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Agenda for GEJ
'Bisi Ogunwale
Newsdiaryonline 03-03-11
I set out to further understand how Moses dealt with his
assignment of leading the skeptical, unbelieving and hungry
Israelites on the joining to the promise land but I was taken
aback with what I found. The Bible tells us that when the
Israelites were leaving Sinai and the people were complaining
about their hardship just as many do in Nigeria today. Moses
went to the Lord (Numbers 11:11-17) and sought His face saying “Why
have you brought this trouble on your servant?.…. Did I give
birth to them? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a
nurse carries infant, to the land you promise on oath to their
forefathers?” He went further to say
“I cannot carry all these
people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me”. But God in
His wisdom and Majesty answered saying to Moses “bring me
seventy of Israel’s elders
WHO ARE KNOWN
(emphasis mine) to you as leaders and officials among the
people”.
That Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) was sworn in as the
Fourth Executive President and Fifteenth Head of States of
Nigeria on May 29, 2011 is no news. As our President read his
inaugural speech at the Eagle Square, Abuja that fateful
afternoon I sat patiently listening to GEJ as I would expect
millions of Nigerians and non-Nigerians in their respective
homes – both at home and abroad. The world was watching!
Your Excellency, your aspiration of giving
“hope to the hopeless,
strength to the weak and protection to the
defenceless”
is laudable so also idea to grow
“the economy, create
jobs, and generate enduring happiness for our people”. I
remember Mr. President saying
“Over the next four
years, attention will be focused on rebuilding our
infrastructure. We will create greater access to quality
education and improved health care delivery. We will pay
special attention to the agricultural sector, to enable it play
its role of ensuring food security and massive job creation for
our people”.
While swearing in the new Secretary to the Federal Government
(SGF) you highlighted that his
selection was based on pedigree and
“his records of public
service”. You went further to say
"our nation needs men and
women who can match words with action, leaders who are ready to
learn and lead at the same time. We must alleviate the
sufferings of our people; we must create jobs, provide
electricity and deliver on our electoral promises”.
You have asked
for “sacrifice from all public office
holders and the private sector”
in a challenging time in which you are
“calling on all Nigerians
to stop lamenting and join government to transform our country”.
Mr. President I do hope and want to believe you would not let
the politics of the office dissuade you from living these words.
I say this
because history will judge you accordingly!
Mr. President, I need not re-write your speeches lest I lose
focus of my objective. However, I must say that if only the
speech can end the woes and lamentations of our people I would
have given you and your speech writers a 100% pass mark but alas
speeches are mere words which need to be put into measurable and
sustainable actions aimed at reducing the sufferings and
impoverishment of the people and improving the socio-economic
well being of the country. Only then can your speeches be
meaningful. Mr. President, I know this is not necessary but I
shall remind you, just in case you are still in euphoria of your
presidency that your current mandate is only for 4 years (it
ends May 29, 2015). Whether you will come for renewal of the
mandate is left to be decided by the electorate when the
appropriate time comes!
The main focus and most importantly the pinnacle of the
steadfastness (if there is) of the administration must be to
deliver as promised else President Goodluck would have come like
many of his predecessors who came and made so many promises only
to dash the hope and aspiration of unsuspecting Nigerians.
Goodluck Jonathan your REPUTATION is at stake. I sincerely hope
you understand the meaning of that word in the real sense of it.
If I were GEJ the following are some of questions amongst many
others that would be resonating on my mind: How can I go about
achieving the goals that I have set out to achieve? What do I
need to do to get to the set targets? Who and where can I turn
to for help and assistance? Just as Moses did!
My dear President, please let me unequivocally say this that you
are not Moses neither will you ever be Moses but you can learn a
great deal of lessons from his sojourn as the leader of the lots
of Israelites. Another point I must bring out is that Moses did
not promise the Israelites anything but you have given to many
promises to Nigerians and the world. You are in trouble if I may
say that because Nigerians do not forget and forgive things
easily. Again I repeat your REPUTATION is on the line. God asked
him to bring elders who possess the
qualities (emphasis
on this word) of leaders to stand by him and saddle the
responsibilities of the people together. I besiege you to
carefully and painstakingly look into your selection of cabinet
members, advisers, assistants and other aides. Remember the word
of God said “who are known to you as…” my understanding is the
elders to be chosen must have demonstrated that they are worthy.
It is not enough to appoint anyone because of his/her tribe,
religion, ethnicity, geo-political zone or political
affiliations.
People that you will appoint to man Ministries, Departments and
Agencies (MDAs) must be men and women of impeccable characters,
credible and of outstanding REPUTATION
who have demonstrated over the years that they are
result-oriented and a known to have delivered in their previous
endeavours
across the sectors of economy. Only the serious and
business-minded people who have shame and understand the meaning
of the word called ‘REPUTATION’ should be found around your
Excellency. It takes the understanding of REPUTATION for Toyota
or Honda to recall millions of units of their cars reported to
have had problems all over the world in order to get them fixed
thereby protecting the organization’s name and business. Some
Nigeria will only consider the immediate cost of that decision
to the business but these organizations have foresights and
regard for the name they have built over decades. Your aides
must be people who understand the enormous tasks that lie ahead
of you. They must be people who understand that their actions
and inactions determine the future of this country.
Your Excellency, Nigeria and Nigerians have suffered several
heartbreaks from many disappointments to the extent that many
have lost hope. Many will judge the expected performance of your
administration from the set of people you appoint as your
co-pilot to keep the Nigerian Aircraft in the air and at least
navigating it towards the ‘promise land’. Remember that we need
to tell ourselves and maybe the world also that Education can
still work in Nigeria, that it is not only about dispensing
drugs and admitting people to the clinics but that we can have
proper and sustainable healthcare delivery system, that we can
through the development of our agriculture sector provide food
security, that stable and constant electricity is possible and
not a dream we will continue to have, that businesses can thrive
and compete favourable with peers all over the world, that we
can build a Nigeria wherein we all can be proud of carrying our
green passport without having to look over our shoulders when in
another man’s land simply because we are Nigerians.
Mr. President the choice is yours and also remember the saying
“to whom much is given
much more is expected”. Nigeria and Nigerians have given you
this golden opportunity not because you are the best Nigeria had
or can ever have neither is it because of luck as your name
connotes but I want to believe it is because they think you
deserve a chance. A word they say is enough for the wise. A good
name (REPUTATION) I understand is better than the riches of this
world. I pray God lead, guide and guard you as you discharge
your duties. Nigerians are watching and waiting.
May God bless Nigeria!!!
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