The first tenure (though some say second) of the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan gradually winds to a close and the nation prepares for another round of elections, Nigerians have become characteristically vociferous in voicing their disapproval of his administration and what has famously become known as his cluelessness.
There is no doubting the fact that things are at their lowest point in the history of Nigeria and the citizens are daily being confronted by challenges that have proven almost insurmountable. The Boko Haram insurgency, the falling price of crude oil at the international market, soaring cases of corruption in government, failure of government ministries and parastatals to pay workers’ salaries, crisis here and there in the ruling party and other sundries challenges have made life unbearable for Nigerians leading to the now deafening clamour for change. A clamour the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC is taking advantage of to push for electoral victory in the forthcoming general elections.
Indeed, change is the only constant thing in life, and any society that hopes to remain current in the present world order must constantly evolve itself and stay ahead with proactive changes. No nation that is unwilling for change should expect any meaningful development in any sector of it’s national life.
It is however unfortunate that the handlers of the Nigerian nation are men and women that have phobia for change. They are men and women that believe in the Anglican creed of “As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so shall it be world without end”.
Their belief in this creed that corruption should and must continue unabated, that young Nigerians do not need jobs but should be used as instruments of political and religious violence, that governance should continue in the old fashioned way the colonial masters left it and that Nigerians should not see themselves first as Nigerians but as Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa or other minority ethnic groups is responsible for the sorry state the nation is in today.
Yes, Nigeria needs change and we need it fast! If the needed change in our politics, economy, governance, social and religious life does not come as a matter of urgency, the prediction that Nigeria will become a failed state this year may just be a reality.
But the problem the so-called change agents (as some have chosen to brand themselves) is that they are too quick to condemn the Goodluck Jonathan presidency without taking time to understand it’s history and underlining psychology.
I have always held out as a sympathizer of President Goodluck Jonathan and not a supporter of his presidency. Many of my colleagues in the media and friends on social media platforms have branded me as a paid media agent of Jonathan’s administration but the truth is that they have failed to see the difference between a sympathizer and a supporter.
I sympathize with Jonathan because he is an unfortunate president. A president who probably came before his time. A president who had the misfortune of presiding over a nation that is obviously beyond his capabilities. A president who is unlucky enough to contend against forces greater than him. A president that is surrounded by sycophantic aides and advisers. A president who claims to be getting conflicting counsels on same issue.
A president in the mould described above cannot be expected to perform to expectation. He cannot be expected to meet the needs of the people and adequately protect the lives and properties of citizens. He cannot be expected to rise to the occasion and decisively prosecute the war against the Boko Haram insurgency. He cannot be expected to call his aides and advisers to order when they embarrass his government with their utterances and actions the way they have always done. He cannot be expected to preside as the national leader of the ruling party and make it the baston of democracy it is expected to be.
It has been said variously by many people, including some of the most vociferous critics of his administration, that President Goodluck Jonathan is a good man but the truth is that Nigeria does not need a president who is a good man. What the country needs is a president that is a good leader. Being good does not qualify you as a good leader. Be a bad man but if you are a good leader, Nigerians will love and appreciate your administration. Little wonder Nigerians are beginning to speak nostalgically about the Abacha era. Little wonder Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, with his iron fist reign as military head of state, has suddenly become the beautiful bride Nigerians are clamouring for.
President Jonathan should have learnt from history that there is a limit to goodness and that though a good heart may take you to heaven, it cannot make you the leader the most populous black nation on earth deserve. Even the Bible tells us that King David was a man after God’s own heart and probably the best leader Israel ever had despite all his atrocities against God and man. Something stood King David out; he was always decisively on point when it comes to the affairs of the Land of Israel!
King David never needed a committee of wise men to take decisions! He was never caught napping; he would not wait for weeks or months to believe some girls have been abducted not to talk of taking action against the aggressor. An attack on any part of Israel was an attack on his palace and he treated them as such.
This Nigerian president is too aloof to issues affecting the country and his administration. He has taken former President, Olusegun Obasanjo’s “I dey kampe” to a whole new level and this is dangerous for the Nigerian nation!
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