WHY IS KWANKWASO TOO BITTER OVER JONATHAN’S PRESIDENCY?

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Just like vicissitude, every era and human personages is always preoccupied and reckoned with one thing or the other with human actors leading the stage, the famous 'second Red Scare' as popularly called in the American Political history is a term which has its origins in the period in the United States that lasted roughly from 1950 to 1956 and characterized by heightened political repression against communists, as well as a campaign spreading fear of their influence on American institutions and of espionage by Soviet agents. Originally coined to criticize the anti-communist pursuits of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, 'McCarthyism' became a movement charged with the sole responsibility of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard to evidence. It also means "the practice of making unfair allegations or using unfair investigative techniques, especially in order to restrict dissent or political

criticism." "McCarthyism" soon took on a broader meaning, describing the excesses of similar efforts. The term is also now used more generally to describe reckless, unsubstantiated accusations, as well as demagogic attacks on the character or patriotism of political adversaries. Here in Nigeria the level of political attacks by opposition to the first office in our political hierarchy without recourse to decorum is worrisome.

Ever since he fell out of favour with President Good luck Ebele Jonathan, he has taken to various unconventional and un-African ways of expressing his anger over the political Tsunami that befell him. The Governor of Kano State, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was defeated in the 2003 Governorship Election in Kano by former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, but only rode on the back of President Good Luck Jonathan to power in 2011, and like the Janus face, he is now attacking the “Jonathan's goodwill' that brought him back from political wilderness.

The highest display of his ingratitude to ravenously biting the finger that fed him is his current outburst against President Good Luck Jonathan when he mischievously ascribed the monumental and unprecedented cum ground breaking Transformation programmes of our amiable president to “Good Luck”. In my humble understanding which invariably reflects 90 per cent of that of the discerning minds, 'Good luck' means a happy outcome of something by chance or stroke of luck. If Governor Kwankwaso cannot see the modernization of our Airports and other infrastructural developments inherent in Jonathan's Transformation Agenda, can't he also appreciate the freedom he enjoys even when he is falsely and maliciously attacking the President without any “Uniform” or “Plain clothes” coming after him? Was that freedom there before? Even when he scandalously alleged that the Presidency was after him, did anybody come after him? Or was it “Good Luck”

which means a happy outcome by chance that made it possible? The freedom of Information Act on which latitude he stands to rein his barrage of attacks on the person and the oval office of the President without retribution from any quarter; is it chance that made it happen or level-headedness and democratic know-how by a man he has turned to his punching bag?

While I cannot decipher what he meant by “You can't govern Nigeria buy Luck”, I want to state categorically that Jonathan's ascendency to power was never by chance. If he had not been a loyal and disciplined party man unlike Kwankwaso who is the travesty of Jonathan's loyalty to party rules, there is no way he will be where he is today. Even Abraham Lincoln, former United States President who many believe rose to power as a result of persistence has this to say when he still a struggling man “I will study and prepare myself and one day, when the time comes, I will be ready”. So, when the opportunity finally came, he was elected the United States President. Hence, instead of allowing himself to be consumed by envy and jealousy occasioned by Jonathan's gradual but persistence rise to power by mischievously ascribing it “Good Luck”, he should boldly commend the President for preparing himself ahead of time for the great task ahead,

because the operational meaning of “Good Luck” which he failed to understand is when preparation meets opportunity. And when Jonathan's preparation over the years finally met the needed opportunity, he did not waste time in translating it to democratic dividends for all Nigerians irrespective of class, religion, political party or status. This is seen in the building of modern schools for about 9.5 million Al majiris in Nigeria, the raising of over N80 billion to support the victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the country. Apart from that, like Chief Edwin Clark once said “President Jonathan is the most detribalized Nigerian President in modern times.

Therefore, instead of allowing unprovoked attacks on Jonathan to become his pastime or “imaginary escape” from the difficult tasks of proving democratic dividends to the people in the ancient city of Kano, he should fairly and squarely respond to some of the questions raised by President Jonathan about Local Government funds in the state. While I know quite frankly that truth is bitter, but sometimes, we should overlook its bitterness and ask true questions that touches the heart.

Governor Kwankwaso was quote the other day as saying that, President Jonathan would be given the Malawi treatment in the 2015 Presidential Election. Instead of alluding that to the President, he should look at the mirror to see who in actual sense would be given the Malawi treatment. This is because, Governor Kwankwaso and his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no structure or manpower on ground to spring any surprise in 2015.

Besides, let's critically analyze the concept “Malawi Treatment” for proper understanding of who is actually going to give that treatment to the other. Former Malawian President, Joyce Banda was a vice to late President Bingu Wa Mutharika. Both of them were elected on the same political party, but, when Wa Mutharika died, she defected to another party against the original platform that brought her to power; so after her defeat in the election, the reality down on her! This is what is awaiting Kwankwaso and his All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria come 2015. In actual sense, if there is anybody that would be given the Malawi Treatment, it is the All Progressives Congress which Kwankwaso is scheming to fly its flag in the next year's Presidential election.

Hence, Governor Kwankwaso should stop belly-aching over his free-fall from the good book of the President due to his visible disrespect and barrage of attacks on Jonathan which to the discerning minds is certainly an exercise in futility; and of no effect on him. If I may ask, what can the bite of a snake do to the back of a tortoise?

Comrade Edwin E. Uhara is an Activist and a Public Affairs Commentator. He is also a Member of PDP Project Reloaded Media Team and writes from Abuja. Reach him on 07065862479 or [email protected]

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Articles by Edwin Uhara