Haba, Baba, you won’t even let me rest before...”



“Bode, Bode, Bode, how many times have I called you? Farida Waziri has been a very good girl since Ribadu was booted out of the EFCC. She has been a very useful girl. If you now need outsiders to explain omoluwabi to you, I can get Jonathan to activate Waziri.”



“Baba, all I am trying to say is that the money is...”



“O-r-d-e-r-l-y!!!!!!”



“Sah!!!!!!”



“Tell the driver to get ready. We are leaving for Otta right now.”

LETTER TO MR PRESIDENT. DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN

Dear Sir,
It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow I write this. The events of the last weekend left me in a state of disbelief and surprise. It left me feeling really stupid, illogical, irrational, and worst of all naive.
I was up until the events of this last weekend a staunch believer in your rights to run for the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I was a dogged advocate of justice and equity being served by allowing the Niger Delta produce the next President with a real mandate. I am disappointed in the line you chose to tow. Who does the kind of thing you did at this time in a Presidential election year?
In my books, you were the best ever chance the South-south had to get some form of real development to come to the region, to the creeks, to Oloibiri and to Opuekeba. You were the best opportunity to make Shell, Chevron, and all the big oil players to show some respect to the soil of where you were born, the desecrated, scorched and scorned land of your fathers and forefathers. I carried a banner and joined other youths from Eagle Square to the hallowed gates of the National Assembly in Abuja, under the constant danger of the Police suddenly turning maniac and cutting me short in my prime..We all were chanting “Enough is Enough”. Before then, I joined a multitude to scream and rant and vent at the Fountain of Unity in Abuja…all of these asking that the “cabal” release their grasp on power and allow you, sir, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, become President. This was because I thought you were a man of integrity, a simple man with a simple plan – a plan to jettison the still – birthed 7-point agenda and set in motion a real plan to getting electricity stable, get universities properly funded, and deal decisively with the abysmal security in the country. I debated, I argued, I talked everywhere I could about your innocence, about your capability, and about your integrity. Even when last year, terrorists struck severally, killing, maiming, and taking away the virginity of our psyche to such level and sophistication of horror, I still argued your trustworthiness. I didnt allow fear becloud my convictions, I didnt waver in my opinions, I stood resolutely behind you.
Then you struck!
I can remember vividly, in the early days of your campaign, you used a footage of CThief Bode George, you cited him as one of the examples of what your government will do to corrupt public officers, no matter how high they are in society, no matter their estate in life. I hailed the fact that, even though it was seen as a slap on the wrist, the government you were part of sent the aging criminal to jail, effectively turning him into an ex-convict and by virtue of that making him unfit to ever hold public office again and saving us from his hunger for loot. I am sure he tried everything in his power to wriggle free, but still you made sure he completed his term.
So what went wrong? why the sudden volte-face? Why did the whole of the Peoples Democratic Party throng Kirikiri Prisons to go welcome him? A welcome that was befitting enough for a conquering General, a welcome befitting a King, royalty, a welcome even OBJ didnt get when he had his go at gulag time. What is that hidden magic you all realized the criminal had? Did a voice from within the prison walls speak to you sir, that Bode George was your talisman to winning the April elections? Why did you have to do something so preposterous? Something so abominable. With a Phd, I would have expected you to know that Bode George shouldn’t have been touched even via bluetooth!!! but Alas you sent a representative, a senior member of your cabinet, to the shameful church service, presided over by a man of satan who is surely headed for hell. Oh, you probably didnt know what Bode George did? Is that your story Sir? Ok, let me act the fool which you obviously think I am and assume you don’t know, I will hold your hands and tell you what the former Chairman of the NPA did – He stole our money, my money, taxpayers money! He was at the head of a gang of contract inflaters. That was why the honourable court sent him to jail. We all applauded the bravery of the court and the sincerity of the government. So Sir, please tell us, does it mean you condone corruption, or probably even corrupt yourself, or what other thing influenced this very uneducated “mistake”. I have a feeling you were almost kicking yourself for not personally making the welcome party of calumny. I shed a tear inside for what is left of my country.
I see you on TV telling me, and other people who worked their nails off to afford the TV you appear on, that “I am one of you” – how???? How can you be? We applauded the jailing of that ex-convict, you probably wept in your home, you wept because this might be your fate if you commit that kind of atrocity and you were caught. And when he got released, we all wanted him to go home quietly, have a shower and settle down into life as a nobody, we werent happy he got off so easily, we frowned. But I suspect you popped champagne, you jubilated because you suddenly say a ray of hope on the horizon. Sad stuff.
What does this tell us? folks like James Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion, just to mention a few are getting away with their crime, they will all comeback home from exile or jail heralded as heroes. May God punish them all!!
Mr. President, I wish I could add “outgoing” to your title, it would have given me so much joy, but I wont, but I will instead tell you one thing – either the elections are free or not, you have lost my vote, and that of many Nigerian youths who make up about 70% of our dear country, and mark my words sir, we shall come out en-masse on April 9th, and vote and vote till we run out of time and eligible voters. I hope you are taking particular note of happenings around the world, and I hope that will give you pause. Since you have chosen to side with the devil…..we have chosen to side with the power of our votes and our resolve to make Nigeria great again. You wont be left with any other option than to attempt to rig this election. I assure you, God is on our side.
So long Dr. GEJ, see you at the polling booths, and give my regards to your pal, Bode George, tell him that God is merciful, but also a God of wrath and anger. I shall type no more.
God bless our motherland.
Yours Sincerely,
Naija Citizen

REFLECTIONS ON BUHARI PRESIDENCY

I READ THIS SOMEWHERE AND I FELT I MUST SHARE IT



From all indications Nigeria looks set for the April general election. Although one expects a hitch-free exercise, Muhammadu Buhari’s recent warning against rigging and against the replication of the North African scenario in Nigeria bears amplification. I believe that the only revolution possible here is a progressive one and President Goodluck Jonathan has already kick-started it, unwittingly though. Thus, as from April, we only require a proactive government in order to take it to the next level.
Nigerians afraid that the revolutionary wind sweeping across North Africa and the Arab world could spill over to the rest of the continent should perish the thought. Anyone familiar with the history of North Africa will attest to the fact that the unfolding scenario is hardly strange to the region. There will be nothing like that in Nigeria in April or the nearest future. The people of Tunisia are united by religion, tribe and tongue. Ditto for the Egyptians, Algerians and Libyans.
By promising free and fair elections and pursuing the same, and refusing to echo the familiar refrain of the Obasanjo/Ogbulafor satanic ballad which said that the PDP would rule the country for 60 consecutive years, Jonathan has unwittingly unleashed a tethered polity. He has thus encouraged liberal politics which has enabled even his ministers to resign and join parties of their choice without being victimized.
This to me is revolution par excellence.
Today, the PDP must embrace reform or disintegrate like the Whigs suffered in 18th century Britain as a result of inexorable socio-political reforms necessitated by the agricultural and industrial revolutions, resulting in the emergence of the Liberal Party which took over control of governance from 1760. Since the end of World War II, the Tories or Conservatives and Labor have taken over.
The ongoing realignment of forces has significantly enriched our politics. It has helped the Action Congress of Nigeria ACN to attract members who have broadened its outlook with the possibility of winning not just ordinary seats outside the southwest but also gubernatorial contests. Above all, the unleashing of the polity has ensured the emergence of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)-as a party to watch. In fact, I must confess that I am fascinated by the concept of the CPC and its presidential ticket. It appears to be the party with the most thought-provoking title and most profound message.
The idea of “progressive change” couldn’t have been arrived at by rule of tongue. The change that could effectively take root in Nigeria, let me repeat for the umpteenth time; will be progressive unlike in North Africa where it happens in one fell swoop.
Therefore, I do doff my hat to Buhari and co for their wisdom, maturity and foresight. Buhari is a beacon. Even though for four consecutive years (1975-1979) he was in a position to amass wealth (as state governor and as Petroleum Minister/Chairman, NNPC and later (1994) as Chairman Petroleum Trust Fund) he was never swayed by material possession, perhaps believing like Chaucer that “overplenty feeds the pride which poverty conquers.”
Anyone who has closely followed his political career will appreciate that though he is self-effacing and near taciturn, he is honest and resilient, consistent and courageous, patriotic, frugal, selfless and hardworking. Let me also confess at this point that I have never been enamored of the idea of any transformed military officer leading a democratic dispensation in Nigeria. But all that has faded in the face of the hydra-headed troubles of the land.
It is true that President Jonathan is not doing badly in the face of all this, but to what extent can he cope in the years ahead? The office today requires a person with “big biceps”. If Jonathan’s biceps are not big enough, which of the other parties, beyond sentiment, can save us from a situation that calls for real courage, gumption, initiative, decisiveness and a measure of aggressiveness?
President Jonathan is of the mould of Jimmy Carter-a dovish kind of leader-whereas the contemporary challenges of the office call for either a Ronald Reagan, or Bill Clinton or a Charles De Gaulle since the Churchills are very rare breed. I would prefer a president like De Gaulle of whose image Buhari reminds me.
In 1958, France’s many woes-domestic and foreign-forced the return of De Gaulle, a World War hero and highly disciplined leader, back to power. Thus was born the French Fifth Republic.
Conscious that part of the country’s troubles stemmed from official ineptitude and colonialism, De Gaulle made up his mind right from the beginning to let go of all colonies. To achieve this, he had asked for and obtained the enabling constitution plus the powers of executive president. He then systematically proceeded to out-maneuver the notorious French forces at home and abroad, decimated the OAS in Algeria, stopped political terrorism and in the end France stepped out majestically and was able not only to explode its own nuclear bomb in 1959 but also look NATO in the face and say no.
In view of the Nigerian situation which resembles that of France in 1958, I am inclined to think that between Jonathan and Buhari, only the later can effectively manage here. The combination of Buhari and Bakare is novel and unprecedented in Nigerian politics. I don’t know Buhari from Adam and although it is difficult to forgive and forget his jailing of Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor, he appears compassionate.
I was editor of Satellite the Enugu based newspaper in 1984, when Buhari as Head of State paid a four-day state visit to Anambra State. The Governor, Allison Madueke had ordered the arrest and detention of my colleague and editor of Sunday Satellite Chigozie Ozim on the flimsy excuse that he published a letter to the editor considered to be offensive to the Anambra State government. All entreaties for clemency by the management of the company and other sympathizers fell on deaf ears.
Ozim’s Wife Urel was six months pregnant when her husband was arrested and had been delivered of a baby boy two weeks before Buhari’s visit. The baby, because of the incarceration of the father could not be named. Mrs. Ozim thus seized the opportunity of Buhari’s visit to cry out for help.
With her baby in tow she came to the newsroom and broke down in tears. “Please help bring the plight of my husband to the knowledge of the Head of State, I have suffered a lot”, she cried with tears flowing freely. Pointing at her baby, she continued, “This child won’t grow up a happy boy if he is reared in bitterness, agony and avoidable hardship. You can see this baby has no name because his father is not around and I have no access to him”.
The next day, September 24, 1984, we published the story front page, together with the picture of Mrs Ozim and her baby. The minister of internal affairs, Major General Magoro who was on the entourage of Buhari drew his attention to the story and Ozim was released even before the end of the tour. For a man who often appeared to be uncompromisingly strict in public, such manifestation of considerable personal empathy in private is an enamouring attribute of great leaders.
(Nzeakah, a journalist writes from Lagos)