In the beginning, he had no enemies to fight, like his biblical namesake President Jonathan appeared loyal and true to his looks. He was not ashamed of talking about the poverty he defeated to rise to the most exalted office in Nigeria. By the story of his humble beginnings, many Nigerians wished they could relate and connect with him.
President Jonathan overwhelmed by his success at the 2011 general elections, declared that the fight against corruption has been intensified. He told his teeming admirers that his government was going to tackle the issue of corruption headlong. Not soon, monies began to disappear from the national treasury without traces. His political appointees capitalized in his weaknesses to rape the economy, top members of his cabinets lived extravagantly, purchasing bullet-proof SUVs at outrageous prices, acquiring billions of Naira properties home and abroad. Nigeria’s foreign reserve got depleted, Pension funds got missing, and revenues from the oil and gas sector borrowed wings.
Executive lawlessness was widely celebrated, some top federal government officials and their cronies concentrated on looting our common wealth, a development that attracted massive criticisms. In the quest to exonerate presidency from the ugly trend, President Jonathan went on air to redefine the word corruption, he told Nigerians that “common stealing is not corruption”. In bold attempt to demonstrate his perception on corruption, he granted amnesty to individuals who had been jailed for corrupt practices, thereby celebrating criminality. National honors were conferred on certain of questionable characters.
As the looting of Nigeria’s common wealth persistently crystallized to an unbearable height, the then Central Bank Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi owned up, declaring a huge sum of money missing, accusing the nation’s apex petroleum regulatory body for deliberately withholding funds. Quite discomfited at Sanusi’s sudden outburst, President Jonathan angrily ordered him to embark on a compulsory leave amidst heavy criticisms from the general populace.
In the face of the ravaging negative effect of terrorism, a new method of diverting state funds was deviced and security vault got enlarged.
Monies meant to equip security agencies to assist in their dogged effort to curtail the excesses of insurgency ended up in the hands of enemies of the state. Ironically, while the insurgents were proudly taking over territories, President Jonathan was busy traversing the nooks and crannies of Nigeria canvassing for votes in a desperate move to retain his position as the Commander in Chief.
Under President Jonathan’s watch, PDP’s spinal cord got fractured, his meddlesomeness in the affairs of Governor’s forum which ultimately was targeted at garnering support for his second term bid, plunged the biggest political party in Africa to myriads of intra party squabbles, a situation that prompted the defection of progressive minded Governors to APC.
Unable to stem the tides, and block the ill wind of mass defection rocking his party, he resorted to hood winking any perceived politician who is opposed to his second term ambition. The unsavory rhythms saw his politically inexperienced Madam taking over the reins of power, dictating and directing his political moves. Presidency got desecrated; all manners of people were engaged to champion Mr. President’s bid to stay put in Aso Rock. Ethnic sentimentalism took a better part the President who suddenly found his kinsmen’s axe as a veritable equipment to threaten his opponents. Unceremoniously, the services of his kith and kin who previously took arms against the state were sought after. Shortly, the nation was aghast with threats of a possible showdown should their son lost his re-election bid.
President Jonathan’s political godfather, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who had at several for a registered his disappointment at the former’s leadership style decided to call him to order. But, it was quite obvious that President Jonathan has shut his doors against his political godfather, this necessitated the open letter as published on the tabloids, addressing salient issues capable of endangering his presidency.
Again, President Jonathan’s kinsmen intervened labeling their son’s political godfather a traitor. Throwing caution to the wind, President Jonathan went on a campaign rally to tell Nigerians that his predecessor is a “garage tout”, thus challenging the old man to a duel. This level of arrogance, and unstatemanly attitude had caused the ruling party the coveted seat of the speaker Federal House of Representatives.
Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal had earlier defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) having considered President Jonathan a failed party Leader, an architect of PDP’s misfortunes. Several other Lawmakers towed same lane with the speaker.
To further drive his message, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo publicly denounced his membership of the PDP and openly destroyed his membership identification card. It was a remarkable event, and will continue to re-echo in the ears of Nigerians in years to come.
Today, the strongest opposition party in Nigeria APC has been able to disconnect the firewire of PDP from the 16 years old port of deceit, making it almost impossible for the incumbent to manipulate the electoral process. An incumbent who has performed need not engage in any acts capable of truncating the wishes and aspirations of the masses in relation to choosing a credible Leader to pilot the affairs of the nation.
Meanwhile, the change agent personified GMB continues to enjoy massive support from the electorates. He has been publicly endorsed by many local and international organizations. He has been generally accepted by various Igbo groups in all parts of the country, the Yoruba, Ijaw, Hausa and other ethnic groups have also endorsed Buhari and pledged to work assiduously for his victory at the March polls.
As frustrations set in, President Jonathan’s Madam have until recently, ordered her followers to stone anyone found shouting the APC’s campaign slogan “CHANGE”, while President Jonathan’s foot soldiers are calling for the resignation of the INEC Boss Prof. Jega, other PDP apologists are running campaign against the use of voter’s card Reader. As their evil plots thickened, a newly recognized political party Young Democratic Party (YDP) deliberately programmed to alter the election’s Timetable is on the loose, a script written by a group of people who are desperate to revive the dwindling electoral fortunes of a failed Leader.
NOW, THAT I HAVE SCREAMED A…P…C “CHANGE!!!” WOULD YOU LIKE TO STONE ME?
Written by Harris Chuma.
