The above photograph of President Jonathan on
stage is “historic” to all Nigerians depending on
one’s school of thought. Both friends and
enemies of GEJ, APC and PDP all have different
view about the message of the picture. No matter
your school of thought, I’m very optimistic that
this picture is not one of the good pictures
President Jonathan will love to see in his album.
If it were in the analogue age, the photographer of
any news media that snapped the picture must be
a guest of our security agencies. The picture went
viral on April 15th 2014 after PDP rally in Kano to
welcome Mr Shakarau that was displaced in APC
by Governor Kwankwaso.
Terrorism can be scary or terrifying. It is not the
wish of any President or Governor to encounter it
no matter how equipped or fortified your security/
defense is. Let us recall that President George
Bush was flown into Air force base in Louisiana
from Sarasota Florida when the World Trade
Centre was struck due to concern that he would
be targeted by terrorists. Take note also that
George Bush first National security meeting was
through electronic means at Strategic Air
command in Nabraska before returning to the
white house. This example is a typical
demonstration of how every leader trembles at
the mention of terrorism. What vindicates or vilify
leaders are your actions and reactions after terror
attack. George bush statements after 9/11
restored Americans confidence on him. It was on
record that Bush had 24(twenty four) national
security meeting between September 11 to
October 11. That is leadership redefined!
The kidnap of over 200 school girls of Chibok in
Borno state on the 15th of April while Mr
President was attending the PDP rally in Kano
was not the first of its kind nor the worst done by
book-haram insurgents. School children were
once massacred in their dormitories; over 20
pupils were kidnapped in the wake of missing
Sanusi 20 billion dollars. Plus other heinous
massacre that took place in Yobe, Nasarawa,
Niger, Plateau and Adamawa states respectively.
What subjected President Jonathan to world
vilification was cumulative anger triggered by the
“unspoken word of I don’t care” depicted by the
above photograph. Seeing Mr. president dancing
and raising his hands in Kano while the likes of
British high commissioner in Nigeria was in
National hospital in sober mood donating blood to
rescue Nyanya bomb blast victims portrays
President GEJ as uncompassionate man
desperate for power and a leader who places less
value to the lives of his citizens. Unfortunately the
Chibok girls were kidnapped same day Mr.
President was displaying his olingo masterpiece.
This dance now resurrects the cumulative anger
and unholy silences in the land leading to the
popular believe that Mr President is clueless. That
does not mean that government has done well in
terms of handling security challenges ab initio
All the reasons cited by Labaran Maku to defend
the Kano dance was more of fueling the burning
bush. Maku said,” the Terrorist aim is to stop
governance and the dance/rally in Kano was to
prove them wrong”. Some thinkers like Maku
bought into that disgusting statement but I’m
sure that no national election is fast approaching
and therefore, the rally can be postponed for
another day. Moreover, when does rally become
part of governance? Rally is weapon of political
parties not weapon of governance. Any action
labeled governance must be for the interest and
benefit of the nation not political party.
Furthermore, how does GEJ glorifies and celebrate
frustrated enemy in the event of national
calamity? Is he joining GEJ because he likes him
or is he joining out of frustration? What brought
Shakarau to Jonathan? If not for APC leadership
tussle between him and Kwankwaso, will he not
be one of the leaders of the opposition in Nigeria
today? No matter your political affiliation,
Shakarau is never a plus to GEJ and people of
Kano can has proved it in the just concluded LGA
election. Some shallow readers will argue that
LGA election is not a measure of one’s political
strength but I will refer them to Edo and Anambra
State LGA election where (LP) Ifeanyi Uba and
(PDP) Tony Aninih proved their political worth in
their local governments. I expected Shakarau to
do the same in Kano but he couldn’t. Therefore,
GEJ and his advisers failed woefully on that Kano
rally.
Some has also underrated the consequence of
incompetent advisers and lack of political
intelligent unit. But success of George Bush can
be attributed to his team of professional staff and
his humility to listen to every one of them. I do
not expect every leader to be an orator nor has
exceptional vision like Obama or Clinton. But I
will not also spare these GEJ advisers who are
the worst I have ever seen in my life. I’m sure not
even Satan can tolerate their advice.
Rather than summoning for national security
meeting after the Nyanya blast, the advisers
confused GEJ and converted it to PDP meeting
signaling politicization of national security. Blame
game rather than united front was the outcome of
the meeting. Reno Omokri(PA new media to GEJ)
added more fuel to the fire by telling public lie
that APC governors boycotted a security meeting
which they conspired to convert to party meeting.
This is a very shameful act in the light of sorrow
and grief in the land.
What broke the camel’s back was the
misinformation, lies and attempt to blackmail or
sabotage, the struggle to rescue the abducted
Chibok girls by the presidential advisers. The
misrepresentation of the #BringBackOurGirls
clamor as people opposing the government was
the first evil plot of this group of advisers. We all
laughed at the “open assassination of grammar”
by the first lady but the bitter truth we must
accept was that she strongly believe that there
was no kidnapping and there was grand
conspiracy against her husband (this might not
be totally wrong assumption though) but
condemning the apolitical citizens that felt
sympathy for the victims of this kidnap is
condemnable. The gap between the time the
advisers were deceiving GEJ that the kidnap was
the handwork of the opposition, and the time it
took them to thread blames and the time it took
them to resolve to take action due to mounting
international pressure was what forced GEJ to
surrender our sovereignty. Let us also have
another deeper look of what would have
happened if not for this evil advisers. Patience
Jonathan as mama peace should have matched
to Presidency leading other first ladies, senators
and all women to demand #BringBackOurGirls.
Her pressure with other elite will exonerate her
and citizens will understand her limitation. But
this evil advisers converted this woman into
another Co-President torturing” the pricipa on
national television because na only she waka
come”.She did not stop there, she directed the
protesters to proceed to Bornu state. The police
in their usual manner rather than securing
innocent citizens went to disperse them at unity
fountain. This again raises more concern globally
that GEJ is hunting for citizens rather than
terrorists.
The incoherent statement and blames/self
defense/excuses emanating from the presidency
was very disturbing.
“the Borno state Govt is inconsistent with the
figures”, “the Borno Govt should be blamed for
opening the school against FG letter to WAEC”
“our military have rescued all the girl” “sorry we
are misinformed by the school principal”, the war
is Gorilla war”” its unconventional war”, ‘our
military are well motivated”, we have all the
modern equipment to fight terror”, blame terrorist
not govt.” we need international support”
All this statement/blames/excuses and lies falls
short of a responsible government that couldn’t
safe guard her citizens. This statement
diminishes the world perception of GEJ both home
and abroad. The advisers did not stop there; they
have not seen the need for him to visit Chibok.
Why not deploy all the military men both police to
guide GEJ to visit chibok? The excuses cited by
GEJ on why he has not visited Chibok is not
convincing. It was shameful to behold GEJ before
the world press in France citing moral boast as
the only advantage of visiting Chibok yet he never
deem it fit to give this moral boast to those
families. We should recall that Gov Shettima
defied military advice not to visit Chibok and
went unhurt. GEJ should be courageous to show
leadership as CinC. Obama sneaked out of white
house unannounced and visited American troops
in Afghanistan recently.
Chibok visit will enable GEJ to have one on one
conversation with the military boys in war front.
One of them might reveal to him what the senior
MILADS might be hiding away from him. The visit
will unravel to GEJ the rumor of hunger, lack of
welfare and equipment being speculated. He will
be a morale booster for the families and the
military but the advisers will never let it happen.
This was how they deceived him in Yobe until the
Progressive Governors visited and walk the street
of Yobe. GEJ aftermath visit was much
reactionary and no citizen bought into it. Any visit
by GEJ to Chibok today is meaningless because
the opportunity is gone for good.
Not up to 12 hours after twin bomb blast in Jos,
one of the presidential aides rushed to BBC to
say that “there was no evidence that the Jos
blast was detonated by Boko Haram”…. I ask
when he started investigation or gathering of
evidence. Why sudden conclusion? Who then
bombed Jos if not Boko Haram?
Citizens are free to speculate based on their
personal perception and political inclination but
any comment emanating from the presidency
MUST be swift, accurate, factual, well evidenced
and undisputable. The statement must be of
objective and devoid of any sentiments.
The views expressed in this article are the
author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the
editorial policy of kulzone.tk
[Article by Godwin Okeke]
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