Custodian Debate: Goodluck Jonathan should STAY on as Nigeria’s President

As the renowned American Diplomat and Political Scientist Henry Kissinger stated;

Those who are indifferent to power will be overtaken by power seekers.

True to this statement, the average Nigerian has been indifferent or lukewarm towards political power over the years and consequently, the political elite have dominated power since independence. As the 2015 elections draw nearer, I have studied the unfolding dynamics and permutations, my conclusion is that all factors considered, it is in the best interest of Nigeria to re-elect President Jonathan for another four years. I have summarized my reasons below.

My first reason is that Nigeria has recorded remarkable economic growth under President Jonathan. Only two months ago, Nigeria overtook South Africa as the continent’s largest economy after it overhauled its gross domestic product data for the first time in more than two decades. According to verifiable figures for 2013, released by Nigeria’s statistics bureau, Nigeria’s GDP hit $503bn (£307bn) – nearly double previous estimates and well ahead of South Africa at around $350bn.

This pushed Nigeria up 12 places to become the 24th largest economy in the world – on par with Poland and Belgium and ahead of Argentina, Austria and Iran. This is a huge achievement. This development was not achieved overnight. It was a result of the direct dynamic approach of the President in terms of greater investment in entrepreneurship and private sector participation.

My second reason is that President Jonathan has recorded significant improvements in the power sector, backed up with greater roads and infrastructural development. The bold privatization of the defunct NEPA paved way for improved power supply in Nigeria. Most Nigerians can confirm that although we do not have power supply round the clock, however there has been a commendable improvement. There has been also greater road rehabilitation in Nigeria like the Lagos-Benin Road, the ongoing second Niger Bridge etc. This government has also commissioned many new schools especially in the northern part of Nigeria aimed at bringing education to the door steps of the commoners.

Thirdly, this administration has pursued a robust foreign policy since inception. Nigeria which previously lagged behind in the comity of nations, has now assumed her rightful position as a leader in the international community. The safe and successful hosting of the World Economic summit is a testament to this. Nigeria under President Jonathan has been a dynamic force in Africa and beyond. Nigeria has been leading the peacemaking initiatives in the West African sub region, with our troops deployed in Mali, Liberia and beyond. Nigeria’s partnerships with our international allies like the UK, US and France have deepened and improved under the Jonathan led administration.

The number four reason is the need for continuity and stability in our democracy. Having made tremendous progress as discussed above, there is an important need for continuity in order to sustain these achievements. We cannot afford to start afresh all over again. What is needed is a sustained initiative, a gradual system change and a planned change of government after another four years.

Another important reason Jonathan should continue is that he is a democrat in all ramifications. Even some elements of the opposition attest to the democratic disposition of the President. President Jonathan’s tolerance of the opposition is unprecedented in the annals of Nigeria. In the first republic, the leader of the opposition Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his supporters were harassed and imprisoned. In the second republic, the ruling NPN allegedly tried to intimidate and capture all States by all means including the Ondo State Gubernatorial election “victory” of 1983 which caused an uproar in the South Western state.

But today, members of the opposition can sleep with two eyes closed, thanks to the liberal nature of the President. The President has a non-violent body language which connotes peace. Today many opponents throw personal abuses and insults at the President and his family without facing any consequences. Many African leaders wouldn’t take personal insults and abuses from the opposition or anybody for that matter. In the recent past this would have been unthinkable. Those critics who think the President is weak should realize that it takes strength of character to absorb insults and abuses without negative reactions. To his credit, there has been no politically motivated assassinations till date. Friends and foes agree that Mr. President cannot “hurt” a fly.

Similarly the President has supervised fairer elections than his predecessors. Many states today are controlled by the opposition. In fact it is on record that opposition parties have won more elections under President Jonathan than under all previous dispensations put together. This can be attributed to the democratic inclination of the President. He has reasonably erased the do or die politics of the past.

Again, victory for Jonathan is victory for the common man. Jonathan can be said to be the first commoner from a humble beginning to emerge President. The political elite have dominated politics in Nigeria from time immemorial. It doesn’t matter if they are from the North or South, Christians or Muslims. The elites had always been in power in Nigeria. Jonathan’s emergence was an act of God which no mortal envisaged. Therefore ordinary and working class Nigerians must ensure that the elite do not bully Jonathan out of office. At the moment the elite have united with the sole purpose of recapturing power for themselves and their descendants. They are using sensitive issues like insurgency & insecurity to blackmail the President. Nigerians should not be fooled by the antics of these desperate folks. No single godfather owns Nigeria. Nigeria belongs to us all. Therefore we are all equal stakeholders and therefore the will of the majority must prevail.

Similar to the above is the seventh reason. Jonathan is the first ethnic minority to be elected President. Therefore Jonathan represents hope for the downtrodden and minorities in Nigeria. From independence, the major ethnic groups dominated politics in Nigeria. It was unimaginable then to have a minority as President. Today we have a minority as President on a platter of gold. Added to this is that the South-South region where Jonathan comes from accounts for over 90% of the resources Nigeria has been using to run for over four decades now. Strangely Jonathan is the first President from this region. It would be a good idea to allow Jonathan govern Nigeria with our support. Jonathan can do better with our support and cooperation. Those opposed to his ambition based on the so called unwritten agreement should realize that Nigeria and her Constitution are greater than any parochial arrangement.

Moreover another four years of Jonathan would mark the beginning of the end of the era of godfatherism in Nigerian politics. The so called godfathers in our national political life have held Nigeria to ransom, without rhyme or reason. They place unrealistic and unreasonable demands on the incumbents. The first battle Jonathan fought was to liberate himself from his so called godfather which he has successfully and bravely done. The next four years would give the President the opportunity to level all inequalities and provide a level playing field for all Nigerians, to enable eligible candidates contest and win elections without depending on godfathers.

The ninth reason we should re-elect President is because of the lack of a credible opposition. Opposition in Nigeria has weakened due to the absence of a defined ideology. We have seen members of the opposition jump from party to party without any ideological framework. The only constant feature is the lust for power. As a result we do not have a formidable opposition that can make a difference politically.

The merger of several political parties to form the All Progressive Congress (APC) was received warmly with great expectations. At last the vibrant opposition has arrived! So we thought! How wrong we were! Most Nigerians expected a strong opposition that would mobilize Nigerians behind them. We expected an opposition devoid of pettiness and cheap blackmail. We expected an opposition that would be defined by principles and ideals. We expected an opposition that would present a clear cut, well defined, and practicable alternative to the present. We expected a credible opposition based on principles but who do we get: Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a man that should very well be paying for his atrocities to this nation. To say that the APC dashed our hopes is an understatement. APC missed the opportunity to stand out as the new national umbrella. All we hear is “Give us Power”.

But what are you going to do differently? What are your plans? Nigerians need to know what agenda you have before they give you power. The PDP has been in power since 1999. As expected some Nigerians have some reservations on the performance of PDP. This is not unexpected considering the fact that the Party has been in power for fifteen years now. But the pertinent question is, what will APC do differently? APC has refused to tell Nigerians what they have in stock for us. Instead, they are driven by the lust for power without a defined agenda. Mere criticizing the incumbent without proffering solutions is grossly inadequate. At the moment the present opposition style of chasing shadows leaving the substance behind has played to the advantage of the incumbent. It is either the opposition steps up the game by addressing issues, not personalities, or forget the 2015 Elections. As long as the opposition continues to chase shadows, the incumbent would have an easy ride come March 28th.

Finally Nigeria should re-elect President Jonathan because of the present circumstances of security challenges, which the President is working hard to contain and defeat. Put differently, the country is in a state of war with terrorists, and we cannot change the Commander-in-Chief in the middle of the war. In fact it would be morally wrong for Mr. Jonathan to abandon ship halfway down the sail without achieving total victory against the terrorists. We should therefore rally round the President in solidarity and defeat the terrorists. The prevailing opinion in Nigeria and the Diaspora is that President Jonathan should hang on and fight these insurgents to the very end. Let us therefore renew his mandate on the 28th of February, 2015.

Vote Wisely.

God bless Nigeria.