Today (5th September, 2011) will be the 100 days
that Dr Good luck Ebele Jonathan took the oath of office as President of
Nigeria with undisputed
people’s vote that cuts across the breath and length of Nigeria . The
Southern part voted overwhelmingly for him and not necessarily his party as
was evidenced in the following polls. The Governorship candidates who had
the illusion that the vote for Jonathan was for their party learnt a bitter
lesson. The election was free and fair. His campaign was equally fair and
appealing, he pleaded that his party should not rig for him and made sure
that INEC was truly independent. It was the first of its kind in Nigeria .
He appointed a man of high integrity, who has a record of such to protect to
head INEC. He conspicuously stayed clear to enable them be as neutral an
umpire as was necessary without any fear of repercussions or reprehensions.
He was very calm even in the face of provocation from the opposition.
Nigeria could not ask for more, that was why we voted for him. It was
difficult for some of us to vote for Dr. Jonathan because of the party he
represented who had ruled the nation for several years with nothing to show
for it, but his activities for the brief period he took the helm of affairs
despite all odds after the demise of his predecessor Omaru Yar’adua of
blessed memory, proved that he was going to be different from the PDP led
federal government before him, and the activities of the other PDP led
governments all over the nation. The Peoples Democratic Party had shown
themselves as a party that cared less about the true welfare of the common
man. They had engrossed themselves so much into the accumulation and
cornering of the wealth of Nigeria to themselves that you could smell their
loss of touch with realities on ground by just coming closer to them and
hear them speak. The rising unemployment levels could not bother them, the
decay in infrastructure around the length and breadth of Nigeria brought no
blinks from their eyes. Till now their leadership fly overseas to treat
headaches, while they left we lesser mortals to be used as guinea pigs in
the poorly equipped hospitals and health centers that dot the landscape of
this nation.
In any case, Dr. Jonathan assumed office with lots and lots
of good will within and outside Nigeria . America ,
Europe, and the united
nation extended unprecedented hand of fellowship to Nigeria . The community
of nations began to place Nigeria where many of us believed he belongs.
People were ready to forgive PDP for Jonathan’s sake.
From the day he took over the ruling of the Nation, Boko
Haram, a terrorist group in Nigeria drew the battle line. In the wake of the
elections that re-affirmed him as the President of Nigeria, some notable
politicians had been quoted in the press as saying that Nigeria would be
ungovernable if they lost elections. In other words, Nigerians should be
afraid of them during and after elections because they had become so fat,
and big as Nigerian leaders, that we must take instructions from them before
we cast our votes. This was even when ethnic pride hindered them from
campaigning effectively in several geopolitical sections of this country.
They have refused to overgrow the toga of military autocracy. We have not
heard any word in the press from these men about the menace of Borko Haram.
If silence is consent, what are they telling Nigerians?
President Jonathan outlined his agenda of transformation
and raised the hope of the nation especially all those who voted for him.
But his number one enemy and that of the nation was determined to defray his
plan.
Other things begin to happen simultaneously that needs the
attention of the president:
1. Minimum wage:During the election the
minimum wage was passed into law to avoid a protest vote against the
governors and others during the election. To date many States still believe
they are above the law. Even the Federal Government had to renegotiate the
law before they obey. Only
Lagos and States obeyed as was written.
The Banking Sector:The
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continued their face of with some bank
executives who were perceived to defraud their Banks. The plots to put them
out of circulation continued unabated. One of them was successfully
convicted and lavishing in jail because she choose not to fight thinking
that justice will prevail. The others, trying to fight back, can be compared
to the war between David and Goliath. Only a miracle will safe them. I had
written my opinion based on my personal experience on this issue when it
first started. The CBN is a monster, it kills and buries its victims in the
public and make spectators clap for them, while they pile up evil and
manipulations within their drawers and suits. They are doing same thing this
with the best available skills today against their perceived personal and
corporate enemies. Ever since the present Governor came on board, we read of
billons of naira dumped here and there, but unemployment continues to rise,
lending in the banks is next to zero since he came along, poverty has risen
so high, Nigerians are dying in large numbers from poverty, industries are
yet to feel the money CBN has pumped into the economy; that is what I call
economics with the magic face. The more you look the less you actually see.
Who can query the CBN?
As if this was not enough, the introduction of the Islamic
Bank exposed the root cause of the so called reformation agenda of the
powerful CBN and it’s Governor. Why will the CBN force this bank through the
throat of Nigerians at this time? Haba Governor!
The Judiciary:The
judiciary had overturned the election results of the ruling party in some
states and had demonstrated their independence especially during the reign
of President Omaru Yar’adua of blessed memory. He promised that his regime
would be guided by the rule of law, a departure from the military decree
rule of the past, and he demonstrated his willingness by releasing the funds
withheld by his predecessor against the rule of law for years. The event of
recent days makes it seem that Nigeria is preparing to go back to the old
lawless days of government. The new appointments and removals in the
judiciary make it clear that judiciary will no longer be independent. The
ruling party is preparing to use the court to get back more states, and
frustrate INEC to force its chairman to resign so they can appoint another
to do their bidding, so help us God.
Delta States Militants:Another
great achievement of the Yar’adua – Jonathan regime was restoring peace to
the oil producing region. In recent days, things have began to fall apart
here again and it seems that the old days of kidnapping is coming back.
President Jonathan must consolidate on the gains of the past with the
Niger Delta and not let
himself be distracted by Borko Haram and their follies. The pollution of the environment by the Oil Company without
cleaning up their mess continued unabated, but thanks now to the Reverend
Kuka committee report, sanity is beckoned to return.
Corruption:Every
government so far seem to believe that they are elected or appointed to
share the common wealth of the nation. The common wealth had become wealth
of the highest bidder as bribery is the access to any position or any
service. The anti-graft organizations are nothing but cosmetic to silence
the donors so they can look the other side. Corruption is a cancer that had
eaten deep into the fabrics of Nigeria .
Someone once challenged the men and women of God in Nigeria
to go on hunger strike like someone did in
India . I do not think
it can work, else I know many who will gladly enlist in such crusade. But I
believe such can do no good as the Government will ensure that such people
die un noticed and they will bribe or coerce everyone to ensure so.
Natural disaster:In the
past, Lagos States had their share of flood disaster. It was not a national
shame because the Lagos State government is used to taking care of its
people as if the Governor was the President. But lately, the incident in
neighboring Oyo State
which was so neglected by the PDP government for years has exposed the
Federal Government as a Government that does not believe in the welfare of
the people until some of us cried out. It is a shame. Why should our own
government wait till we cry our eyes out before they notice that there is a
disaster? When will they reorganize and re-energize the national Emergency
agency ? We look to JEG to restart sanity and good governance in Nigeria .
SUGGESTIONS
1. I believe strongly that a state of emergency should be
declared and a serving Brigadier General named as administrators over the states
where terrorists operate from; and the general given specific time to root out
the terrorists. Yes, Borno,
Bauch, Plateau, states
should be so handled.2. Every State Governor who
refuses to implement the minimum wage should be impeached and his Deputy should
become the Governor and must implement the minimum wage as the first act.
3. The Judiciary should be allowed to run according to the
constitution.4. Nigerians demand such speed as the
appointment of President of the Supreme Court to solve all security and
humanitarian problems in Nigeria .
5. Central Bank of Nigeria must stop the agenda of turning
Nigeria to an Islamic State. Their utpian non properly researched cashless
society hype must be suspended until the ICT content is fully reconciled. Moslem
Bank versus Christian Bank is divisive and has no place in a secular state
like ours.The idea offends the unity of this country.
6. All security vote should go purely to security (remuneration, salary,
training, retraining, & equipment for police)
7. Just like our president emulated Obama campaign style let him
emulate his governing style (go round the states holding town meetings to listen
to the pains and problems of the people and make efforts to solve them)
8. Stop terrorism if Nigeria will ever become a permanent member
of the United Nations Security council.
Bishop (DR.) Olushola Olukolade
Prelate. Southern Nigeria Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
Church of God
in Christ
386 Herbert Macaulay way,
Yaba, Lagos .
08185796173,
018935399, 08056633155,
08167520379
