On Wednesday 11th February 2015, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was live on air on a Presidential media chat to address Nigerians and the international community on the state of the nation. As expected, President Goodluck Jonathan didn’t disappoint Nigerians who have become accustomed to his character of being economical with the truth on all issues. To say the least, Mr. President’s performance was very unPresidential, unserious and insensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of over 160 million people who are victims of his economic, political and social traumatization of the polity.
The Presidential media chat occurred some few days after the disappointment and anger of millions of Nigerians at home, in the Diaspora and the international community over the coup of a postponement of the 2015 general elections by the Jonathan administration which misused the security agencies to commit treason against the Nigerian state and of which they will all stand trial at the appropriate time.
The media chat was a Golden opportunity for Mr. President to redeem his image, his administration and that of the country and assure Nigerians and the international community of his irrevocable commitment to democracy which has always been suspicious and deceptive, but he blew it up with his lackadaisical, evasive, insincere, half truths and comical answers to clear and unambiguous questions
We saw a President who was very evasive, unassuring and a threat to democracy by his body language. We saw a President whose utterances and conduct suggest that the 2015 general elections might not hold on the new dates if Nigerians are not steadfast, resolute and focused to defend democracy legitimately which is under threat.
On commitment to Democracy,
According to President Goodluck Jonathan in response to a question about his desperation to go for broke and call the bluff of holding elections, “But now, Nigerians have given me the opportunity to be here for four good years and so if the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, we will inaugurate a new government”. This response of a conditional statement beginning with If by Mr. President calls to question his sincerity about conducting credible elections. The word of the President is a law in any country and one would have expected Mr. President who is the commander in chief of the armed forces to come out categorically by stating that the treasonably postponed elections will hold if he is indeed sincere and not by saying if. Like we say, Nigerians, unless you stand up for your democracy, the treasonably postponed elections will not hold going by the utterance of Mr. President yesterday and the consequences on the people and country is better imagined.
On preparedness of INEC
On the issue of the preparedness of INEC for the elections, Mr. President once again ridiculed his office and exposed the grand conspiracy of the Presidency and his party, the PDP in the ongoing plot of blackmail of INEC and Prof. Jega, when he said that the information given to him by security chiefs was that poor distribution of Permanent Voters Cards could have caused a security challenge in the country. Once again, Mr. President has shown that the reasons for the treasonable postponement of the elections was not because of the need to confront terrorist in the North East as claimed by the service chiefs in their coup against democracy, but for the personal ambition of the President Goodluck Jonathan in violation of the constitution.
We challenge President Goodluck Jonathan to provide proof of evidence for his claim that only about 38% of registered voters in Lagos State have got their PVC. Let him provide the details to back up this claim which has become characteristics of him making statements without proofs. We say this with the background of similar tales by the National Security Adviser (NSA) in London on January 22, 2015 where he made untruthful statement about the distribution of PVC and called for the postponement of the election at the prompting of his Commander in Chief, which was executed as a coup by the security chiefs who threatened national security and arm twisted INEC. We are also not oblivious of the alarm raised recently by Mr. Mike Omeri of the National Information center to the effect that boko haram plan to attack polling stations on election dates with young girls dressed in Hijab and which was strengthened by Mr. President’s unPresidential statement at the Lords Chosen Church of Pastor Lazarus Muoka only recently, that boko haram plan to bomb the whole country. Unfortunately, till date, unlike in sane climes, the security chiefs have not deemed it appropriate to come out clearly in line with their constitutional duties to address the country on the state of security with regards to the alarm raised by Mr. Mike Omeri and President Goodluck Jonathan. Oh Nigeria, what a country?
On Prof Jega,
President Goodluck Jonathan assurances of non removal from office of Prof. Attahiru Jega as INEC chairman was taken with a pinch of salt in view of the antecedents of Mr. President who is used to saying one thing and acting contrary within a twinkle of an eye. The same Prof. Jega and INEC that have become the subject of campaign of hate, ethnicity, blackmail and calumny by the Presidency, PDP Presidential Campaign committee, state sponsored groups, etc was the same person and body which conducted the 2011 general elections and subsequent elections all over the country. To resort to conspiracy of destroying a national institution because of personal ambition by Mr. President and his party is nothing but dishonest, evil, undemocratic and a crime against humanity.
For the information of all Nigerians and the international community, the plot of the Jonathan Presidency is to cast aspersions on the credibility of Prof. Jega and INEC by continuing to embark on state sponsored and funded campaign of hate, ethnicity, calumny and blackmail by individuals and groups, so that at the end of the day, the INEC boss will be asked to step aside unconstitutionally from conducting the 2015 general elections pending the determination of the cooked up allegations against him, while a Presidency compliant appointee is put in office to do the bidding of the anti democratic elements by compromising the sanctity of the ballot box. Remember, the Justice Ayo Salami saga and how President Jonathan perpetuated illegality and impunity in the NJC.
On Abducted Chibok School Girls
Once again, President Goodluck Jonathan response to this issue shows clearly that Mr. President like has become characteristics of him, only succeeded in playing to the gallery. There was no definitive information or articulate answers of assurances. His responses only achieved one purpose, that anybody looking forward to the recovery of the girls must be an Alice in wonderland.
On the Attack on Presidential convoy
Here once again, we saw a President who seemed oblivious of the responsibility of his office as the commander in chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mr. President again played to the gallery when instead of addressing the issue, he was trying to whip up sentiments. We are all aware that the Bauchi state governor, Alhaji Isa Yuguda publicly revealed that Mr. President’s convoy was attacked in Bauchi state by his PDP party members and he mentioned names as the instigators and we expected a serious minded answer about the security agencies being alive to their responsibilities with regards to these constitutional violations in Bauchi and other states from Mr. President which characteristically never came.
On the drum beat of war
Mr. President, characteristically instead of being affirmative in obeisance to his constitutional oath and office, was evasive in response to this critical question which is a threat to national peace, unity and security. The way and manner Mr. President responded to the question gave a proper inkling of the much touted false and deceptive image of President Jonathan as a gentle and peace loving person who refused to categorically condemn threats to violence and violence itself. Peaceful man indeed.
On stealing is not Corruption
Nigerians, with the way, our country has been run in the last four years, one doesn’t need to be a soothsayer to conclude that we have never had it so bad, where the symbol of the Nigerian state is openly fraternizing with criminals and outlaws. This is irresponsible, despicable and totally unacceptable. Whether you call it stealing or corruption, evil is evil, there are no two words for it. Corruption is not fought by words of mouth but by action and even our Lord Jesus in the Holy Book said “Not all who call me Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of my father”. President Goodluck Administration from all intent and purpose has been able to surpass the negative ideals of Generals IBB and Abacha juntas of infamy with regards to corruption and we cannot but give him big kudos.
That May 29th 2015 is Sacrosanct
The question we must ask President Jonathan is, through what process and means will he hand over? Is it through elections or unconstitutionally handpicked successor? The more President Jonathan talks about May 29th 2015 handover date as being sacrosanct, the more I remember with pains and agony the deceit of former military dictator IBB in office, “Insha Allah, we will hand over” which culminated in the treasonable annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential elections and the installation of an illegal contraption called interim government. Nigerians, are we not treading the same path again?
Nigerians, take it or leave it, we are back again to the barricades of the 1990s of the military juntas when the self perpetuation plot of the ruler ship of Nigeria unfolded before our very eyes. However, bearing in mind our recent history, it behooves on all patriots to join forces now to confront and defeat the agents of darkness who are hell bent on terminating our hard earned democracy.
The coming days will be turbulent as the enemies of democracy will bare their fangs in full committing all sorts of atrocities against the Nigerian people and state, but we must remain resolute, united, focused and unwavering in the struggle for democracy and responsibility in government. This much we owe ourselves and generations unborn.
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty and like they say, a word is enough for the wise.
Aluta continua, Victoria ascerta!
Thanks,
Yours Sincerely,
Signed,
Nelson Ekujumi,
07033853232
