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By BENEDICT IJOMAH
I AM compelled to caution our politicians.
I have been in politics in this country, from my days in the university in
1960. I have participated in the elections during the NCNC/Action Group period.
I have followed the politics of Nigeria from the first election before
independence. I have witnessed the tragedy of the Western region. I have
witnessed the tragedy of the Civil War. I am old enough to know the events that
led to the series of massacres of the Igbos and the Yorubas in the Northern
region. I have also witnessed the various coups and counter-coups of the
Northern military generals who consolidated power in the Northern oligarchy and
misruled this nation for years. I am constrained to caution young and
inexperienced politicians that are crossing from one party to the other as if
good governance depends on only numerical strength in the House of
Representatives and in the Senate. Let us learn from the lessons of history.
I have been in politics in this country, from my days in the university in
1960. I have participated in the elections during the NCNC/Action Group period.
I have followed the politics of Nigeria from the first election before
independence. I have witnessed the tragedy of the Western region. I have
witnessed the tragedy of the Civil War. I am old enough to know the events that
led to the series of massacres of the Igbos and the Yorubas in the Northern
region. I have also witnessed the various coups and counter-coups of the
Northern military generals who consolidated power in the Northern oligarchy and
misruled this nation for years. I am constrained to caution young and
inexperienced politicians that are crossing from one party to the other as if
good governance depends on only numerical strength in the House of
Representatives and in the Senate. Let us learn from the lessons of history.
It is
clear to me that most of the people that are crossing from PDP and creating a
false image for the opposition were very young in the 1960s; they must have
been very young to witness the Western Nigeria crisis. They are creating
scenarios that are similar to what happened in the Western region. Let me
caution Nigerians, including myself, that we must give Jonathan a chance to run
this country before we declare him incompetent. Let us not create a situation
which is similar to calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it. It is clear
to us that immediately Buhari lost the election many souls were lost in the
crisis that followed the riots in the North. He appeared to be a sacred cow
that could not be questioned for the crisis he instigated because he lost a
simple election. He has now joined the opposition to make sure that Jonathan is
in a difficult time, and if possible, to see that he is impeached.
clear to me that most of the people that are crossing from PDP and creating a
false image for the opposition were very young in the 1960s; they must have
been very young to witness the Western Nigeria crisis. They are creating
scenarios that are similar to what happened in the Western region. Let me
caution Nigerians, including myself, that we must give Jonathan a chance to run
this country before we declare him incompetent. Let us not create a situation
which is similar to calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it. It is clear
to us that immediately Buhari lost the election many souls were lost in the
crisis that followed the riots in the North. He appeared to be a sacred cow
that could not be questioned for the crisis he instigated because he lost a
simple election. He has now joined the opposition to make sure that Jonathan is
in a difficult time, and if possible, to see that he is impeached.
People
who move from one party to another have nothing to offer the country. A good
politician is one who has developed his area not a politician that canvasses to
overthrow duly elected Governors and Presidents. I am writing this paper at
exactly midnight and I am led in spirit to caution Nigeria that the events in
the Western region under Akintola and Awolowo that gave rise to unnecessary
coalitions of UPGA and NNA could not save this country and will not help us at
all. Akintola formed the coalition with the Northern Peoples Congress, Awolowo
formed the coalition with the NCNC. We had two mega political parties, the UPGA
and NNA.
who move from one party to another have nothing to offer the country. A good
politician is one who has developed his area not a politician that canvasses to
overthrow duly elected Governors and Presidents. I am writing this paper at
exactly midnight and I am led in spirit to caution Nigeria that the events in
the Western region under Akintola and Awolowo that gave rise to unnecessary
coalitions of UPGA and NNA could not save this country and will not help us at
all. Akintola formed the coalition with the Northern Peoples Congress, Awolowo
formed the coalition with the NCNC. We had two mega political parties, the UPGA
and NNA.
It
was a clear demonstration of the incompetence and ineptitude of the political
leaders. It did not save us from gradually moving into a civil war. I want to
appeal to all Nigerians that the way things are going, we are gradually moving
towards disaster. We will continue opposing Jonathan until Jonathan by default
becomes dictatorial in order to save his government. We will blame the
opposition for forcing the Federal government to adopt methods that anybody in
opposition would not like; they must hold themselves responsible. The President
cannot fold his hands and watch the opposition destroy his government in the
name of democracy. It is also democratic for an elected president to do
everything possible to save the country from being thrown into chaos by the
opposition. For every action begets a reaction. Every action by the opposition
to destroy the government will stimulate a reaction from the government in
order to contain the opposition.
was a clear demonstration of the incompetence and ineptitude of the political
leaders. It did not save us from gradually moving into a civil war. I want to
appeal to all Nigerians that the way things are going, we are gradually moving
towards disaster. We will continue opposing Jonathan until Jonathan by default
becomes dictatorial in order to save his government. We will blame the
opposition for forcing the Federal government to adopt methods that anybody in
opposition would not like; they must hold themselves responsible. The President
cannot fold his hands and watch the opposition destroy his government in the
name of democracy. It is also democratic for an elected president to do
everything possible to save the country from being thrown into chaos by the
opposition. For every action begets a reaction. Every action by the opposition
to destroy the government will stimulate a reaction from the government in
order to contain the opposition.
Jonathan
has had the greatest opposition from those who failed elections to those who
want to stop him from contesting the election that he is entitled to. It is
very clear that what is happening in this country is not governance the way it
should be. Jonathan is spending a lot of his time trying to contain unnecessary
oppositions from people who lost to him. This is not my idea of genuine
opposition.
has had the greatest opposition from those who failed elections to those who
want to stop him from contesting the election that he is entitled to. It is
very clear that what is happening in this country is not governance the way it
should be. Jonathan is spending a lot of his time trying to contain unnecessary
oppositions from people who lost to him. This is not my idea of genuine
opposition.
Let
us look at the American system or even in the civilised world. When you
lose an election you bid your time until an opportunity comes again, if you
feel you should rule the country. General Buhari has not hidden his disdain for
Jonathan since he lost the election to Jonathan, and the President would become
a coward if he allows Buhari to pull him down without showing that he is the
President. I appeal to all politicians to realise that when the politicians
were fighting in the Western region, and when the UPGA and NNA emerged, we had
two major mega parties that could not govern this country. We must not allow
history to repeat itself. The various coalition groups whose stock-in-trade is
to stop Jonathan create the impression that they have nothing to offer this
country.
us look at the American system or even in the civilised world. When you
lose an election you bid your time until an opportunity comes again, if you
feel you should rule the country. General Buhari has not hidden his disdain for
Jonathan since he lost the election to Jonathan, and the President would become
a coward if he allows Buhari to pull him down without showing that he is the
President. I appeal to all politicians to realise that when the politicians
were fighting in the Western region, and when the UPGA and NNA emerged, we had
two major mega parties that could not govern this country. We must not allow
history to repeat itself. The various coalition groups whose stock-in-trade is
to stop Jonathan create the impression that they have nothing to offer this
country.
The
President, inspite of the opposition being mounted against him has tried to
record major achievements. It is therefore clear to me that if people do not
deliberately construct opposition to pull him down, if he has a free hand to
run this country, Nigeria would be a much better place. All those who have deliberately
gathered themselves into formidable opposition just to stop Jonathan, as if
that is the only thing Nigeria needs, send the message to Nigerians that they
have nothing new to offer Nigeria except to destroy the result of a democratic
election. Therefore all those who are gathering themselves into oppositions to
stop Jonathan should ask themselves whether they have any other thing to offer
Nigeria except to create opposition. Oppositions that buy members to
carpet-cross from one party to the other make democracy unstable. Younger
politicians who did not witness the events that led to the crisis in Western
region, or the events that led to the Civil War, the events that led to Aburi
Conference, should learn that we cannot relive unwholesome situations a second
time within this generation.
President, inspite of the opposition being mounted against him has tried to
record major achievements. It is therefore clear to me that if people do not
deliberately construct opposition to pull him down, if he has a free hand to
run this country, Nigeria would be a much better place. All those who have deliberately
gathered themselves into formidable opposition just to stop Jonathan, as if
that is the only thing Nigeria needs, send the message to Nigerians that they
have nothing new to offer Nigeria except to destroy the result of a democratic
election. Therefore all those who are gathering themselves into oppositions to
stop Jonathan should ask themselves whether they have any other thing to offer
Nigeria except to create opposition. Oppositions that buy members to
carpet-cross from one party to the other make democracy unstable. Younger
politicians who did not witness the events that led to the crisis in Western
region, or the events that led to the Civil War, the events that led to Aburi
Conference, should learn that we cannot relive unwholesome situations a second
time within this generation.
Is
Jonathan qualified to contest election in 2015? The answer is yes, he is
qualified to contest. All those who are now moving into different unwholesome
alliances just to make sure that Jonathan does not contest election should give
us their manifestos, or what they will do for Nigeria if they succeed in
removing Jonathan. Nigerians want to know. What will Buhari offer Nigeria other
than gathering people together to stop Jonathan? Let me caution that stopping
Jonathan from contesting election in 2015 does not make Buhari to win.
Nigerians have seen how many people were slaughtered in the election results
which Buhari refused to accept, and Nigerians are waiting for him to come out
again. Only a fool will look at the destruction that followed his refusal to
accept the result of the election and still go back to ask him to rule Nigeria.
Let me make it very clear, whether anybody likes it or not, Jonathan is
entitled to contest in 2015. Jonathan will contest in 2015.
I also want to warn the PDP to put its house in order. Dumping the PDP and
crossing over to an untested political party is not the alternative Nigerians
are looking for. It is clear that inspite of the deliberate opposition created
for Jonathan, Jonathan has continued to record major achievements. And it is
also clear that if Jonathan is given an opportunity to finish his eight years,
he will create a great nation out of the crises that are being crafted for him.
Jonathan qualified to contest election in 2015? The answer is yes, he is
qualified to contest. All those who are now moving into different unwholesome
alliances just to make sure that Jonathan does not contest election should give
us their manifestos, or what they will do for Nigeria if they succeed in
removing Jonathan. Nigerians want to know. What will Buhari offer Nigeria other
than gathering people together to stop Jonathan? Let me caution that stopping
Jonathan from contesting election in 2015 does not make Buhari to win.
Nigerians have seen how many people were slaughtered in the election results
which Buhari refused to accept, and Nigerians are waiting for him to come out
again. Only a fool will look at the destruction that followed his refusal to
accept the result of the election and still go back to ask him to rule Nigeria.
Let me make it very clear, whether anybody likes it or not, Jonathan is
entitled to contest in 2015. Jonathan will contest in 2015.
I also want to warn the PDP to put its house in order. Dumping the PDP and
crossing over to an untested political party is not the alternative Nigerians
are looking for. It is clear that inspite of the deliberate opposition created
for Jonathan, Jonathan has continued to record major achievements. And it is
also clear that if Jonathan is given an opportunity to finish his eight years,
he will create a great nation out of the crises that are being crafted for him.
Prof. Ijomah, Wrote from the
Centre for Policy Studies and Research, Asaba, Delta State.
Centre for Policy Studies and Research, Asaba, Delta State.
