GEJ, APC And March 28, 2015
“Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong.” - Daniel O'Connell.
More often than not, some men in History have brought about some changes which they did not anticipate or for which they are prepared. In the course of fervently pursuing their own goals and objectives, some extraneous variables would kick in to bring about other concomitants that would change history in a manner and way they did not fathom at the start of the journey. But because these actors are men of destiny and agents of providence, they end up bringing about events that are historically bigger than what they seek to do. They wrought changes that are not immediately in their own calculus or that of all active participants and end up changing the face of their environment either for good or bad. Such men are obviously men of destiny. They are agents of providence. They are men of history.
It is the view of this writer that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) is a man of destiny and an agent of providence. As events unfold in the coming weeks, no matter what happens, President Jonathan obviously either by acts of commission or omission has patently affected history. What is presently fermenting would be beyond the estimations of those arrayed against him and or those who line up behind him. Unknown to President Jonathan, he has become an unwitting agent of providence.
While pursuing his own goals, he is acting as an unconscious catalyst of what providence has in stock for the enslaved peoples of the contraption euphemized as Nigeria. A critical perusal of President Jonathan's trajectory on the Nigerian political landscape attests to the fact that only a man of destiny could have such a meteoric rise to the Presidency of the country especially as a hapless political neophyte. As a politician without grassroots organization, without a pedigree and clout, he has attained the pinnacle within ten years with his dour mien and passive affectation.
In most cases, a lot of extraneous variables play big roles in the destiny of a man. Such is the case of GEJ. He came to the stage at a point when Nigerians are tired of the corruption, impunity and misrule of the Hausa-Fulani oligarchy. He came at a time when Nigerians of other stocks other than the Hausa –Fulani, wanted a sense of belonging and wanted to feel that this country belongs to all of us and not just the “Born to Rule” crowd. Fortunately for GEJ, the President Musa Yar'Adua's clique over played its hand to underscore the reasons why the stranglehold of Hausa-Fulani oligarchy on Nigeria must be broken. The clique exacerbated the already saturated feeling of domination by a single ethnic group in a country of over 350 other ethnic nationalities.
The mere ascendancy of Jonathan to the Presidency set off a fire storm from the scions of the Hausa-Fulani oligarchy. They could not fathom that a minority like GEJ could become president in a country that they consider their inheritance from their ancestor, Uthman Dan Fodio, despite the fact that the Fulani are strangers in Nigeria. They are upset that their entitlement has gone to a “kafir” like Jonathan. They vowed to make Nigeria ungovernable for him.
They delivered. But unfortunately, for GEJ, he did not know what to do with the power he has been given. He has remained in perpetual stupor since then. Other than just reveling in the appurtenances of office, he has shown himself to be visionless and missionless. He failed himself and Nigerians, especially his own oppressed and exploited Ijaw people. This gets us to the crux of the matter, which is the March 28, 2015 general election.
One's understanding of the trajectory of the country called Nigeria does not permit one to support any Hausa-Fulani man, especially the like of a Mohammadu Buhari, a man with Hitleric tendencies, for the rulership of Nigeria at this point in time. In the same breath, Jonathan has been a terrible disappointment to himself and Nigeria. He has failed woefully. One could not in good conscience support his continuation in office. This is because in the wisdom of my Yoruba forefathers, “Aikukuu j'oye, osan ju enuu mi o ka ilu lo” literally meaning “It is better not to ascend the throne than to exude incompetence.”
The level of Jonathan's incompetence is nauseating and infuriating. It is indeed in the realm of tragedy surpassed only by those of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa (First Republic) and Alhaji Shehu Shagari (Second Republic). It is because of his incompetence that many charlatans and born-again crooks are now gallivanting the length and breadth of Nigeria calling for a dubious change and fooling the genuinely concerned. His incompetence has served as a veritable incubator for swashbucklers, cheats, mercenaries and undesirable politicians within the two major political parties rambling all over our land. Jonathan, by all means, should not be allowed to continue in office. He does not deserve it.
But Mohammadu Buhari would be a worse option than Jonathan. He is not the needed alternative. As pointed out elsewhere, Buhari is a psychologically troubled soul. He should not by any means necessary be allowed to have the keys to Aso Rock. He is a dishonest, arrogant alleged certificate forger who thinks he is above the law. He is a liar and he is corrupt. He has no integrity or sense of fairness. He is wicked and cruel. Above all, he is even more incompetent than Jonathan, because it was under his watch that billions of dollars of our money first got lost in 1978. It was General Ibrahim Babangida that helped cover up his incompetence by removing him from power. According to the released Military Intelligence reports of the events of 1984, Buhari's incompetence is so debilitating that a gang of Area Boys well versed in the geography of Lagos and Dordan Barracks could have overthrown him, not to talk of a professional coup master like a General Ibrahim Babangida.
The coalescing of the leaders of the APC around his candidacy is a perfect study in grand deceit of the Nigerian people. The objective is not to change Nigeria for the people and for good, but to change the size of their already bulging pockets and their bank accounts. The APC leadership, epitomized by the nauseatingly corrupt elements, pedophiles, certified Certificate forgers, loquacious crooks, murderers, is deceiving Nigerians. Buhari's candidacy is a smokescreen for a cabal of dangerous criminals bent on compromising the destiny of Nigeria.
If the APC leadership is honest and really seek the best for Nigeria, why would it mobilize for a Buhari, a fellow criminal and not Nuhu Ribadu, who despite his many short comings is a far better human being, more decent and more competent than Buhari? Afterall, Ribadu is a Fulani man too! Why would Ribadu be betrayed at the last minute for a ransom reportedly by Asiwaju Tinubu? Moreso, is Buhari the only one capable of ruling Nigeria? The answer is a resounding “No.”
In some situations, Democracy could be a catalyst for destruction and dislocation in all ramifications. It could cause unexpected and unintended consequences. The multitude often is very ignorant and as such easily manipulatable. This is why we have guided democracy in the United States of America where a candidate could easily win the popular votes but still lose the Presidency in the Electoral College. The Roman Mob Syndrome explains the dangers of the multitude in a democracy. We have seen it in Egypt. We have seen it in Iraq. We have seen it in Italy when Benito Mussolini ascended the leadership.
We have seen it in Germany when Adolf Hitler meandered his way to the leadership. In between Mussolini and Hitler, civilization was almost destroyed. Just like the Roman mob, Nigerians have been so pulverized that they are so befuddled and confused. As a result of a desperate desire for a way out, Nigerians have been fed on inebriating propaganda that has left them inchoate. Nigerians are presently flowing with a dubious wind of change about which their understanding lacks depth, critique and clear-headedness. They have no idea that it is dangerous to flow with the wind because while you may know the direction of the wind, you have no idea of its destination.
Nigerians are fed up with Jonathan. This is perfectly understandable. In their confused state of mind and desperation, they are electing to go further down the drain of misery by considering Buhari as the alternative to Jonathan. It is for this reason that this writer is calling on all the stakeholders to ensure that elections are never held on March 28, this year or any other time soon. The election should be postponed or cancelled altogether. Jonathan is not good and Buhari is worse. Anyone of them in Aso Rock would elicit grave and traumatic concomitants for Nigeria and her populace. Crisis is looming on the horizon. We should not wait for the arrival of the crisis before we look for the solution. It is time to be proactive. Let us look for a Government of National Unity that would preclude the present actors on the stage.
Where the impending crisis would lead, no one could predict. It could lead to anything including the break-up of Nigeria which one would personally welcome. If Nigeria has to break into its constituent units as a result of this, it would be more acceptable than a Buhari presidency. And if this is the only thing that providence has brought in Jonathan to accomplish through his incompetence and determination to win another election, it would be welcomed.
March 28, 2015, may not be the date of Nigeria's appointment with her destiny. But in, on and around it is hanging the fortune or misfortune of Nigerians, as the case may be, as well as the fate of the comatose Nigerian State. President Jonathan in his beatified foolishness and incompetence, the APC leadership in their greed and unscrupulousness to impose a Hitler on Nigeria are all unwittingly acting as agents of intervention on behalf of Providence to set Nigeria on the path of no return to her destiny. So, may it be.
“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility – I welcome it.”
- J. F. Kennedy