I have always advocated that though Nigerians are the world’s acclaimed happiest people, they still need to do something to continue and solidify their happiness. That is, they have to look at the comic side of everything in Nigeria, and they are many. You cannot afford not to notice such comic reliefs in everything about Nigeria, no matter how odd the situation might be. Take a look at the ongoing jingle and tweak for the former President Jonathan to come back and run for Presidency. It is very much akin to Jesus Christ journey to Gethsemane –full of pains and torture, with eventual crucifixion. To recap the familiar storyline, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was a former President of Nigeria, a very lucky Nigerian considering how he came to become the President of a country populated by thick skin gladiators.
But that is a familiar story I would want to spare you the trouble of recasting the whole episodes that culminated to that enthronement again. Just be satisfied for now that there was once a Goodluck that was lucky, despite tones of titanic scheming to alter his luck. But whether it was a faulty Nigerian political system or providence that brought him to power against such odd, he was lucky. The sudden demise of his boss, Alhaji Umoru Yar’Adua, paved the way and people who saw that there were certain benefits to be derived therefrom quickly signed up to the unveiling opportunity. They made monumental benefits that even surpassed their expectations. In any case, that is a story too long and winding to be told in this space. But it was a game of wits and valour. And, as usual in such games, there must be others waiting in the wings to cry as losers.
As would be remembered, the constitution gave Jonathan the power and authority to climb the seat the region opposed him: he did not belong in the same region that is in the business of arrogating power to itself. The region made up of northern oligarchies maintained fierce opposition against Jonathan’s Presidency in attempt to contravene the constitution. It was as though the same luck that propelled him to the top positionhas suddenly abandoned him. Jonathan was seen alone and all alone,-deserted by even his people to the cruel and turbulent political water and conspiracy. He became the most vilified President in Nigeria’s history, he was called names: clueless, drunk and such other names not fit for a people’s President. When the time came the conspiracy yielded expected fruits for the conspirators and Jonathan was declared the loser in an election monitored and ensured that it went the way the white ‘hawks’ wanted. Muhammadu Buhari was declared the winner. That pseudo victory for Buhari went into history as the first time a sitting President was voted out of office in Nigeria. That was history.
But while the controversy lasted, the cabal was carried awayby the euphoria of unseating an incumbent President and onethey considered worthless, incompetent and lazy. At least such self –glorification gave the transintet joy. But they must have forgotten certain facts of life-one that there is always another side to every issue and that nothing fails like failure. Change as the only slogan that manipulated the exit of Jonathan failed. Those that clamoured for the change have since come to be revealed as people who merely wanted to change themselves and their pockets. Sadly, the scheming has revealed that it is the same people that masterminded the ouster of Jonathan that now want him back.
When the issue started sometime last year that the north wants him back to the topmost position in the country, the very people that ousted him, it was a clear case of another conspiracy and scheming loaded by a region against other regions in the country, not Jonathan. But Jonathan should not be excited about such offer. I know that he as a person might be tempted to believe that he is so loved, because they must have probably looked back on records and viewed his performances. He should not be deceived one bit that the people that caused his ouster in 2015 are now repented from their position nor should he claim to be seeing clearly now the roads he failed to follow in his first term. The reality of the whole scheme should have spilled from his head by now and same should be the knowledge of the region by now.
Honestly, whichever way those that want Jonathan back in power come 2023 are business merchants who failed to know one fact; it is a way of trying to justify or sell foolishness to others. They are standing naked in the market place covering only their back while believing that their entire body is covered. They are now known for who they truly are. It is a game that has been played before. IF one may ask, what new capacities do they believe that the same Jonathan theyfoolishly rejected in 2015 has now gained? Can’t somebody in the cabal be courageous enough to come out to own it up that it was the same game they always play; that the thought about Jonathan’s second coming is a game that the planners believe would offer them good political argument in the future?. Yes, Jonathan and his region may be considering the gesture as a divine consideration by Nigerians, but I tell you, let nobody be deceived, the idea would be that his region has completed two terms and constitutionally put in a corner to leave the scene for planners possibly for eternity, so I think.
Perhaps some pertinent questions one needs to ask those promoting the Jonathan jingles should be: what guarantee do they have that his election would be a smooth sail? Can they cross their heart to say that the game is a sincere one? In any case, I am sounding this note of warning to the south-southregion and Dr Goodluck Jonathan that as the saying goes,once beaten twice shy. Jonathan and his region would beroundly humiliated in the event that it fails to promote himand the purpose to the conclusion, and the region would lose the political argument in the future if the scheme is achieved. It is the devil’s alternative, according to Frederick Forsyth,whichever way the game would be played, people must die, a region must gain or lose as it is usual in every game. The truth is that in Nigeria some politicians play games that give them upper hand and not those that lift the country and her citizens. We have been complaining about the country lacking in astute leadership. In a nutshell, it is generally believed that the trouble with Nigeria is not making progress; it is as a result of poor and bad leadership which allows every citizen to operate like lord of the manor.
But one easily see the whole thing encapsulated in bad leadership, a leadership that does not believe in the oneness and unity of Nigeria. Perhaps we call that a leadership without focus or does not see Nigeria beyond his region or tribe. People say that the last seven years plus of the APC had pushed the nation to the precipice. Our economy for instancehas nosedived drastically to a level that can be described as ‘hard handle’. This is despite what the Nigerian power handlers may want to powder or gloss over it. Bringing Jonathan is a deliberate scheme to hand back a rotten egg to a man who since the beginning of incumbent regime has been taking the blame for everything that has ever gone wrong in Nigeria. In fact, for him to defect from the PDP to the APC in order for him to actualise that offer would readily portray him as unserious person and a leader lacking in focus. This is more so as the ruling APC has put across a demand clearly dressed in selfishness and greed, that Jonathan must convince all governorship aspirants in the PDP to defect to APC as a condition to enjoy the offer.
The incumbent administration should be ready and willing to put a few things straight if Jonathan is to come back for a rescue mission. Or, is it not why they want him back?Jonathan would therefore be carrying a load that is too heavy for the expected rescue mission in just four years. He would be ‘blind’, in Chief Zebrudaya’s language not to ‘see what I have saw’. The hands that stopped him from making significant advancement in governance the first time have not withered; they are ready to do it again to explain a point. They may want to allege his failure and lack of capacity for the second time. That fear should be a stupor that blocks Jonathan’s ears to listen to such a devilish call. .
Discussion about this post