Thursday, 17 May 2012
Jonathan and the end of a honeymoon
Columnist:
Akogun 
Those handling Goodluck Jonathan better tell him that this week marks the end of the honeymoon phase of his “acting presidency.” This week, Mr. Jonathan must demonstrate his awareness, first of his personal burden, and then of the Nigerian crisis. If he can’t find the spine to begin to serve the Nigerian people, then he should ask his speechwriters to compose one heck of a resignation letter for him. He should then submit it and get out of the way.
Jonathan, to be sure, is a creature of a difficult historical circumstance. In 2007, he and his principal, Umaru Yar’Adua, were imposed on Nigeria. Far from earning the electoral mandate of Nigerians, they – Yar’Adua and he – were foisted on Nigeria by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other elements.
Their chief sponsor, Obasanjo, could not have intended that the duo would deliver magnificent leadership. If anything, both Yar’Adua and Jonathan had exemplified gubernatorial mediocrity. In choosing them, then, a vindictive Obasanjo perhaps sought to punish Nigerians for daring to deny him his illicit desire for a third term.
Yar’Adua and Jonathan inspired low expectations, and performed worse. They could not transcend the crooked circumstances that tossed them into power.
With Yar’Adua hobbled by sickness, his “presidency” became little more than a residency in Aso Rock. Even at the best of health, the man merely occupied space, but remained incapable of making his presence felt in any positive manner.
Today, Turai Yar’Adua’s delusions notwithstanding, Umaru Yar’Adua is physically (and, in all likelihood, mentally) incapacitated to carry on the pretence of running Nigeria.
That circumstance has thrown up the prospect of Jonathan’s “acting presidency.” Nigerians have a right to wonder if Jonathan has what it takes to step into the role.
It is a measure of how desperate Nigerians are that some expect Jonathan to perform impressively. There’s nothing in the man’s political resume that suggests that he’s cut out for excellent leadership. Even so, history is replete with examples of men and women who managed, in defiance of the odds, to rise to momentous challenges. Nigerians are hoping – praying – that Jonathan would be one such accidental success story.
But let’s be fair: if Jonathan’s political skills are mediocre or average, he’s entitled to them. But he should, in that event, be fair to Nigerians by confessing that he doesn’t have what they expect – and that he wishes to de-commission himself as “acting president.”
This week is decisive.
Nigerians have watched with growing impatience and irritation as Jonathan appeared barely capable of chairing the weekly meetings of the cabinet. Last December, as Nigerian commuters were crippled by fuel shortage, Jonathan “ordered” that the ministers in the oil sector should not travel out of town on vacation. Mr. Rilwanu Lukman, who holds the main oil portfolio, skipped out of town, ignoring Jonathan’s directive. Why has Lukman not been fired?
Jonathan gives the impression of incessantly looking over his shoulder, afraid that the “forces” loyal to Turai and Umaru are out to get him. He runs the risk of allowing the fear of Turai to paralyze him. If he can’t overcome that fear, Jonathan might as well admit to his wimpy disposition, surrender what power he has, and leave the arena. If he stands pat, doing nothing, it will be a question of when, not if, the enemies he fears will pick him apart.
There’s work to do, and Jonathan’s best bet is to get cracking. For one, he ought to shape up the federal cabinet. There are too many ministers who don’t appear to understand the most elementary thing about their ministry – but who relish the sound of the pompous title of “honorable minister.” Given the shortness of his “tenure” – a year – Jonathan ought to fish for the most outstanding technocrats to help think up and implement solutions for Nigeria’s perennial infrastructural crises.
Nigerian roads are in a shambles. Nigerian schools are poorly funded and ill equipped. Nigeria’s healthcare is in a grim state. Erratic power supply remains a pervasive feature of Nigeria’s reality. Violent crime, especially armed robbery, festers. These problems did not crop up overnight, and they won’t be solved by the wave of a magic wand. But any focused leader, once who sets out to work instead of to steal, could make enough of a difference for Nigerians to notice. And Nigerians, long beset by disastrous leadership, deserve a break.
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Jonathan must look into himself and discern if he has it in him. He’s never been known for stellar leadership, but the historical circumstances of his emergence as “acting president” are ripe for courageous performance.
A product of a shameful election, Jonathan has a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact by pushing credible electoral reform, not the half-baked, ineffectual brand that a hypocritical and self-serving Yar’Adua supported. He should indicate his readiness to champion passage of the key elements of the recommendations made by the Justice Muhammadu Uwais panel.
Before Jonathan can get to these substantive issues, he must, at minimum, steer the federal executive council to do the right thing by declaring Yar’Adua incapacitated. That should happen this week. Every Okoye, Musa and Adebayo knows that Mr. Yar’Adua is too gravely sick to be of help even to himself, much less to 150 million Nigerians.
This, I restate, is the week that Jonathan’s free pass will end. Henceforth, he must work to earn any goodwill. My hunch is that a Jonathan who can’t lead his colleagues to reach and express a commonsensical conclusion on Yar’Adua’s status is not worthy of being entrusted with running the complex organism called Nigeria – even in an acting capacity.
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Submitted by Olutoyin Eweje (not verified) on March 10, 2010 - 01:00.
I agree with your this article in all its entirety. As a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and someone passionate about our country, i am still reeling in pains and agony that uptil the upteenth time we are still debating the issue of section 144 of the 1999 constituion. I expected the Acting president to get cracking and adhere to its earlier promise that the 'state of the nation is on course'.and disengage the ministers and appoint new committed ones
Submitted by BELLO BIODUN (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
Thx you Mr Okey Indibe,so far their is no commendable race a tiger in the zoo cage can run,their is no applausable achievement Nigerian can(should) expect from Jonathan except by providence of GOD and answer to the prayer of the people.Why? bcs the same government that has been ruling NIGERIA since independence(unnoticeable government) that led Nigeria to her present woeful state they are still ruling till date.They are dictating to (noticeable)government on whose interest he must protect and whose he must ignore,who to sack and who to retain.None of Jonathan predecessor can come out and declare his achievement while in power as a result of their ifluence,then who will Jonathan take after?,he himself is under their grip,he can not take any concrete step except what they decide for him
Submitted by nwachukwu chukwuemeka (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
if u cannot face the heat get out of kitchen.don't afraid of the ghost of umya his time among the living is on the negative side.if he survive these April ........
Submitted by kaparah on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
American Indian proverb says, “Don't judge any man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins.” Before you know it, Okey & Co will be blaming all the national ills of the past 50 years on an administration that is not yet a month old despite been handicapped by the NASS that would not give Mr. Jonathan the full reins to spread his wings, plus a cabinet of dagger-wielding traitors. Perhaps Ndibe could tell us what he would have done if he were in the same situation - a guest sees more in an hour than the host in a year. This group of political jobbers calling themselves a parliament reminds me of 5-year-olds playing doctor in a playpen /sandlot. It is unfortunate that Ribadu allows his name to be used as a member of these runts to gain undeserved legitimacy.
Submitted by TENA, U.S.A (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
I honestly think that Jonathan should get rid of die-hard Yar'Adua loyalists who are bent on sabotaging whatever good his short tenure would permit him to do. The first major step has been taken and I hope subsequent ones will follow including declaring the "vegetative" Yar'Adua "incapacitated".
Submitted by Chunky Chuks (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
Of all the ills you listed affecting Nigeria, if Jonathan simply picks up the issue of erractic Power supply and fix it, he would be my hero for life.My suggestion to him is to award the contract for Power supply to a well known & tested foreign company whose achievement in the area of power contracts is there for all to see. Do not let any Nigeria contractor come near this PROJECT ever again.The reason it looks as if the President is operating a bit slow is becos of the bold faced devious criminals in his party that once had the ears of Yaradua .This gang of corrupt, Rotten eggs left over by Yaradua are still very much around &clamouring for business as usual.Unless he gets rid of these no brainers,this one year would be a very testing one for Mr President.Goodluck to you President Goodluck!!
Submitted by Olutoyin Eweje (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
I agree with your submission Mr Okey ndibe. I am of the opinion that if truly the Acting President has the love of this country at heart, he needs to disengage the so called 'ministers ' who are have demonstrated to all Nigerians that they rather have the President Musa Yaradua locked up in one room in Aso Rock rather than invoking section 144 of the Constitution. I consider them as political opportunist, politcal jobbers and marabouts . They do not believe in the national interest but their own selfish interest. So long as Turai continues to palm their fingers with ' oil money' then they continue to do her bidding.
The Acting President needs to get of the 'shacks' in his goverment before they start to pollute him and enslave him. We do not need 7 point agenda of his Boss but all he needs to get things done are the key two elements' Implement the Uwais Report on Electoral reforms and Compliance with the Provisions of the Constitution' Supremacy of The Constitution'.
Submitted by rev. cc anumba (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
Thank you for a wonderful piece. I concur completely with your conclusion. We delude ourselves when we think that this man would be any better than UMYA. He has shown in the last three weeks that he is incapable of steering this sinking ship - Nigeria - out of the storms of bad leadership and corruption. This man lacks courage and vision. Presidential advisory council - what in God's name is that nonsense? There is nothing that he has done so far that shows someone who is capable of leading Nigeria. He projects the image of a man who has something to hide. He is a thief, a South South Thief.
Submitted by Ifeanyi - DK (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
As I tried to advise him and the so-called ‘exile parliamentarian’ to take up a single but most important fight: THE FREEDOM OF THE NATIONS WITHIN THE FAILED BRITISH PROJECT NIGERIA TO CHOSE THEIR DESTINY, A CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONS AND AN OPEN REFERENDUM OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF VARIOUS NATIONS WITHIN THE FORCED NIGERIAN MARRIAGE. AFTER SUCH THOSE WHO AGREE TO CONTINUE WITH THE NIGERIAN PROJECT CAN THEN MAKE THEIR CONSTITUTION ACCORDING TO THEIR AGREEMENT. Anything less than that will be putting his respected name in the same dustbin like Tai Solarin, and the rest.
Expecting anything different from Jonathan will remain a wild goose chase, he is a beneficiary of fraud and cannot fight the establishment that established him. (part 2)
Submitted by Ifeanyi - DK (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
In as much as I totally agree with the bold outspoken nature of my brother Okey, I still will advice him to take my earlier advise and foresight solution to the myriads of the 'British failed project called Nigeria'. The truth still remain that even with Okey's brilliance and eloquence, I will be bold to tell him that he or anyone else will fail woefully in the irreparable attempt to salvage the mess called Nigeria as presently constituted. (Part 1)
Submitted by igani (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
Contributor sometimes make nonsense of the discussions on the front burner. Okey, as usual thank you for the sagacity.
Jonathan's timidity is not imbued by tribe, religion or education but nature, 'THE MAN IS NOT BORN TO LEAD' that he teaches in a COE b4 politics is not enough reason for his bufoonery. An academic in the status of a PHD in the least disciplne is enough to lead the world.
Shame on PDP, Shame on OBJ to whom Nigeria has been so generous.
Submitted by Edo Man (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
wetin dey do una Nigerians sef???? EVEN OBAMA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO SHIT SINCE HE GOT ELECTED OVER A YEAR AGO!!!!!!!! And you guys want GLJ to transform Nigeria in 3 weeks, give the guy a break. GLJ has been fighting battles left right and centre since he entered, from Cabals, greedy Govs etc. Let him strategies first and settle. Una just dey too impatient sef!!!!!!! But I agree he needs to settle down fast and get to work, but do not expect miracles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by pee (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
If only we can 'cajole' this man to do electoral reform. Please don't expect any other achievement from him. No one can give more than he is endowed with.
Submitted by Kisid (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
Please can somebody orient me on the reason 'Gusau' is disliked by most people on internet, and yet he was choosen by AP, If he is the man that could help AP in this tring hours???
Submitted by Bengyel Adam (not verified) on March 9, 2010 - 01:00.
Two weeks ago, I posted this:
"When a man is given power and his chooses not use of it, power should be taken away from him! Goodluck Jonathan should be Presidencial or step aside. There is no place for a weak or docile President in presidencial system of government, nor in African traditional system of governance! Jonathan is repeating same weakness Gen.Irosi exhibited after Jan.15 1966 coup that lead to July 29 1966 coup/massacre and finally the civil war. Gen.Irosi's weakness and lack of decisiveness cost Nigeria so much!
Today see what is happening in Jos again! God will never forgive Jonathan for being so weak! Nigeria don't need a coward as Acting President, onlooker or whatever Goodluck Jonathan thinks he is in ASO ROCK! Use the power given to you (even for a day) or resign.
Submitted by anayo (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
okey, u and i know the popular igbo adage which says; 'what a young man will see climbing the iroko tree is what the elder will see sitting down' in order words, jonathan needs tacts and absolute circumspection in dealing with the enemies surrounding him.
u know the presidential environment was already over populated with evil men and any action taken without enough home work may backfire. pls lets not stampede jonathan
Submitted by Papas on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
Dear Okey, thanks for being steadfast on our behalf. However, let me burst your bubble by reminding us all that Jonathan came from the backwaters of society into national leadership. People like that are usually very timid, lacking in confidence and narrow in vision. What do we really expect from someone whose highest career achievement, before straying into politics, was as lecturer in a Nigerian College of Education?? No be Polytechnic or University self!! Thanks for saying it the way many rational and responsible people see it, never mind the few rabble-rousers like the buffoon named Bee, who is using Segun Adeniyi as a benchmark for judging how complex Nigerian politics is.
Submitted by Al amin (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
Lets pray to Allah to embolden Jonathan for him to appreciate d power he wields presently. Jonathan should do a clinical surgery of d current cabinet, a lot of these useless & overambitious ministers should be dropped!
Submitted by J K Mohammed (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
@ Mr Bee
Okey admitted that Nigeria is complex. Leadership requires decisiveness regardless of circumstances. Jonathan has not got it. That is what this article is saying.
Submitted by Common sense (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
Goodluck has chosen the path of compromise and unfortunately weakness.
By his nature and appearance it is obvious that he is not going to achieve anything.
clueless, indecisive, waits for people to tell him what to do. He seems to be afraid at all times.
His confused looks with a red eye in those Ijaw attires annoys me!!!
the attire looks lovely on other people except the moron.
Unfortunately what we need now is a complete overhaul, electoral reform and an early election, let us vote away all these self centered , disgraceful idiots.
Submitted by Mr Bee (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
Government is more complex than what you see, you may need to ask Segun Adeniyi. It is easy to criticise from outside,okey, step into the same shoe and let us see what you make of it!
Submitted by Man of the People (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
Do these people watch CNN? Is there not something called Presidential speech or press conference? Don't they see Obama doing presidential speeches and press conferences? I just do not understand. Please somebody help me explain why no speeches or press conferences from the Presidency.
Submitted by gud talk (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
NIGERIANS ARE EVER GOOD IN THE ART OF WRITTING, THEY WERE BLESSED IN USING THE FIGURE OF SPEECH IN CONSTRUCTING EMPIRE STATE BUILDING LIKE. IT AMAZE ME WHEN I FLIPS THROUGH SR PAGE(S).BUT WHY, INSPITE OF ALL THESE BRAINS NIGERIA CONTINUE ELECTING/SELECTING WRONG PEOPLE TO RUN THEIR AFFAIRS, INSPITE OF ALL THESE PHYLOSOPHERS NIGERIA IS BLESSED WITH, NOBODY HAVE THE CAURAGE TO ORGANISE PEOPLE'S ARMY OR TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO LOOK THEIR COWARD LEADERS STRAIGHT IN THE FACE AND TELL THEM "GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH".
Submitted by Ojotu Iko Ojotu (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
The voice of truth and direction calling Jonah to navigate a pace of true national prosperity for Nigeria.Ndibe,you are a light and a tireless symbol of hope for our nation anyday.May God bless and keep you.Amen.
Submitted by Mangani burantashi on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
Check it out in the link below Amateur guitar rendition of Ihe Chinyere Mu - Oriental Brothers - Dr Sir Warrior
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ILkcBec8ZU[/url]
Submitted by OYISHI ALA (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
2.....(Pun is mine)Who be free man here let me know.Everybody is guilty.let us hope, nay pray, that somebody has not chopped so as to be able to stand tall.Those who have not chopped are in the street with Wole Shoyinka.So yo see, once the sitation is apraised and discovered as it is all in the boat have thier hands shackled.Let the unshakled move and free all others.
Submitted by OYISHI ALA (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
I frankly think that before we expect anything from anybody in power now, we must br fair to ourselves and look at his past.That there may be a divergent course to raise to the situation is desired, indeed expected.But then, who trows the first stone of all of them.If Jonathan is able to control his wife, then he may be expected to perform never beyond mediocrity.Right now the situation is you chop, I chop, we chop,them chop.We let them chop so we go chop free and nothing go happen.Turai chop e let governors chop,governors chop them let senators chop, senators let house of reps chop,house of reps let securuty organs chop, security let local government chop and na so the chop they go well well
Submitted by Slim boi (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
This is indeed an outstanding piece....I really wish that Goodluck Jonathan will stop sitting liek a lame duck and act like a man he is supposed to be....I wonder why all these oldies are recycled over and over again.....Its very annoying that fresh hands are not sought to pivot crucial offices in the nations.....May God help our country
Submitted by OKJ (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 01:00.
beware mr ag, goodluck jona, I dare say that you have already chosesn the status quo... By his appointment of Gusau as NSA...Soon, very soon, he will lose the people's goodwill. I will need to be proved wrong by what he does this on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
