In the wake of the ongoing campaigns leading to the forthcoming elections, several issues have been conjectured against President Goodluck Jonathan by a cross section of the electorate claiming that he is clueless, weak and indecisive leader. The oppositions as expected have exerted great efforts in attempting to promote these perspectives as facts and have continually reeled out many reasons in an attempt to prove that the President is a weakling, indecisive and clueless.
Most discerning Nigerians have been quick to debunk these futile attempts as show of desperation by the opposition in its attempt to grab power by all available means. They have exhibited extreme ruthlessness, forgetting that sometimes while we seek to indict others, we equally expose our own grave shortcomings.
Whether openly or in private, those who nurture these opinions about Goodluck Jonathan do so because he has in my view remained a simple and humane man. Considering his remarkable ascendancy to power that has left many of his contemporaries spellbound, Jonathan has in all purpose and intent carried himself with great humility and dignity. He has in my strong opinion refused to allow the perks of his office to influence his disposition in anyway and has remained realistically true to the values and experiences of his humble background.
Having observed his body language, attitude and general approach to issues both national and personal, I think it is apt in assuming that Goodluck Jonathan’s story so far is an example of a visionary leadership at the highest level.
I am of the school of thought that believes the process of nation building is too serious a business to be left to run without occasional appraisals of the status quo. In other words, while I am given to recognizing and promoting the great strides of the Jonathan administration 4 years on, i believe that as a patriotic citizen, I should also be in the ranks of those who are quick to point out the mistakes of the government of the day, with the hope that they will make necessary amendment that will be of benefit to the entire people of this great country.
Of the several issues in contention, I would first and foremost like to dwell on the issue of the ongoing war against terrorism. Jonathan has long been accused of foot dragging over the matter and perhaps because the war has lasted for so long with a record of victories and losses on both sides, he has been labeled as being clueless. From the onset of the war, Jonathan maintained a studied approach to the matter. While he was pressurized to carry out an aggressive offensive against the insurgents, he preferred to carefully consider options or as the case may be alternate strategies which could lead to an end of the war without bloodshed. It seems that some of those who stand on the harsh assumption that he is clueless have been inflicted with a bout of selective amnesia which coincidentally strikes when their interests are at stake. This group has chosen to forget that it was the same Goodluck Jonathan that extended the olive branch in several fashions to the insurgents on a platter of gold promising financial considerations and a new lease of life as patriotic citizens of Nigeria and even went as far as offering amnesty.
That was when the insurgents insisted that underdevelopment of their region was the reason for their actions against the state. Fresh from playing an active role in pacifying the restive militants of the Niger Delta along similar lines, the President was of the belief that the same measures could be applied in the case of the insurgents. It is instructive to note that it is the same Goodluck Jonathan who as Vice President took it upon himself to visit the stronghold of the Niger Delta militants where he addressed over two thousand armed youths contrary to the advise by the family, friends and security agencies.
The said visit was to lay the foundation for lasting peace in the region.
The fiery statements credited to some northern leaders such as the Presidential Candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari who publicly denounced any attempt to engage the insurgents militarily claiming that an attack on the latter was an attack on the north simply ignited sentiments particularly from the north which rather than douse the attendant tension further fueled it to alarming proportions.
When all entreaties failed, and when the insurgents came out openly to declare violence using religion as a decoy, which had led to the untimely death of many innocent Nigerians. The Jonathan administration was left with no other option than to respond appropriately.
He subsequently declared a state of emergency across several states (without tampering with democratic structures) in the zone. Now it is edifying at this point to recall President Jonathan’s inclination for minimum use of force and his long-suffering in the face of the most daunting challenges.
This development coupled with the lack of appropriate arms and ammunition as inherited by the Jonathan’s administration has all proven inimical to a conclusive end of the war. It is however refreshing to note that the present administration has increased the tempo of the military’s onslaught against the insurgents whilst also re-energizing it with more effective weaponry.
In view of these developments, it is hard to see how Jonathan is clueless especially considering the fact that he has been able to contain the insurrection within acceptable limits thus far.
President Jonathan is aware of the negative impact the ongoing war against terrorism and other crimes are having on the general productivity of Nigeria. He is no happier than the next Nigerian with the daily and wanton killings of our fellow countrymen, women and children. He has vowed to bring the war to an end with the resolute focused determination he is known for, and he surely will.
Again on the issue of being clueless, the opposition has downplayed significant accomplishments of the Jonathan administration. I however wish to ask how a clueless President has been able to revamp the Nigerian Railway Corporation, (NRC), after 30 years of comatose existence, unbundled and strengthen the power sector, empower hundreds and thousands of Nigerians, stirred a revolution in the Agriculture Sector, embark on an unprecedented scope of grassroots development and establish new Federal Universities and Almajiri schools amidst many other programmes and projects across the six geopolitical zones of the country designed to uplift general wellbeing of the citizenry?
Jonathan’s non-judgmental approach in engaging those that vilify him is yet another aspect of his character that is wrongly interpreted as weakness. Again I am forced to refer to his characteristic preference to study issues before embarking on any chosen course of action. He is indeed one who is careful not to make grave mistakes that could impact negatively on the lives of millions of our people.
He is a leader who takes his time to assess all options before him rather than make haphazard decisions. Dr. Jonathan is a meticulous planner who only says yes when propositions are seen to be in the interest of the people and not because he seeks cheap glorification. No other leader in Nigeria’s history has exhibited the level of tolerance that Jonathan has so far displayed. At times it seems he is the architect of his own problems but I have found that he is a strong proponent for freedom of expression even if such expressions are against his interests.
Another side of him was further revealed in one of his recent speeches regarding the elections when he was quoted to have said that “No single drop of blood of any Nigerian is worth my ambition”. The limits of his tolerance and patience have continued to surprise many and seem to be more an integral part of him than just political cosmetics. In the course of his campaign to Katsina and Bauchi States recently, his convoy was stoned by ill-advised youth and several members of his security detail were injured and subsequently hospitalized in the process. In all of this he exercised uncanny restraint.
For him, service is not about suppression rather it is about carrying people along. His political opponents have sought to do great damage to his person with the ultimate aim of diminishing the esteem in which his person and office are held in the eyes of the people. They have sought to weave a web of stories around him designed to erode our confidence and generate disregard for his significant accomplishments thus far. They forget that he never fought to occupy the exalted office he finds himself. They fail to see that he is truly a God fearing man who is all too aware that power comes from God and only He can sustain the wielders of such power.
Goodluck Jonathan is by no means weak and he understands fully the extent of his powers as President. In the book Wind Of Hope, his authorized biography, he is said this with regards to the use of power; “The powers of President are wide and deep. Because of its delicate nature, power must be properly used. It must not be impulsive. It must not be seen to be biased in its application. Indeed if one uses more than 40% of his powers as president that for me is excessive. We need not coerce all the time to get things done. Power is from God who has given us freewill and it therefore belongs to God”.
THE 2015 ELECTION
Activities related to the forthcoming 2015 Presidential Elections are presently in high gear. Both the APC and the PDP the two major political parties in contention have employed various means aimed at selling their candidates to the public, articulating and presenting their visions for the future if elected President. It has been a fierce battle so far with supporters of both men constantly postulating theories they will accord their preferred candidates a better chance at the polls. It is impossible not to recognize the air of calmness and confidence exhibited by Jonathan as he addresses the crowds. He is quick to reel out his accomplishments since he assumed the office of President. He does so as a reminder to Nigerians that nation building is a continuous process of astute management of resources, which can only be justified by the quality, and impact of results.
When he assumes office for a second term, by God’s grace, I see Nigeria taking on a new direction particularly with respect to the twin issues of corruption and insecurity which have formed the crux of criticisms against the President by the opposition. He is reported to have said that corruption isn’t fought by wantonly throwing people in jail. His statement was no doubt an extension of his thoughts on the matter that building stronger institutions is a much more potent way of addressing the scourge. In his second term I see a more aggressive Jonathan who has undoubtedly learnt from the past and who will substantiate his fight against corruption with added vigour. Perhaps in the past he tried not to cause dissentions and preferred to be somewhat subtle in his approach to the matter. Sometime late last year at a private dinner with members of the Wind of Hope Team he was asked about the issue of corruption; he sat straight in his seat as he answered “They say we are not doing enough to fight corruption and I understand the fears of the people but all I can say is watch out and see what we will do”!
For those who question his style of governance, all I can say is that no man is born perfect but governance is a learning process. Greater leaders than him might surface in the future but today he remains the most credible, nationalistic and resulted oriented candidate Nigeria can count on now. We must all “think Nigeria” as we go to the polls on February 14th for indeed a great horizon beckons on us as we turn a new chapter in the history of our great country.
ONORIODE AKPE
NATIONAL COORDINATOR,
WIND OF HOPE
