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Nigeria seems to have entered an era
where presidential candidates no longer
have individual plans – declaration of
principles and intentions in terms of
what they intend to do for the country.
What we have, in recent years at least,
appear to be torrents of bogus party
manifestos. In other words, we have
political parties going around the
country promising this and promising
that – even when most of what they
promise are pipedreams, snake oil and
mirage. No political party – at least
not since the Awolowo-Shagari era – has
attempted to fulfill its promises.
Party manifestos asides, what about the
individualised vision, the philosophy
and the personal commitment of
presidential candidates to the country?
Citizens barely know what is it
presidential candidates want to do for
the country outside of their party's
promises. For instance, what are the
domestic and global agenda Candidate
Jonathan (of the PDP) intend to pursue
if and when he is elected in his own
right in 2011? As of today, at least, no
one seems to know those programmes and
agenda that are dearest to his heart.
During his most recent visit to the
United States, he made a few policy
statements and commitments, but really,
that was about it.
One of the great unknowns about
President Jonathan is that no one seems
to know his psychology, his agenda, and
his interests; and, indeed, no one seems
to know those things that sweeten his
heart, gladden his mind or gall him.
This is a man who does not reveal much,
if at all. Could it be that he has
nothing to offer, or perhaps, he is a
grandmaster of chess when it comes to
politics (in which case he will reveal
his hands at his own choosing). That we
don't know may be harmful to our
collective welfare. Ironically, Goodluck
Jonathan is not the first candidate
and/or President Nigerians has had of
whom they knew very little. We didn't
know the game plan and the psychology of
Babangida, Abacha and Obasanjo before
they ascended the throne. We didn't; but
see the calamity they wrought on the
nation.
If there is no ideology or worldview,
there ought to be a simple plan: a
development plan that encompasses
economic, political, social and cultural
yearnings of the people and the state. A
President must have plans on how he
intends to govern domestically; and how
he intends to relate with the
international community. In the case of
Goodluck Jonathan, what is he going to
do to strengthen our private and public
institutions? Does anyone know? How does
he intend to get us out of the rut and
rot we have been the last 2-3 decades?
There must be a plan of action, a rudder
for governance. What's more, ever since
he became the President, no one seems to
understand his method, where he stands
or what he stands for and where he is
taking the country in terms of
development.
I do not want to belabour the issue, but
frankly, it is difficult to know what
President Jonathan's motives and core
values are. If he has any, he is not
telling; and those who know – assuming
they really know – are not telling,
either. And so, the populace is left to
speculate about the manner of man he is.
Aspects of him that are not shrouded in
secrecy are whispered or written about
with a high dose of hyperbole. And so,
as I ask, again and again and again:
what are President Goodluck Jonathan's
mission, values and intentions? What
keeps him awake? What keeps him going?
What brings smiles to his soul? What
does he believe in? Where is he taking
the country in this perilous time?
The Nigerian Press is mostly silent on
the President's performance and agenda.
And where they have spoken, they have
mostly done so in muted voices or shown
unhealthy deference. The Press has yet
to ask the President what his
philosophies about governance and the
rule of law are. The Media has yet to
ask him about leadership, development
and nation building. There are more that
a zillion questions the Media should be
asking, but has for the most part, kept
quiet about. In a different time,
different place and different system,
the electorate and the press would be
curious and investigative.
But here we are, stuck with a President
we know very little about; stuck with a
prospective presidential candidate we
know almost nothing about. Other than
being a devout Christian, a
non-politician, a gentleman, an
establishment-man and a former governor
of a tumultuous state – who in the world
is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan? Other than
playing according to the PDP game book,
what else does he bring to the table? Is
he his "own man," or just a pawn in
Obasanjo's and the PDP's chessboard? No
one knows, and he is not telling. How
does a nation end up with a President no
one knows a great deal about?
Is it possible that the President is
learning as he goes along? Is it
possible that he is wondering and
wandering and shooting in the dark? Is
it possible that his is the face we see
in the public (but with hands and gavel
in the background directing and
dictating the affairs of the nation)? At
this stage in our national live, it is
not enough to be a good Christian, it is
not enough to be a quiet and gentle
soul, and it certainly is not enough to
be a malleable man. We want to know who
our President is.
But beyond that, we want to know what
his domestic and international agendas
are going to be. We want a plan and a
plan of how we are going to get there.
The President must be a man of
character, of distinct vision and valor.
He must be a man with soul and reason
and core values and good intentions for
the people. Where is President Jonathan
taking the country? Does anyone know? By
the way: when will the President declare
his assets? When?
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