May 14, 2010
Dear Sir:In the past few days, there have been various debates on whether or not, President Goodluck Jonathan should run for the 2011 presidential elections.
The debate reached its crescendo on Wednesday when Dr. Cairo Ojougbo, the president`s special adviser on National Assembly proclaimed that Mr. President will run under the PDP. “Despite the zoning policy of the party, President Jonathan will run and we are certain he will win. There is no moral justification to ask Jonathan not to run” he said.
He was later to issued a press release contradicting his initial position.
Just as Dr. Cairo claimed in his press release that he was expressing his personal belief as a private citizen with the right to freedom of expression, I would also like to submit here, as a private citizen, 10 reasons why Mr. President should not contest the forthcoming election, even though he has the right to do.
1. His emergence as the 14th President of Nigeria is a monumental act of divine epiphany, as Rev. Kukah would like to describe it, as it has defiled any logic. Anyone who attempts to explain it is tempting the gods.
2. His unprecedented rise, within a spate of 11 years, from a state of obscurity to the highest level of political achievement would be very difficult, if not impossible for any other person to achieve at least in this present generation.
3. It would be very difficult for any Nigerian President to match his CV. Here is a man who progressively walked through the ascension ladder of Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President, Acting President (a post not even recognized by Nigerian Constitution) before finally becoming the President.
4. During this 11 years period, Jonathan has never spent his money to purchase a form declaring his intention to run for any elective office. He has never mounted a political rostrum on his own to canvas for people’s vote. Yet, he has reached the epoch of politics without any single vote being cast for him.
5. He was never like most political heavyweights in Nigeria. He came from an insignificant family and a village that hitherto could not easily be found on the national or state map. He neither lobbied nor worked for what has fallen on his lap because he has no godfather except God his father!
6. By political calculation vis-à-vis the zoning arrangement of the ruling party, it would take another five to six years for presidency to rotate to the South and even if it does, the chance of anybody from the Niger Delta is VERY slim, not only because he is a minority but also because of the unsubstantiated suspicion the political cabals have for anybody from the area.
7. He was able to reach the pinnacle of his political career within just 11 years. The same goal some people invested over four decades of their lives and resources on, yet without achieving it.
8. He would be the president of this nation for more than a year during which time he has the opportunity to write his name in a sand of history by completing the electoral reform, conduct free and fair election and retire as a statesman. Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar ruled for just 9 months, conducted 1999 general election and handed over power. Today, he is not just respected in Nigeria but also by the International Communities. This can not be said of OBJ and IBB, even though they ruled for a combined period of about 19 years.
9. As a former President, he will still be treated as a president and be entitled to all that is due to a sitting President in salary, allowances, and to some extent power.
10. LASTLY and MOST IMPORTANTLY, should he contest, he would be taking over for the first time in his political life, the steering of his life from God’s hand and will have to foot his own bills. We will then see if he drives better or is even richer than God.
A word is enough for the wise.
Wale OLAYANJU
01-8104920
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