JONATHAN: DEPLOYING WISDOM TO DISARM THE ENEMIES WITHIN

To many, President Goodluck Jonathan is simply seen as a very lucky man. But beyond this popular opinion, he is more of a firm believer in the potency of natural wisdom or common sense. This is the secret behind his rapid and steady rise from grace to higher grace. For many who don’t know him; Goodluck Jonathan can be easily mistaken for someone who does not have the head to carry the burden that Nigeria has painfully become. Right from his days as deputy governor in Bayelsa State, he has never believed in the vain and negative attitude of “I know it all.” For this reason, he devotes ample time to listen to a wide range of opinions. Jonathan is also known for trusting in the abilities of his aides. Unfortunately, this has in no small measure dented his vision as most of his lieutenants have abused the deep confidence reposed in them. It accounts for why some government officials pursue agendas clearly outside the vision of the president.

Much of the problems created or existing in the nation’s polity are the premeditated handiwork of members of the president’s working team. It is a sad fact that most people in government are there for the wrong reasons. Very few persons enter government to serve the interests of the larger society. In such a feral situation, political leaders will need more than the normal to succeed. For a few of us that saw it well in advance, we warned the president about the dangers of working with a legion of “enemies of the nation.” As complex as Nigeria is, there is no way “enemies” will not infiltrate the presidency. What every head of government needs to do in order to defeat these “enemies” or cabal is to be proactive. The major aim of the cabal is to hijack the presidency and dictate the turn of events in the country to their favour. It is however pertinent to note that while every administration grows its own cabal, there are key institutions that feed the “cabaltocracy.” They are the NNPC, CBN, and Customs Service. Of late, the Nation Assembly too has joined. The running of these critical sectors of the nation is mostly shrouded in secrecy. Any attempt to open their doors to public scrutiny is usually rebuffed. All amounts of resources are deployed to shield the activities of members of the cabaltocracy. Where it is believed that a particular person may not “play ball’, unorthodox means are employed to perpetuate their culture of crime.

In the case of Goodluck Jonathan, the signs were too clear to the leadership of the cabaltocracy that they cannot trust his presidency. This was mostly responsible for the strong resistance to his ascension to the presidency even in an acting capacity. When with the “doctrine of necessity” their world seems to be collapsing, the cabal decided to employ some other means to either colonize or destroy the GEJ presidency. It was obvious that they could not colonize Aso Rock because right from inception, Goodluck Jonathan had promised to stand with the masses. What many were afraid of is whether the president would be able to stop the cabal from destroying his administration, bearing in mind the number of enemies within.

Unknown to many, including the president; the sudden removal of fuel subsidy on January 1st was part of a subtle design to throw him out of office. Members of the cabal- in and outside government saw an opportunity in the fuel subsidy impasse to perfect their plans. There is no doubt about the fact that fuel subsidy was putting a big hole in the nation’s purse. Just as there are many ways to kill a rat, there were also several ways to withdraw fuel subsidy. Expectedly, the “enemies within the presidency” went for the option that will drastically weaken the purchasing power of the already 70% poor that are living below poverty line. The aim was simply to pitch the masses against government and expect the birth of an Arab Spring in Nigeria. To prove how true this opinion is, the anti-subsidy apostles never saw any need to deploy palliatives before the removal of subsidy. It would be recalled that some insignificant palliatives were only announced after labour and CSO had gone on the streets to call for the reversal of the fiscal policy. Why didn’t Okonjo-Iweala and Sanusi offer to take salary cuts before asking Nigerians to make sacrifice? Thank God, the president did not follow them blindly.
In line with his usual self, President Goodluck Jonathan deployed wisdom to disarm the many “enemies within” by standing with the masses. He emphatically reasoned like a political leader- not like a technocrat. Left with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the minister of finance and economy and Sanusi Lamido, the governor of the CBN; the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration would have been part of history by now. These highly respected technocrats are simply doing the bidding of the World Bank and IMF- not that of Aso Rock. As part of a subtle agenda to protect the economies of key western nations, the World Bank and IMF usually prescribe fiscal policies that will hit hard on the poor and fuel anti-government sentiments among the masses in developing countries.

A close watch of the oil industry in most OPEC countries suggests that the best way to remove fuel subsidy is make local refineries functional. Okonjo-Iweala and Sanusi are not keen about this. Unfortunately, these anti-subsidy apostles have invested so much resource to argue that there are no credible Nigerians to run our economy successfully. They will be quick to cite the state of our four refineries to back their unpatriotic argument. This is a big shame. How can a country that cannot manage her refineries convince the international community that their investments would be safe? Let us stop deceiving ourselves. Unknown to many, the anti-subsidy apostle are actually the true enemies of the Nigerian masses. They are friends of the mostly corrupt fuel importers who have stolen billions of Naira from our common wealth in the name of fuel subsidy. That was why they could not dare call for a probe of the subsidy funds. They also downplayed the important need to refurbish our refineries so that they (importers) can continue to import fuel and make unregulated profit on top of the bent backs of 70% of poor Nigerians that cannot rely on their income to provide food, shelter, education, transport, and health care for their families. Let us note that the finance minister and CBN governor have been making so much noise about corruption but done nothing practical to fight it. Rather, it is the National Assembly that has taken the bull by the horn to expose the rot in the system.

It is the prayer of millions of Nigerian masses that President Goodluck Jonathan continues to use wisdom to fight his enemies within. This is the only way they can be protected from the ravaging and unpatriotic activities of the cabaltocracy within and outside government.

GIVING FUEL SUBSIDY A BAD NAME

I have, over the last twenty-four months written severally on the need for government to maintain the current fuel subsidy regime. My main argument has been that Nigeria’s socio-economic framework is still too fragile to absorb whatever shock that may arise from further increases in the pump price of petroleum products. I am not unaware of the fact that the income and welfare of Nigerians have not improved for a long time.

As at March 2009, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that about 10m Nigerians were unemployed. This figure is disputable. It reported a mere 19.7 employment rate. Sadly, unemployment has continued to be on a steady rise in the country owing to a number of critical factors. The volume of economic expansion has not been robust enough to correct the causes of growing unemployment in the country. Some of the major factors contributing to high unemployment figures are pandemic corruption in private and public sectors, high cost of doing business, poor power system, insecurity, lack of access to financing, high interest rate, and dilapidated public infrastructure among others. All of these have in turn helped to promote the negative culture of poverty, hunger, crime, disease, and underdevelopment.

It was in the midst of this sad reality that Goodluck Jonathan contested and won the 2011 presidential election. For one very simple reason, Nigerian masses wholeheartedly welcomed with both hands, the transformational agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. It was aimed at alleviating the long time suffering of more than 60% of the nation’s population that literally sell their own blood in order to provide food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and health care for members of their families.

The transformational agenda started well with a “zero tolerance for corruption” posture. For the first time, a large cache of “untouchables” were arrested and docked for issues bothering on graft. Deliberate efforts are also being made by government to diversify the nation’s economy through practical steps to discontinue our reliance on the unpredictable revenue from oil and gas. Another highpoint of the transformational agenda of the Jonathan-led administration is the renewed vigour towards fixing the very important power sector through increased funding and other complimentary instruments and policies. To crown it all, government found it wise to increase the basic salaries of workers after coming to the realization that the nation’s present socio-economic framework was too weak to support majority of households in the country meet their statutory obligations.

Owing to the ignoble activities of a few but powerful persons working with foreign collaborators, four of the nation’s refineries located in Rivers, Delta, and Kaduna States were systematically sabotaged in order to promote a needless fuel importation business. As the world’s sixth largest producer of crude oil, we have no reason to import petroleum products at all. As a matter of fact, Nigeria is importing petrol and kerosene today because government has lost the battle of “will” to a tiny group of people that feed on the common blood of Nigerians. Instead of going after these enemies of the nation, government is being stampeded into harassing hapless citizens through the arrogant attempts to remove fuel subsidy.
Signs suggesting that government have lost the soul of the nation to a small clan of greedy and heartless Nigerians and their foreign accomplices emerged when the governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Lamido Sanusi called for the immediate withdrawal of fuel subsidy shortly after resuming office. His major plank of argument was that only a “tiny cabal” was benefiting from the huge subsidy paid by government. I strongly disagree with Sanusi’s opinion.

It is quite regrettable that the CBN governor will in a cheap attempt to push his opinion through, dismiss and bury the fact that millions of Nigerians benefit from the subsidy government pay on petroleum products. For the few people like him that does not dip hands into their bottomless pockets to buy petrol, he may find it convenient to deny the benefits of fuel subsidy. This kind of attitude displays the mien of the average top government official. The truth is that, there are millions of Nigerians, including bus/taxi drivers, small scale enterprises, Okada riders, hair dressers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and even religious organizations that save about N90 for every liter of petrol they buy. No person or amount of propaganda can drown this fact in a pool of insensitivity of a few well-heeled government officials. A lie will always remain a lie, no matter who tells it. This clarification is very important because of the high amount of respect President Jonathan has for his aides and other top government functionaries.

Sometimes, government officials acting the script of third parties, can deliberately give counsels that will put their principals in problem. The president should therefore take heed of this and ignore any policy that will put more holes in the pockets of ordinary Nigerians. In everything, let him stand with the masses. Events around the globe have shown that power actually belongs to the masses. I am tempted to believe that the enemies of Nigerian democracy (they are many) will take advantage of the expected uproar that will greet the removal of fuel subsidy next year to incite the masses to ask for the resignation of the president. These are some of the reasons why the president must be very cautious with the suggestions he receives from his advisers, ministers, and other top government functionaries.

The unilateral position of Sanusi concerning the removal of fuel subsidy was emboldened by the coming of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as the Minister Finance in August, 2011. She too has been in the forefront of calls for the removal of fuel subsidy. I am not surprised owing to her background as a senior World Bank staff. The World Bank is a tool used by the West to promote and protect their economy. Unknown to many, the economic independence of Africa will be a threat to the West. They will hide behind any veil to destabilize the continent’s polity and economy. Some of these veils include Austerity Measures, Structural Adjustment Program, and Currency Devaluation.

Currently, attention has been shifted to the National Assembly. The minister of Finance is investing so much energy trying to convince the legislators on the need to remove fuel subsidy. Let them not be deceived by paper logic. Governance is more of a practical thing than paper logic. They should not be swayed by the beautiful pictures Okonjo-Iweala usually paints about Europe and America. If Nigerian workers earns as much as their contemporaries in those countries, nobody will complain about buying fuel even at N200 per liter.

Sadly, the latest call for the removal of fuel subsidy came from the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). According to its chairman and governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; the fuel subsidy was enriching only a few people. I strongly condemn the series of lapses that have led to Nigeria becoming a petrol-import-dependent country. However, there is no way those who import petroleum products will not make profit. It is the huge profits these importers make that cause Sanusi and Amaechi to argue that only a tiny number of Nigerians are enjoying the benefits of fuel subsidy. This is a very faulty way to analyze issues and draw conclusion. It will be too wrong for government to sacrifice Nigerian masses just to “fight” those who milk Nigeria through the subsidy they receive from importing petroleum products to service the high demands in the local market.

There is also this suspicion that some persons and companies involved in the importation of petroleum products do collaborate with some government officials to engage in sharp practices that is costing the country trillions of Naira. There are also cases of smuggling of petroleum products out of the country. All of the factors enumerated above are reasons why the CBN governor, NGF, and minister of finance want fuel subsidy removed. If our refineries are working at optimum capacity, we would have no reason to import fuel and spend huge amount on subsidies. The Nigerian masses should not be forced to pay for the inefficiencies of government officials and organizations.

One fact that has emerged clearly from all the calls for the removal of fuel subsidy points to one direction. The nation’s fiscal policy formulators and advisers do not have regard for the Nigerian masses. They are therefore easily persuaded to take a pro-elitist stand each time the need for national transformation arises. In fact, they see the masses as inconsequential in the greater Nigerian Project. This is one strong reason why President Jonathan must be quick to dismiss whatever idea or suggestion that will cause him not to stand with the masses.

It is also a huge fact that the nation’s policy formulators, special advisers, and senior special assistants to the president are either lazy or ran out of ideas. The only option left for them is to take hold of the jugular of hapless masses by rooting for the removal of fuel subsidy. They see it as a short cut to fixing the nation’s frail socio-economic framework. Like I have suggested elsewhere, the phase has come for government to make the affluent bear the burden of nation’s transformational agenda for the first time in the history of the country. Since independence in 1960, it has been the suffering masses that carry the burden of the nation’s political and economic experimentations.
There is no doubt about the fact that the withdrawal of fuel subsidy will save billions of Naira for government to invest in other critical areas. However, the other side of the coin is that majority of Nigerians are too poor to buy a liter of fuel at N150. These are persons that earn less than $2 a day. It is with this $2 that they pay for the feeding, rent, clothing, education, and medical expenses of their family members. Withdrawing fuel subsidy at this time will definitely increase the level of poverty in Nigeria. The gains of the new minimum wage of N18,000 will be rubbished by the hike in the pump price of fuel.

Like I have suggested in my other write-ups on this same issue, those pushing for the removal of petroleum subsidy would sing a different song if they were earning even N100,000 a month. Many persons in the “president’s team” are not on the same page with him. Ordinarily, their opinions are supposed to be shaped by the pledge of the president, which is to “stand with the masses.”

Instead of strangulating the poor and hapless masses to raise additional money to service the nation’s socio-economic framework, government should pay more attention to the development of the non-oil sector of the economy. This should be done by energizing the private sector to perform at optimum capacity. This will however mean having a robust power groundwork, cheap access to credit facilities, lower interest rates, improved security of lives and property, friendly tax regime, and a sound transport infrastructure among others. With these fiscal policies, the economy will pick up and help create jobs and improve the welfare of the citizenry. It is at this point that government can contemplate the removal of fuel subsidy. By then, the nation’s socio-economic framework would be able to absorb the shocks that would come with it.

Calls for fuel subsidy removal: How not to help the president

Never in the history of Nigeria has any president or military ruler enjoyed the overwhelming support of the low and middle class as Goodluck Jonathan does. These two socio-economic classes make up over 80% of the Nigerian population. The interpretation of this analysis is that Goodluck Jonathan is Nigeria’s first “people’s president.” Several reasons are responsible for this political development. However, let me dwell on the fundamental factor.

After decades of uncertainty, Nigerians have come to accept democracy as the best form of government. Up till 1999, a greater percentage of Nigerians preferred military dictatorship to civilian administration. The foundation of this aberration is not far-fetched. Previous democratic experiments crashed on the heads of hapless Nigerian masses. It happened that most politicians simply used their privileged positions in government to pursue personal, tribal, and religious interests. This sad political development went on to rubbish the fair spirit of democracy. Soon, corruption, tribalism, religious intolerance, political thuggery, and decaying public infrastructure drowned the fertile expectations of the hoard of the unemployed, middle and low income Nigerians. What followed this distasteful reality was not unexpected. People started clamouring for change. Sadly however, this change came not through the ballot boxes, but barrel of guns. At first, it never mattered much to the masses. People were just interested in a change; not minding the colour or taste.

Just in no distant time, falsehood grew weak and collapsed on the laps of military dictators. These despots spoke in tongues that resembled those of saints. Despite the quality of propaganda they unleashed on harmless and unsuspecting Nigerians; all their lies could not be turned into truth. It however cost Nigeria the sweat and blood of some patriotic citizens for the unsuspecting masses to come to the realization that democracy was superior to dictatorship. The important point to note is that the problem with Nigerian democracy was traditional. It had something to do with our peculiar political attitude.

In countries where democracy is working, it is the political leaders that have made it so. This directly rests the blame for Nigeria’s poor democratic culture on the shoulders of the nation’s political class, which have continued to ignore the fundamental fact that democracy is all about identifying and finding solutions to the needs of society. These needs include peace, security of lives and property, economic growth, infrastructural development, and social welfare.

It was in this state in the political history of Nigeria that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan came into the scene. From every available indication, Jonathan’s emergence is more of a divine interjection than human connections. President Jonathan is no doubt Nigeria’s first unassuming head of government. He is intelligent, humble, hardworking, and a God-trusting personality. His captainship of Aso Rock defied many national traditions and norms. Apart from the fact that he is the first PhD holder to mount Nigeria’s presidency, Jonathan is the only minority to have been entrusted with the nation’s driving seat. His famous “I was not born rich” speech endeared him to many voters, weeks leading to the April 2011 presidential election. Millions of ordinary Nigerians, including myself hurriedly saw Jonathan as “our man.” This was a man that went to school without sandals or bag to carry his books. He slept under an electric fan only at the University of Port Harcourt.

It never took many suffering Nigerians more than ten seconds to pick Jonathan as their presidential choice. The outcome of the 2011 presidential election did not come as a surprise to many. Even the few that expressed doubt about his chances did so based on their fears about the towering ethnic and religious factors in Nigerian politics. They therefore wondered how Jonathan could survive an election that will be decided by tribe and creed. It is gladdening that Nigeria has crossed the bridge of parochial sentiments.

The outcome of the 2011 presidential election was indeed a coup against the few but powerful enemies of Nigeria. The down-trodden masses decided to join forces to say no to the dirty and old order, where they are used and hurriedly dumped after oiling the ambitions of a few smooth-tongued politicians. Even in the midst of the darkest night, one thing has become very clear. Nigerians are tired of bad political leadership. President Jonathan appreciates this fact too. Unfortunately, not many in his team are on the same page with him. This is not only dangerous for him as an individual, but a big threat to the culture of democracy in Nigeria. The president must therefore do everything within his powers to moderate the opinions and counsels of his advisers and aides.

The greatest problem political leaders worldwide face is in the selection of a “winning team.” This is responsible for the many cases where government officials reason and walk in different directions. In such cases, the president usually fails to deliver on his mandate. Like President Jonathan himself confessed shortly before the nomination of his cabinet, people seek political offices for different reasons. While some are for service, others for personal gains. There are still some who seek power just to protect the interests or agendas of third party organisations. Quite frankly, it is very difficult to separate the “clean” from the “dirty” because they all wear the same faces and robes.

To help differentiate between the “clean” and “dirty”, political leaders are expected to listen to the opinions of their advisers, but strongly consider the interests of the masses. This is the secret of successful political leaders. Very few government officials will be ingenious enough to climb down from their Olympian heights to consider the feelings of the unemployed or low income earners. Their reasoning is always unilateral. The beauty of democracy is not in how sweet a song is, but how many people “feel” the lyrics. The truth is that democracy is all about numbers. The majority may be wrong in some cases. They cannot be wrong all the time. Nigerian masses are indeed right in asking for the continuation of fuel subsidy at least for now.

It is a huge fact that many of those who voted for President Jonathan are card-carrying members of political parties other than the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). This is one good reason why the president must ignore every temptation and continue to absorb criticisms from the opposition. This will make him a better president than all his predecessors. No doubt, criticisms will come from labour, NGOs, cultural, and even faith-based organisations. It is also true that some persons and organisations simply find it fashionable to criticize every government policy or programme. This is wrong. Ordinarily, criticisms should be constructive.

However, one very important fact to consider is that criticisms of government policies and programs usually arise from isolated issues. For instance, labor and civil society organisations have vowed to resist any attempt to increase the pump price of petrol following the announcement by the minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that that government is planning to remove petrol subsidy soon. Protests also greeted the revelation that electricity tariff will be reviewed upward early next year. It is not as if these government policies are bad. The problem lies in the fact that in developing policies and frameworks, most government officials usually refuse to look at all the sides of the coin. Every policy must take into consideration associated factors such as culture, income strength, percentage of unemployment, and level of poverty. Take for instance calls for the removal of fuel subsidy. Those making this call hinge their argument mainly on the fact that other developed countries have saved a lot of money through the withdrawal of fuel subsidy. Unfortunately, the proponents of fuel subsidy removal have forgotten that the least citizens of those countries earn is as much as $130 a day. One cannot for any reason compare this to a country where many earn less that $2 a day. They have deliberately ignored the fact that the level of unemployment and poverty are still very high in Nigeria.

There is no doubt about the fact that the withdrawal of fuel subsidy will save billions of Naira for government to invest in other critical areas. However, the other side of the coin is that majority of Nigerians are too poor to buy a litre of fuel even at N65. These are persons that earn less than $2 a day. It is with this $2 that they pay for the feeding, rent, clothing, education, and medical expenses of their family members. Withdrawing fuel subsidy at this time will definitely increase the level of poverty in Nigeria. The gains of the new minimum wage of N18,000 will be rubbished by the hike in the pump price of fuel. Like I have suggested in my other write-ups on this same issue, those pushing for the removal of petroleum subsidy would sing a different song if they were earning even N100,000 a month. Many persons in the “president’s team” are not on the same page with him. Ordinarily, their opinions are supposed to be shaped by the pledge of the president, which is to “stand with the masses.”

This brings to the fore how ministers, special advisers, senior special assistants, and other aides are not helping the president to “stand with the masses.” Just as there are many ways to kill a rat, there also many ways they can help the president succeed without hurting the masses. Since from independence, hapless Nigerian masses have been forced to carry the burden of national economic transformation agendas, leaving the elites free as eagles in a clear sky. Like is usually done in western democracies, formulators of fiscal policies should turn the heat on the wealthy this time around. Government should introduce heavy taxes on luxury cars, mansions, and all imported goods that can be produced locally. Government should also reduce the salaries and allowances of elected officials and political appointees. More than that, the fight against corruption should be taken to the zenith.

Furthermore, government should pay more attention to the development of the non-oil sector of the economy. This should be done by energizing the private sector to perform at optimum capacity. This will however mean having a robust power groundwork, cheap access to credit facilities, lower interest rates, improved security of lives and property, friendly tax regime, and a sound transport infrastructure among others. With these fiscal policies, the economy will pick up and help create jobs and improve the welfare of the citizenry. It is at this point that government can contemplate the removal of fuel subsidy. By then, the nation’s socio-economic framework would be able to absorb the shocks that would come with it.

It is a shame that the world’s sixth largest producer of crude oil is importing fuel for local consumption. It shows that something is wrong with us as a nation. Instead of joining forces with the ministry of Petroleum Resources to make our refineries work at optimum capacity, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Governor of Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi see the removal of petroleum subsidy as a magic wand that will help provide the bulk of the money Nigeria needs to service her socio-economic masterplan. They should look elsewhere to raise money. The Nigerian masses have seen enough this last fifty years! This is very important because fuel is one thing that everybody uses directly or indirectly. There is no doubt that any increase in the pump price of fuel will prompt the upward review of transport fares, school fees, house rent, food stuff, and health care services.

Okonjo-Iweala: A Patriot Blinded By The West

In one of my books, “Western Democrats in Glass parliament”, published in 2000, I have argued that western democracies will never tolerate Africa’s economic independence owing to the direction of their national ideologies. It is no secret that the economies of many western countries are energized by the inability of Africa’s political leaders to deploy sound fiscal policies aimed at stimulating rapid economic growth. This sad development has continued to keep Africa as an export- dependent economy despite the fact that the bulk of the raw materials used in the manufacture and production of finished goods imported by African countries are sourced from the continent.

There is no doubt about the fact that Nigeria is blessed with great brains and patriots. Among them are Wole Soyinka, Dora Akunyili, Oby Ezekwesili, Lamido Sanusi, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala among others. What is in doubt is whether all of them are aware that the developed democracies will be too willing to do anything under the sun to promote and protect their national economies. Colonisation, the Cold War, civil wars, tribal conflicts, and the several international humanitarian/peace-keeping missions are all tools used by western democracies to secure economic victories over the African continent.

It has become evident that both the World Bank and IMF are tools in the hands of western democracies. As long as African intellectuals refuse to accept this overflowing truth, their brains and patriotism will do the continent very little or no good at all. Is it not surprising that the many Africans in diaspora have not been able to make meaningful differences whenever they are given the opportunities to serve their countries in various capacities?

Perhaps, I should also point out here that Structural Adjustment Program, Currency Devaluation, and Subsidy Removal are examples of some of the pills western democracies such as the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain prescribe as cure for the continent’s economic problems. In actual sense, they hide behind these false fiscal policies to cripple the economies of African countries. As part of the plot, they task international institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and world class universities to recruit the best brains from the continent. These intellectuals are hurriedly thought the Core Values of human and economic management. This is aimed at arousing the patriotic fiber in them. At this point, they are drugged (paid far more than their contemporaries at home), blinded (unable to recognize the evil in their employers), and given a pair of “western eyes.” At this point, these intellectuals no longer see things from the African perspective. They both reason and look at Africa with “western eyes.”

It must be noted that every society has its own peculiarities. As a result of this, what has worked in country A may not necessarily work in country B. Africans wearing “western eyes” will never realize this fact even though it is profusely clear. For instance, the governor of Nigeria’s Central, Lamido Sanusi and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are all bitterly agitating for the removal of fuel subsidy simply because same has worked elsewhere in America and Europe. Since they are wearing “western eyes”, they have failed to realize that: (a) Unemployment figures are very low in America and Europe (b) An average American or European worker earn as much as $130 or N19,500 per day. With this kind of salary, Nigerians can afford to buy fuel even at N150 per liter.

There is no doubt that both Okonjo-Iweala and Lamido Sanusi will not try stampeding government into removing fuel subsidy if they were earning monthly salaries of N50,000 per month. While tens of millions of Nigerians are earning less than $2 daily, they go home with outrageous salaries and allowances. One had expected them to suggest better ways of putting the nation’s economy back on track. The poor masses cannot continue to sacrifice the little they have while the few well-heeled federal government officials are allowed to laugh away in the comfort of their cars, offices, and houses each time government decides to find solutions to the problems of the country. Okonjo-Iweala and Sanusi do not need to be reminded that the removal of fuel subsidy will translate into the sharp upward movement of the prices of goods and services such as food, rent, transportation, education, health care, and building materials among others.

But if one may ask: What is wrong in subsidizing fuel? Are the beneficiaries of fuel subsidy not Nigerians whose interests the president, ministers, legislators, governors, and governor of the Central Bank all swore to protect? As a matter of fact, owing to the collapse of the culture of sound political leadership, fuel subsidy has turned out to be the only sure way Nigerian masses can benefit from the oil and gas revenue accruing the nation. There is no citizen that does not benefit from fuel subsidy direct or indirectly. Removing it will therefore bring out the fire in the heart of millions of suffering Nigerian masses. This is what the west is looking for. President Goodluck Jonathan must therefore not allow American and European powers to tie his hands behind him and plunge the country into the abyss of socio-economic instability. The west does not want Africa to gain economic independence. It is only through orchestrated socio-economic instabilities that they can achieve such evil plots. This is the more reason why despite all the noise they make about corruption; American and European banks still accept billions of stolen dollars from Africa.

With the way Okonjo-Iweala and Sanusi are going about the fuel subsidy removal debate, I am pretty sure that they will one day ask the federal government to stop spending billions of Naira to construct roads. While our fiscal policy formulators and advisers are busy giving subsidy a bad name, agricultural subsidies accounts for more than 40% of the total budget of the EU. Who is fooling who?

Hugo Chavez is definitely on my mind. The time has come for President Jonathan to call all the anti-people members of his team to order or fire them out rightly. There is enough evidence to show that the nation’s fiscal policy formulators and advisers are out of touch with the vision of the present administration. They have clearly run dry of ideas. Spending N600b to assist Nigerians buy fuel at an affordable price is not a crime. Rather than call for the removal of fuel subsidy, the anti-subsidy apostles should task their brains and think of better ways to increase the revenue receipt of the nation without worsening the already bad plight of ordinary Nigerians. In this regard, government should be serious with the war against graft, reduce the monetary rewards of elected officials and political appointees, stabilize electricity to expand industrial production, increase investments in the non-oil/gas sectors, improve basic socio-economic infrastructure such as roads/railway/waterways, provide affordable quality health care service, and provide free quality education from primary to secondary levels. All of these will help energize and expand the national economy. With this, the likes of Okonjo-Iweala and Sanusi will not have any reason to bother about how much government spends to subsidize fuel.

More than that, concerted efforts must be put in motion to stop the continuous importation of petroleum products. This is part of the wider agenda of western democracies. They simply coopt a few willing Nigerians to ensure that our refineries do not work at optimum capacities. With this, they will be able to import crude from us and sell petrol and kerosene to us with a very appreciable profit margin. The same thing applies to the power sector. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala should wake up from her slumber and return the “western eyes” she is wearing. Also help Lamido Sanusi do same.

Bakare: A clergy that will not wait to hear from God

Not minding the fact that men have openly attempted to take over the position of selecting political leaders from God, the point still remains that power belongs to Him. God gives and takes away political power from whoever He wishes and at any time He so desire. This is responsible for the many unpredictable developments in the polity of nations all over the world. Even at this, many have failed to see the hand of God in the selection of political leaders. The fact that many political leaders have failed to live up to expectations does not in any way cancel God’s role.

It was the above reason that many were shocked when Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly took a plunge into mainstream politics. While this writer is of the opinion that clergies are not forbidden from politics, events have shown that the fiery preacher did not hear from God before accepting the offer of a vice presidential slot from Gen Mohammadu Buhari. The result of the April 16th presidential polls has confirmed this.

To a very large extent, many have been tempted to rush to conclude that Pastor Bakare was deceived by the wide support he enjoyed from his Save Nigeria Group (SNG) campaign. As good as the intentions of the SNG were, many had expected him to stay on the touchline like coaches normally do during football matches. Perhaps, he was discouraged by Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration that he has “no enemies to fight.” There was therefore no reason for him to contemplate being on the sideline to coach the president. No doubt, Bakare has lost many of his admirers. He might lose some of his followers in the weeks, months, and years to come.
Even as a spirit, God is not secretive. We must appreciate the important fact that God does not do anything without first revealing same to those concerned through one or more of His messengers. I cannot recall any of God’s envoys talking about a clergy sitting on the Nigerian presidency in 2011.

More than that, the fact was quite obvious that Gen. Buhari and Pastor Bakare were millions of miles apart in ideology. It would then be easy for one to argue that their union was built purely on the faulty foundation of desperation. The duo was out to use any means possible to dislodge the PDP- not Jonathan from the presidency. As painted by the result of the presidential election, very many people in the opposition gladly isolated Jonathan from the ruling PDP. In politics, this is unexplainable and seems to have some divine attachment. On the other hand; even if the CPC had won the April 16th presidential polls, the presidency wouldn’t have lasted the first 12 months. Buhari and Bakare would have easily rubbished the Obasanjo-Atiku record of presidential acrimony.

For a nation with very deep religious sentiments, Nigeria needs only leaders with moderate spiritual convictions. This was a big minus for the CPC. Assuming that the CPC won the presidential election; there is this fertile fact that many of Bakare’s followers would have rebelled against him the moment he buries his fire-brand religious beliefs in the grave of politics. In the case of Buhari, countless citizens believe that a leopard cannot change its spots. Many Nigerian families, communities, and businesses have not recovered from the hurt that was caused then by the Buhari-led military regime in the early 80s.

Furthermore, the greatest charge against both Buhari and Bakare are their inability to appreciate the honour that is attached to the presidency. This was several displayed by their arrogance and high temperament. Gen. Buhari was alleged to have urged his supporters to lynch whoever that was believed to have rigged the election. The same thing goes for Pastor Bakare that fueled the theory of Wild-Wild-North. What do they make of the judiciary?

Good leaders are supposed to be humble and economical with hate-words and insults. Buhari and Bakare quickly forgot that a greater percentage of the Nigerian population have come of age. As insignificant as it had appeared; while Jonathan and Sambo were busy boasting about their antecedence with humility, the duet of Buhari and Bakare spent a greater amount of their campaign time pouring venom not just on PDP but on the person of Jonathan and Obasanjo. At the end, the CPC only succeeded in telling Nigerians that it will fight corruption, introduce effective security network, improve on power supply, raise the standard of education, provide improved health care services, and guarantee a robust road infrastructure. There was nothing different from what the PDP has been saying.

To many Nigerian voters, what actually separated PDP from the CPC was the composure- maturity of Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo. There was never a time they rubbished other political parties or abused the personalities of their political opponents even at the height of provocation. Take the case of Rev. Chris Okotie, founder of Household of God Church and presidential candidate on the platform of FRESH Democratic Party who posited that as a zoologist, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was not grounded for political leadership. In rejecting the results of the presidential polls, Okotie even went on to call for the setting up of an interim government. This was clearly trillion of miles away from the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. What manner of leaders does Nigerians really deserve? Use your tongue to count your teeth.

Dangers of Tribal Coated Politics in the north

Truth is bitter but it must be said in the interest of Nigeria. The Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) is threatening the unity of Nigeria by reinventing tribalism in the nation’s politics. In all cases, it is the minorities that suffer the brunt of tribalism. This was the reason why the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro took up arms to attempt liberating the minority Ijaw ethnic tribe in 1966. It is also true that the unfortunate Nigeria Civil War of 1967 to 1970, where over five hundred thousand people lost their lives was mostly fuelled by tribal sentiments. More than forty years after, many families and communities from both divides of the strife have not been able to recover from the consequences of the war.

Painfully, the Adamu Chiroma-led NPLF is returning Nigeria to the pre-civil war era with its bitter pro-north campaigns. With due respect to PDP’s zonal arrangement, it will be unfair to ask Goodluck Jonathan not to step into his boss’ shoes. This will make the presidency appear to be a false bond.

The Niger Delta people will definitely not find it funny if the NPLF succeeds in coercing the north to vote against Goodluck Jonathan during the April presidential polls. It will help to confirm the fears in many quarters that the northern military and political leaders are only interested in the mineral wealth of the Niger Delta region.

Jonathan has demonstrated in just nine months that he is capable of leading Nigeria out of the woods. There is now an unprecedented peace in the Niger Delta region. This has led to optimum oil production and export, thereby improving the nation’s foreign exchange earnings. For the first time in many decades, the price of fuel has remained uniform in all parts of the federation. A big feat indeed! Critical moribund industries and sectors have been revived through deliberate fiscal policies. The all-important power sector has improved drastically over the last six months. The full implementation of the power sector roadmap will see Nigeria overcome electricity problem in the very near future.

In addition, the nation’s mono economy is being diversified through deliberate efforts that have led to attracting DFIs. There are massive investments in the solid mineral and informal sectors. Only recently, the federal government kick-started the revitalization of the moribund rail transport infrastructure to stimulate easy and cheaper movement of goods and people across the country.

The banking sector has been stabilized through the AMCON legislation. This has helped to boost local and foreign investor confidence in Nigerian banks. With the establishment of six new federal universities, more Nigerian youths are now offered opportunities to secure tertiary education. The foundational action to help fight poverty, ignorance, and crime is the spread of educational opportunities among the youth populace. This is the reason why the planned effort by the present administration to deploy a special educational programme for the almijiris in the north is very commendable. It will not only fight ignorance and reduce poverty; the special educational programme will change the face of political development in the north. This is one reason why some northern elites are fighting Jonathan. They want to continue exploiting the largely ignorant populace for their parochial gains.

Unknown to many, one of NPLF’s major grudge against Jonathan is the latter’s choice of Architect Namadi Sambo as vice president. Right from the onset, Sambo has shown that he is not a fan of “Two Nigerias.” The NPLF would have preferred a northern vice president that will be in Aso Rock to pursue the interests of a few northern elites. The average northerner is now wise enough to read the handwriting clearly on the wall and has decided to jettison the “old order” that had previously confined them to the dustbins of their few selfish elites in the corridors of power.

It should gladden the heart of every true northerner that the Jonathan- led administration has resuscitated the moribund textile and leather industries in the north. This is what dozens of northern military and political leaders refused to do. Who then is the true enemy of the north?

President Jonathan has directed that oil exploration activities in the north that was abandoned many years back be restarted. More River Basin Authorities and dams are being developed to promote commercial agriculture in the north. Furthermore, President Jonathan has sent an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking to establish the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) to cater for the needs of the host communities of Nigeria’s hydro power plants just like the NDDC is doing for the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region. Furthermore, dredging of the River Niger is a top priority of the Jonathan administration. This project is geared towards promoting economic and commercial activities in the north through the citing of a port in Lokoja. Northern voters should ignore the self-serving antics of the apostles of tribalism and vote for candidates that have their interests in mind.

Above all, Jonathan has demonstrated that he is a leader Nigeria desires. He was not born rich. Through hardwork, patience, and luck; Jonathan was able to rise from nothing to something. His story is that of hope. Jonathan has given hope to more Nigerian youths than ever before. Those who know him can attest to the fact that he is humble and gentle. That accounts for why he has “no enemies to fight.” Everybody is his friend. This is how leadership should be.

For those nursing anti-Jonathan sentiments because of his close relationship with former president Obasanjo, I want to note that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is a true Nigerian. Take him for what he is- not for where he is coming from. The difference between Jonathan and the rest is that the Bayelsa-born president of the federal republic of Nigeria does not believe he knows all. That is the reason why he is succeeding. He has decided to engage and believe in the abilities of tested professionals.

Let Nigerians give GEJ an opportunity. He will deliver because he knows where he is coming from.

Why some northern political leaders fear Jonathan

For the very first time in many decades, northern political leaders were told the home truth. This was made by no smaller a personality than the Sultan of Sokoto himself, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Saàd Abubakar. He was of the strong opinion that northern political leaders have failed the north; pointing out that the late premier of northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, “sacrificed his life for the North and Nigeria in the pursuit of the ideals which bind us together as a nation.” He was therefore forced to ask his northern brothers this direct question: “...what has happened to Sardauna’s cherished legacy of unity in diversity and being your own brother’s keeper?” In the Sultan's opinion, hatred has taken over the place of love, while violence has become very fashionable.

The same sentiments have been raised by youths from the northern part of the country. Under the leadership of Mallam Ibrahim Waiya, the Northern Youth Assembly blamed political leaders from the north for being responsible for the sad tale of underdevelopment and widespread poverty in the region. Sultan Abubakar stated this during a courtesy visit to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.

Since assuming the presidency about nine months ago, President Goodluck Jonathan has made concerted efforts to reform the nation's social, political, and economic sectors. Unfortunately, many individuals and organisations have hidden under different platforms to sabotage these noble efforts. The opposition of Jonathan's candidature even after the PDP primaries is one of the efforts aimed at salvaging the north from the claws of a few but powerful cliques that has for centuries thrived on the ignorance of the masses.

One can clearly see the influence of Robert Greene and Joost Elffers' "48 Laws of Power" in the way and manner most northern political leaders have related with the masses. In the book, law 11 states that, "To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you." The ongoing reforms will put an end to all of these and the apostles of "48 Laws of Power" in the north are not comfortable with this emerging trend. Fearing that their foundation would be unearthed, they resorted to hiding behind all sort of banners to derail the good intentions of the president.

Education is a foundational effort to fight ignorance and poverty. President Jonathan appreciates this fact and decided to liberate the Almijiris with a special educational programme aimed at improving literacy in the north. In order to reduce poverty in the region, the president also approved the release of about N30b to bail-out the textile industry based mostly in the north. A similar fiscal policy has been extended to the leather sector also in the north. The lower Niger is being dredged to stimulate massive economic activities in the north. President Jonathan has also directed that oil and gas exploration activities be intensified in the north. This is aimed at increasing the nation's foreign exchange earnings and also indirectly improve the federation account allocations to mineral-producing states in the north.

Furthermore, President Jonathan has sent an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking to establish a Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) to cater for the needs of the host communities of Nigeria’s hydro power plants just like the NDDC is doing for the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region.

With all the above and other noble efforts of the president in mind, it will be safe for one to argue that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is more Hausa/Fulani than the immediate past and present generation of northern political leaders. He has shown enough will to liberate the north from social, political, and economic bondage. It will be rewarding therefore for the north to support his presidential ambition.

Unknown to many, one of the strongest reason why a section of northern political leaders are against Jonathan's candidature is the latter’s choice of Architect Namadi Sambo as vice president. Right from the onset, Sambo has shown that he is not prepared to promote the "old order" in the north. Groups like the NPLF would have preferred a northern vice president that will be in Aso Rock to pursue the interests of a few northern elitist "old brigades." The average northerner is now wise enough to read the hand writing on the wall and has decided to jettison the “old order” that has confined them to the dustbins of their few selfish elites in the corridors of power. This is a new Nigeria. This is the reason why most northerners are singing, “I am Goodluck Jonathan. I was not born rich. If he can make it, I too can!”

NPLF, JONATHAN, NORTH, AND THE REST OF NIGERIA

It will be difficult to dispute the widely held opinion that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s emergence as Nigeria’s president is a divine interjection. In less than one year as president, the Bayelsa State born president has given hope to the mostly disillusioned Nigerian masses. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, fuel is being sold at a uniform price all over the federation. Electricity generation and distribution has improved significantly. By the time the sector is fully privatized, power outage will be a thing of the past.

With a population of about 150m, Nigeria is unarguably the most populous Black Country on earth. This massive population presents an attractive climate for commerce and foreign investments that would have driven away unemployment and poverty. Unfortunately, poor infrastructural development has greatly hampered the country’s socio-economic growth. This could be conveniently linked with the high level of corruption in government businesses and the deep culture of tribalism.

For most part of Nigeria’s fifty years as an independent nation, successive governments have been run like secret societies. The level of secrecy in government businesses has made it almost impossible to effectively fight corruption and other social maladies plaguing the country. In most cases, it is members of the ruling “cartel”-not the constitution that decide the fate of the nation.

Sensing that Goodluck Jonathan will not maintain the “old tradition”, this powerful “cartel” that has been running the country all these decades immediately went into battle against him. It started with a fierce attempt to prevent the then vice president Goodluck Jonathan from acting on behalf of his boss, even when it had become very inevitable.

When it became obvious that they have lost out to the Senate’s “Doctrine of Necessity”, the “cartel” quickly resorted to high level blackmail, intimidation, and slander. After all of their plots had failed, the “cartel” went on to instigate tribal and religious sentiments against President Goodluck Jonathan. It was at this sad point that the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) led by Mallam Adamu Chiroma came into the fray. The NPLF took the issue of zoning in PDP to the level that it gave rise to deep suspicions among many stakeholders in the north that prefer “One Nigeria” to the “Two Nigerias” literally being championed by the minority apostles of zoning. This was the strongest reason why the NPLF’s sole candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar failed woefully during the PDP presidential primaries.

Still refusing to accept the “One Nigeria” option, the NPLF went ahead to appeal to northerners to vote for only northern candidates even though Jonathan has the best of credentials among all the presidential aspirants. This is most regrettable. While not attempting to dismiss the zoning arrangement in PDP, the NPLF should not ignore the fertile fact that it is only God that gives power. The facts are clear enough for everyone to see that God has a hand in the emergence of Jonathan as president. It will therefore be proper that they accept what nature has arranged.

Perhaps, it will be necessary to note here that a greater percentage of northern political stakeholders do not even see the NPLF as a consensus body. They rather see it as an attempt to perpetuate the “old order”, where just a few privileged northerners walk the corridors of power and line their pockets and those of their cronies. This is responsible for why despite the clear fact that northerners have dominated Nigeria’s seat of power, the north is mostly underdeveloped. The vast majority of northerners are living in abject poverty and abandonment.

As part of efforts to address the problems of crass underdevelopment and poverty in the north, President Goodluck Jonathan has introduced a special educational programme to cater for the vast population of almajiris. As you read this piece, three new federal universities have been established in the north to address the educational challenges of the high number of youths seeking tertiary qualification. The federal government has also made available funds to resuscitate the moribund textile industries mostly located in the northern part of the country. Same thing applies to the leather industry. Dredging of the River Niger is also a top priority of the Jonathan led administration. The aim is to promote economic and commercial activities in the north through the citing of a port in Lokoja.

Furthermore, President Jonathan has sent an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking to establish a Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) to cater for the needs of the host communities of Nigeria’s hydro power plants just like the NDDC is doing for the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region.

Clearly, President Jonathan has done for the north what nine northern heads of government refused to do for their people. Jonathan is a positive story of hope for the poor, ignored, and downtrodden. He represents the vision of our forefathers and that of future generations. President Goodluck Jonathan is a symbol of national unity.

Even though, Nigeria’s economy rest on oil and gas revenue from the Niger Delta region where he hails from, President Jonathan has never a day reminded Nigerians of this pregnant fact. This is because, he sees himself as a Nigerian- not an Ijaw man, not a Niger Deltan. This is the truth- so bitter that the Adamu Chiroma led NPLF has refused to accept.

Unknown to many, one of NPLF’s major grudge against Jonathan is the latter’s choice of Architect Namadi Sambo as vice president. Right from the onset, Sambo has shown that he is not a fan of “Two Nigerias.” The NPLF would have preferred a northern vice president that will be in Aso Rock to pursue the interests of a few northern elites. The average northerner is now wise enough to read the hand writing on the wall and has decided to jettison the “old order” that had confined them to the dustbins of their few selfish elites in the corridors of power. This is a new Nigeria.


Kali Gwegwe
2, Greenvilla-Customs Link Road
Biogbolo-Epie
Yenagoa
Bayelsa State.
08064074810
http://kali-gwegwe.blogspot.com

Jonathan Should Be Weary of the Likes of Abba-Aji

One major problem usually faced by political leaders desirous of towing the path of honour is the dearth of patriotic aides and friends. Right from his days as deputy governor in the oil-rich Bayelsa State; Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has exhibited the signature of a political leader that is ever ready to take side with the masses. More than that, Jonathan is a firm believer in the culture of openness, justice, and fair play.

Bearing in mind the unfortunate depth Nigeria's political culture has sunk, many feared for Jonathan when he was nominated as PDP's vice presidential candidate in the 2007 presidential election. They likened his political sojourn to one trying to push a drum of sand up a hill.

There is no gainsaying that many persons are in government entirely for their personal gains. This is one of the rivers that water corruption in government. Political governance is primarily a tool for promoting societal growth and harmony through open policy initiatives. The importance of this fact is hinged on the pivotal place the masses play in the sustenance of any government- military or democracy. One simple way to enlist the support of the masses is open policy initiatives.

Since his assumption of office as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated his preference for openness in government business. It was for this reason that issues bothering on electoral reforms took center stage in the early days of his administration. Not just that, he has personally campaigned strongly for the One-Man-One-Vote culture. This is the height of openness. Power will for the first time in Nigeria be returned to the people, who are truly the real owners of political power.

It therefore came as a rude shock when the Special Adviser to the president on National Assembly Matters, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji told the media that he will advise his principal not to assent to the FoI Bill that was recently passed by the House of Representatives. Not just that; he also suggested that the Ibos should forget about Nigeria's presidency in 2015.

While the intentions of Abba-Aji may not be clear to many; the truth is that he is quietly working against the political interests of his principal- Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. It will not be an overstatement if Abba-Aji is described by anyone as a "green snake in a green lawn." The best thing for Jonathan to do at least for now is to be very weary of the likes of Abba-Aji.

Abba-Aji's arguments that the comments he made concerning the FoI Bill and 2015 presidential election were his personal opinions are most regrettable. In modern societies, the honourable thing to do when the personal opinion of a government official conflicts with that of public interest is for the person in question to resign. Let Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji do same.

The Truth About Jonathan's Good Luck

Immediately after the surprise nomination of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as PDP’s vice presidential candidate in the 2007 presidential elections, many have attributed his uncharted rise to prominence to luck. A lot of people quickly pointed out the source of his luck to his first name- Goodluck. Personally, I do not think so. This is because; I know of over twenty people that share the same first name with the president but have experienced great misfortune in their careers. That does not in anyway dismiss the merit in a good name.

The success of every human is determined by varying factors. Prominent among them are destiny, hardwork, patience, and faith. God has destined every man for excellence in one field or the other. One would only appear to be lucky when he or she identifies God’s destiny and pursues it with hardwork, patience, and loyalty.

Goodluck Jonathan did not just identify God’s destiny concerning his life; he was known to be hardworking right from his primary school days. Hardwork earned him the position of a prefect in Mater Dei High School, Imiringi in Bayelsa State. It was hardwork that made him graduate with a second class upper degree in the University of Port Harcourt. His spirit of hardwork caused him to brave the numerous challenges surrounding his fragile youth to acquire masters and doctorate degrees early in life.

As for his level of patience; Goodluck Jonathan is one that would ignore every temptation to “wait for his turn” as destined by God. He believes that life is a queue and as such, everybody’s turn must surely come. Many have actually missed their turns because they jumped the queue of life. Goodluck Jonathan waited patiently for his turn. This could be the only reason why he was able to rise from the position of deputy governor of Bayelsa State to president of the federal republic of Nigeria. Today, he has become the benchmark of loyalty in Nigeria. Right from his days as deputy governor to when he was vice president under the late Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua; Goodluck Jonathan had believed that loyalty has to be 100%. His strong belief in 100% loyalty has most times earned him thump-downs from his admirers while he was deputy governor and vice president.

But most importantly; Goodluck Jonathan did not sleep and wait for his first name to do the magic for him. He did not also fold his hands and rely on his being a native of Nigeria’s oil producing region. He went to school, identified his destiny, served his society, and waited patiently for his turn. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is destined for leadership. No nation would experience growth and prosperity if those not primed for it are in power.

Political Leadership and the Nigerian Masses

There is no gainsaying that the leadership institution in Nigeria has over the decades been bastardised to the extent that citizens have stopped nurturing the patience to appreciate even the genuine efforts of our leaders. As a result of this, all the actions of our political leaders- no matter how genuine or sincere they may be are hurriedly dismissed as callous, deceptive, or fraudulent.

Quite frankly, it is usually difficult to find sufficient good reasons to blame Nigerians for not trusting their political leaders. From whatever angle one wants to look at it, there are mountains of evidence to show that nation’s past military and political leaders did not do enough to win the confidence of the masses and the international community. This should however be a major challenge to President Goodluck Jonathan, as he attempts to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria’s economic and socio-political development.

One very rare quality of a good leader is the humility to not just listen, but also accede to popular wish. Remarkably, it takes only a sincere and humble leader to do so. Only recently, President Goodluck Jonathan responded to public opinion and withdrew the names of two nominees: Major General Abdullahi Mamman (rtd) and Ambassador Mohammed Anka to the board of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Rather than seeing and counting this as a plus for the president, a section of the media painted Dr. Jonathan as one that has been “forced to bow to public pressure.” But for the kind of person he is- not given to pride, President Goodluck Jonathan could for the sake of pride or ego decide to stick to his guns in subsequent cases. To a very large extent, it is the society that unconsciously makes dictators out of democrats.

A marked difference between Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and many of his contemporaries is that he is hardly moved to flaunt his inner strength even when compelled by natural or human-induced circumstances. That is one strong reason why some persons have rushed to dismiss him as a weakling. Funny enough, these were the same people that complained against Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s iron-hand and one-man-army style of leadership. We should realise that the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria has prescribed equal amount of power for every sitting president. How raw, one uses political power clearly differentiates between democrats and mere politicians.

There is another significant lesson to learn from the events that led to the nomination and withdrawal of Mamman and Anka. In every healthy government- especially the presidential democracy; the president is not expected to make him or her self an island. Political leadership is usually a collective effort where the level of success is mostly dependent on the quality of team work. It was perhaps in this direction that both Mamman and Anka were identified and subsequently nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan. The consequent withdrawal of their nomination could as well cause the president not to have confidence in the opinions of his aides and personal staff in future. There is iron-cast evidence that one or more persons in the line of duty failed to carry out proper checks on the nominees. There were begging evidences against the nominees which the president could not have ignored. Similar developments have in the past turned listening presidents into a one-man-team. The late President Yar’Adua is a ready example. Most of his personal staff, aides, and confidants abused their privileged positions so much so that the president decided to do everything important thing by himself. This was the reason for his administration’s slow-motion. This is a huge challenge to all those directly and indirectly associated with political office holders. They must endeavour to always put the interests of the wider society ahead of parochial concerns. This will not only stimulate rapid socio-economic growth; but also help to deepen the roots of democracy and good governance. President Goodluck Jonathan has vital lessons to learn from the above narrative. It is not enough to seek the good of Nigeria. Nothing should make him undermine the old fashioned Nigerian factor. Vigilance is the word. All corrupt, unproductive, snail, and speed-breaker officials in his administration must be identified, removed, and prosecuted if the need arises.

While I agree with the argument that six months is enough to point to the direction of hope, I do not think Nigeria is healthy enough to recover in the next one year if the level of decay is anything to go by. But for the fear of being labelled an apologist, I would have mentioned right from the beginning that Nigerians should be patient with President Jonathan. These are the reasons: Nigeria’s major problem is poor leadership culture. With good leaders in power, every other thing will fall in line. The issue of poverty, corruption, moral bankruptcy, and the shameful collapse of public infrastructure will become a thing of the past if credible persons are in positions of authority. No amount of resources invested in critical sectors of the nation’s economy now will work magic because too many bad people are still in power. It is therefore wise that President Jonathan has chosen to first invest massively in the nation’s electoral system, which will in turn help flush out unpatriotic, corrupt, and inexperienced persons in government. This approach could be related to laying a very solid foundation on which the Nigeria of our collective dream would be built. This is not tangible and can hardly be counted as an achievement. Sound electoral system is the most important gift any president can give to Nigeria.

Nevertheless, the president must put in extra efforts to address the critical issues that affect the lives of every Nigerian. These include electricity, federal roads health care system, and the educational sector. More than that, the war against corruption must be fought with more vigour and dedication. Without all of these, every section of the country will join the Niger Delta militants and the traditional institution in Edo state to resort to self help. No doubt, self help is the product of discontentment. It is also a known fact that discontentment can lead to anarchy. As the 2011 election draws closer, those that benefit from crisis are warming up for opportunities to strike gold. The federal government must be wary and deny them of any such benefits.

It would also be necessary to note here that ethnicity is the major reason behind the culture of rotational presidency. It is to a very large extent erroneously believed that one has to share the same ethnic lineage with the president in order to secure a key appointment or win a big contract. This is responsible for why ethnicity is regarded far above every other factor in Nigerian politics. Frankly, ethnic-based politics can only be rife in a country where the government pay mere lip service to the culture of transparency, accountability, justice, and fair play.

ELECTORAL REFORM AND PDP's ROTATIONAL PRESIDENCY

ELECTORAL REFORMS AND PDP’s ROTATIONAL PRESIDENCY

There is no doubt surrounding the fact that democracy is the best form of government ever known to man. Even so, many democratic societies and its citizens still suffer gross underdevelopment and abject poverty owing to poor political leadership culture. This sad reality has elicited a whole lot of debate among political scientists, journalists, opinion leaders, and commentators on contemporary issues. The consensus opinion is that the masses have been robbed of their powers by the political class. It has become clear that political power no longer belongs to the people- electorates like it is supposed to be. As a result of this, the loyalty of political leaders is mostly directed at electoral umpires, god fathers, and kingmakers. It is for this simple reason that public office holders can afford to ignore the concerns of the electorates and loot the treasury.

In an effort to return power to the people, the late President Musa Yar’Adua stunned the world when he admitted openly that the election that brought him to power was faulty. He thereafter called for understanding and promised to carry out a holistic electoral reform exercise. Unfortunately, many Nigerians have failed to appreciate the true meaning of electoral reform and have therefore restricted it to mean the recommendations of Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee.

For the avoidance of doubt, let it be noted that the main aim of reforming the nation’s electoral system would be defeated if it is not done holistically. We cannot talk of electoral reforms when there is no internal democracy within the political parties. We cannot talk of electoral reforms when some key players in the nation’s electoral body- INEC are card-carrying members of political parties. In the same vein, Nigerians cannot talk of electoral reforms when political parties are allowed to practice undemocratic traditions such as rotational presidency.

One of the major aims of reforming the electoral system is to promote quality political leadership in the country. For this very important reason, whatever action or practice that would not support this objective should be jettisoned. Rotational presidency is one of them. Apart from promoting tribalism, the culture of seclusion is undemocratic. It creates bitterness among party members and also reduces the chances of sourcing for the best hands.

My opinion is not based on the fact that I and President Goodluck Jonathan come from the same state. After all, he has not said he is going to contest the presidency in 2011. Nevertheless, there would be nothing wrong if majority of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wants him to contest. This is the beauty of democracy. Power belongs to the people- not a party’s National Working Committee or Board of Trustee. This is the time when Nigerians should come together and work towards making every vote count and not wasting valuable time on issues that will divide the nation along tribal lines.

Perhaps, it would be necessary to highlight the reason behind the culture of rotational presidency. It is to a very large extent erroneously believed that one has to share the same tribal lineage with the president in order to secure a key appointment or win a big contract. This anomaly is hugely responsible for why tribal lineage is regarded far above every other factor in Nigerian politics. Frankly, tribal-based politics can only be rife in a country where the government pay mere lip service to the culture of transparency, accountability, justice, and fair play.

Just like I have submitted in previous write-ups, one of Nigeria’s greatest problems is tribalism. It is owing to the deep rooted nature of tribalism in the polity that successive administrations have not been able to effectively fight corruption in the country. There is an unwritten law in Nigeria that forbids citizens from exposing or prosecuting fellow tribesmen for corrupt practices. That is the reason why public servants that earns less than N12m annually will build mansions, acquire fleet of exotic cars, and own investments worth over N200m within four years without being asked to show proof of sources of funds.

Furthermore, tribalism promotes national poverty. It makes citizens to become lazy. In a tribal-infected polity, even people that sow nothing can reap bountifully simply because their tribesperson is in power. This is clearly against natural principle. The more we promote tribal agenda above democratic prescriptions, the closer we get to the source of our disintegration.

I do not know their individual names but most of the people championing calls for electoral reforms are carrying nametags that bear “Hypocrite.” That is exactly what those of them that support the culture of rotational presidency are. The reason for the reform must not be bleached to serve tribal agendas. And for those that are threatening the corporate destiny of Nigeria following speculations that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan may run for the presidency come 2011; I wish them well. They should not play God. Nigerian masses are hungry for good political leadership. Let the people be allowed to decide whom they want. It can be Jonathan or any other person. Let us stop playing God and concentrate on how to make our votes count.