The Jonathan Option:
By Ochedi Shaibu Udale
At a time like this, when national political discuss is ripe, and politicians engage the services of different merchants to launder their images to unsuspecting and ready-to-swallow-everything Nigerians, I have a compelling sense of national duty to respond to the writer in order to, perhaps, open his/her eyes to what he/she could not see in His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, or he/she deliberately turned a blind eye to.
Reasons why considering Goodluck Jonathan is not hollow but genuine mastercard for not only the north but the entirety of the country, include but not limited to:
1. National Institutions: under Jonathan as President, Nigeria had all institutions working without political intrusion. The judiciary, the legislature and every other legs of government upon which everything moves were independent, not cowed or manipulated for or against anyone. But since he left unceremoniously by the whims of citizens deceit, security and electoral manipulation, every supposed independent institutions in the country have found their own tables in the inner offices of politicians. And that is the one singular thing that has become the albatross of the Nigerian State. He alone is who is needed at this time to replant and reestablish that much needed independence for our institutions to work unhindered, thereby, allowing everyone take responsibility for our nation as equal partners and stakeholders in progress.
2. Economy: under the Jonathan’s presidency, Nigeria became the largest economy in Africa, surpassing South Africa and Egypt. The economy under him had a reported average growth rate of 8% before his exit. The poor masses could feed and save. The naira vs Dollar rate oscillated between 150-200 per 1 dollar. This is in sharp contrast to what the current government has bedeviled the Nigerian people with.
3. Security: despite the self inflicted security situation that was a handful in his administration, especially, within some areas of the core northern States, His Excellency, Goodluck Jonathan put concerted effort and made sure it was frontally tackled despite the fact that some internal saboteurs attempted to undermine his efforts at nipping the menace in the bud. There were no daily incidences of killings in almost every part of the country such as we wake up to now on print and electronic media.
4. Experience: His Excellency, Goodluck Jonathan, has extensive experience in governance, having diligently served as President of Nigeria up until 2015. He would stand shoulder high to command respect from within and outside Nigeria, particularly, among his colleague Presidents. He would leverage on it to attract foreign investors that will help stimulate the economy.
5. Style of Leadership: His Excellency’s collaborative leadership style, which emphasizes inclusivity and dialogue, is most appealing to not only northern elites seeking a more collaborative approach, but the Nigerian masses in the entirety.
6. National Appeal: As a former President, Jonathan has a national profile and would be seen as a unifying figure who can attract support from various regions with which to dislodge the current menacing government.
7. A Man of Peace: despite the obvious flaws that characterized the 2015 presidential election, His Excellency, Goodluck Jonathan, made the phone call that became widely acknowledged as first in the history of Presidential elections in Africa, where a President seeking reelection would concede and peacefully relinquish power in contrast to the well established sit-tight tradition of African Presidents and Heads of State. And that to any sane human being, is not a sign of weakness but strength. It is therefore, a well established fact that, another shot of Jonathan’s presidency would engender peace that will culminate into even and unequalled prosperity for our dear nation. Every right thinking and well-meaning Nigerian must raise up his/her sleeves to demand for yet, another round of Jonathan’s presidency. It is our major way out of the governance dungeon that the APC administrations have plunged Nigeria into.
Therefore, Nigerians, and most especially, the Northern elites would need to consider the Goodluck Jonathan’s option, not only on a nuanced evaluation of various factors like policy priorities, leadership style, and electoral dynamics, but on the overall beneficial outcomes for their region as His Excellency proved previously.
